Northwest: LLC for $39 + state fee, registered agent free for year 1

Openanllc

How to open an LLC in Delaware

It costs $110 to file and about $400 a year to keep. The tax rose to $400 for tax year 2026, so the first $400 payment is due June 1, 2027. The June 1, 2026 payment was $300.

Fees checked 29 Oct 2026 against the Delaware filing office.

Delaware LLC at a glance

Filing fee
$110Certificate of Formation fee per the fee schedule revised August 1, 2026. Some older Division FAQ pages still show the $300 tax.
Every year after
$400Annual LLC tax $400 (raised from $300 by HB 400 for tax year 2026), due June 1 of the following year. No annual report.
When it's due
June 1 each year, for the prior calendar year.
Processing time
Standard processing is not published and varies with volume. Expedite for a formation: 24-hour $50, same day $100, 2-hour $500, 1-hour $1,000.
Newspaper publication
Not required
Registered agent
Every LLC must keep a registered agent with a physical street address in Delaware. The agent can be a Delaware resident individual, a Delaware entity, or a foreign entity authorized to do business in Delaware. Most out-of-state founders use a commercial registered agent.
Name rules
Name must contain Limited Liability Company, L.L.C. or LLC and must be distinguishable from other names on the Delaware records.

File with the stateOfficial fee schedule

What it costs over five years

State fees included, and every yearly fee for five years.

SetupYear 15 years
Do it yourself, be your own agent$110$1,710
Bizee Basic, keep their agent$110$2,306
Northwest, keep their agent$149$2,249
  • Late payment adds a $200 penalty plus 1.5% interest per month.
  • Formation documents are fillable PDFs submitted through the Division's Document Filing Service or by mail; many founders file through their registered agent.

Best LLC services in Delaware

All three file in Delaware. Add the $110 state fee to each price.

  • 1Safest default

    Northwest Registered Agent

    4.1 on Trustpilot (310 reviews)

    Advertised
    $39 + state fee
    Real year 1
    $39 + state fee
    Agent renewal
    $125/yr
    EIN
    Free from the IRS

    Cheapest over five years, first year of agent service included, human support.

    Few extras. No bookkeeping or attorney marketplace.

    Visit Northwest

    Opens northwestregisteredagent.com

  • 2Cheapest year 1

    Bizee (Incfile)

    4.8 on Trustpilot (26,356 reviews)

    Advertised
    $0 + state fee
    Real year 1
    $0 + state fee
    Agent renewal
    Free year 1, then $149/yr
    EIN
    Free from the IRS, or $70 add-on

    Lowest start. Costs more than Northwest from year 3 if you keep their agent.

    The agent auto-renews. Basic covers the filing and the agent, little else.

    Visit Bizee (Incfile)

    Opens bizee.com

  • 3Compliance tools

    ZenBusiness

    4.8 on Trustpilot (33,107 reviews)

    Advertised
    $0 + state fee
    Real year 1
    $199 + state fee
    Agent renewal
    $199/yr
    EIN
    Free from the IRS, or $99 add-on

    Worth it if you will use the dashboard and reminders. Otherwise you pay for software.

    A website-builder trial is preselected at checkout and renews at $15/mo.

    Visit ZenBusiness

    Opens zenbusiness.com

Forming in Delaware from outside the US?

You will also need an EIN without an SSN and a US address a bank will accept. doola, Firstbase, Stripe Atlas, StartGlobal include the EIN; check that the one you pick files in Delaware before you pay.

Services for non-residents forming in Delaware
Compare every formation service

Delaware LLC questions

How much does it cost to open an LLC in Delaware?
The state charges $110 to file. After that, budget $400 a year to keep the LLC in good standing (Annual LLC tax $400 (raised from $300 by HB 400 for tax year 2026), due June 1 of the following year. No annual report). A registered agent service adds $0 to $300 a year unless you act as your own.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Delaware?
Standard processing is not published and varies with volume. Expedite for a formation: 24-hour $50, same day $100, 2-hour $500, 1-hour $1,000.
Do I need a registered agent in Delaware?
Yes. Every LLC must keep a registered agent with a physical street address in Delaware. The agent can be a Delaware resident individual, a Delaware entity, or a foreign entity authorized to do business in Delaware. Most out-of-state founders use a commercial registered agent.
When is the Delaware LLC annual fee due?
June 1 each year, for the prior calendar year.