Delaware business entity search and name check
Search business records
We don't search Delaware for you: the Division of Corporations' General Information Name Search asks for a CAPTCHA and forbids automated use, so this page links you to it. The free result gives a business's name, file number, formation date and registered agent, but its status costs $10 to view. A Delaware LLC files no annual report; instead it pays a flat $400 annual tax by June 1, and forming one costs $110.
- Official search
- General Information Name Search (ICIS)
- How we search Delaware
- Official site only (we hand you off). Delaware's search asks for a CAPTCHA on every search, and the Division of Corporations says it prohibits data mining and the use of automated tools, so we send you to the official search instead.
- What a result can tell you
- Searching the official site shows names on record. Delaware decides acceptance when you file.
- State fee to form an LLC
- $110 (Certificate of Formation)
- Ongoing LLC filing
- LLC Annual Tax (no annual report), $400. Due June 1 each year for the prior calendar year. Late payment adds a $200 penalty plus 1.5% interest a month, and an LLC that goes three years without paying is cancelled. A registered series pays $100
What the Delaware search covers
Delaware corporations, LLCs, partnerships and other entities, plus out-of-state businesses registered here, both active and inactive. A result appearing doesn't tell you its current status. The free result shows the name, file number, formation date, entity type, residency and registered agent's name, address and phone; the status and other details cost a fee.
Name searches aren't case sensitive. Put the name in quotation marks to search for that exact name.
Each record has a File Number. Search by number on the General Information Name Search (ICIS).
How to read Delaware results
Delaware uses its own status labels. We always show the official wording; here is what the common ones mean according to the state:
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Good Standing | The business still exists; it hasn't been ended voluntarily or by the state. Source: icis.corp.delaware.gov |
| Void, AR's or Tax Delinquent | A corporation that went a year without paying its annual franchise tax, or an out-of-state corporation that hasn't filed annual reports within a 2-year period. Source: icis.corp.delaware.gov |
| Cancelled, Failure to Pay Tax | An LLC, LP or partnership that didn't pay its annual tax for three years after it was due. Source: icis.corp.delaware.gov |
| Voluntarily Cancelled | The business filed a certificate of cancellation to end its existence. Source: icis.corp.delaware.gov |
| Ceased Good Standing | The business didn't pay its annual taxes on time. Source: icis.corp.delaware.gov |
| Forfeited, Failure to appoint a R/A | A corporation whose registered agent resigned and which didn't appoint a new one within 30 days. Source: icis.corp.delaware.gov |
| Cancelled, Failure to Appoint a R/A | An LLC, LP or partnership whose registered agent resigned and which didn't appoint a new one within 30 days. Source: icis.corp.delaware.gov |
| Other (Dissolved, Merged, Converted, Withdrawn, Transferred, AR delinquent/Tax due, PPoB Non-Compliant ...) | Delaware defines about 27 statuses in all. The rest are explained on its official field descriptions page. Source: icis.corp.delaware.gov |
A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.
Delaware business name rules
An LLC name must include one of: Limited Liability Company
, L.L.C.
, LLC
. A corporation uses one of: association
, company
, corporation
, club
, foundation
, fund
, incorporated
, institute
.
Your name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records from Delaware businesses, out-of-state businesses registered here, and reserved names. (6 Del.C. 18-102) Source: delcode.delaware.gov
Delaware doesn’t publish a list of the differences it ignores, so our check treats only capitalization and punctuation as insignificant and flags other close names as similar for you to judge.
Words that need approval or are restricted
| Words | Requirement |
|---|---|
| bank, variations of bank | Not allowed in an LLC name unless the LLC is a bank, a bank subsidiary, or regulated under the federal Bank Holding Company Act or Home Owners' Loan Act. You can use it where the context clearly has nothing to do with banking, as long as it isn't misleading. Source: delcode.delaware.gov |
Using a similar name with consent
Allowed: an LLC can use a name that isn't distinguishable from another business's name if that business gives written consent and the consent is filed with the Secretary of State (6 Del.C. 18-102).
Reserving a name in Delaware
Delaware lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $75, held for 120 days. The same applicant can renew it for further 120-day periods.
Reserve online, or in writing by upload, fax or mail. The fee isn't refundable.
Delaware name reservation Source: corp.delaware.gov
Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only DE Division of Corporations can.
Forming an LLC in Delaware
- Document
- Certificate of Formation
- State filing fee
- $110
Per the Division's fee schedule revised August 1, 2026, the $110 includes the municipality fee; Delaware law's text still shows $70. A certified copy is $50 more. Faster processing costs extra: $50 for 24-hour, $100 for same-day, $500 for 2-hour and $1,000 for 1-hour service. - File online
- DE Division of Corporations filing
- Processing
- Standard processing time depends on volume. Paid options include 1-hour, 2-hour, same-day and 24-hour service.
- Registered agent
- Every business must keep a registered agent in Delaware with a physical street address. A business physically located in Delaware can act as its own agent.
- Out-of-state LLC registering here
- $200 (Certificate of Registration of Foreign LLC (18-902), with home-state Certificate of Existence dated within 6 months)
Fees change. Confirm them on the official Delaware fee schedule before you file.
File it yourself or use a service
File directly with Delaware
$110 state fee
You fill in the Certificate of Formation yourself and pay only the state. You’ll need a registered agent with a Delaware street address; that can be you if you have one.
Use a formation service
A service prepares and files the paperwork, and most can act as your registered agent and send compliance reminders. You still pay the state fee on top of their price, and the state still decides whether to accept your name.
- Bizee: $0 plus the state fee (Basic); Standard $199, Premium $299, plus state fee
- LegalZoom: $0 plus state fees (Basic); Managed Service $249 plus state fees
- Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee
- ZenBusiness: $0 plus the state fee (Starter); Pro $199 plus state fee, renews $199/yr
We don’t currently earn commissions from these providers. Prices from each provider’s site on Oct 30, 2026. We never send them your proposed name. Compare what each includes · Disclosure
An EIN (federal tax ID) is free from the IRS; you don’t need to pay anyone for one.
Keeping a Delaware LLC in good standing
LLC Annual Tax (no annual report): $400. Due June 1 each year for the prior calendar year. Late payment adds a $200 penalty plus 1.5% interest a month, and an LLC that goes three years without paying is cancelled. A registered series pays $100. Late fee: $200. Source: corp.delaware.gov
Corporations file an annual report and pay franchise tax by March 1. The report fee is $50 ($25 for exempt corporations). The minimum tax is $175 using the Authorized Shares method or $400 using the Assumed Par Value Capital method, up to $200,000 ($250,000 for Large Corporate Filers). Late payment adds a $200 penalty plus 1.5% interest a month. Source: https://corp.delaware.gov/paytaxes/
Out-of-state corporations registered in Delaware file a $250 annual report by June 30 (source: https://corp.delaware.gov/faqs/). The LLC tax is set by 6 Del.C. 18-1107: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title6/c018/sc11/index.html
Proof of status: Certificate of Good Standing (Short Form Certificate of Status) ($50). Source: corp.delaware.gov
Assumed names (DBAs)
Since February 2, 2026, trade names (DBAs or fictitious names) are handled by the Division of Revenue through Delaware One Stop. They used to be filed with the county Prothonotary. Source: onestop.delaware.gov
Good to know about Delaware
- The free search shows only the name, file number, formation date, registered agent and entity type. Seeing the status costs $10, and the status with tax and filing history costs $20. Source: corp.delaware.gov
- LLCs file no annual report and don't list members or managers. They pay a flat $400 annual tax by June 1 instead. Source: corp.delaware.gov
- Corporations can compute franchise tax by the Authorized Shares or the Assumed Par Value Capital method; the maximum is $200,000, or $250,000 for Large Corporate Filers. Source: corp.delaware.gov
- You can pay for a filing to be processed in as little as 1 hour ($1,000) or 2 hours ($500). Source: corpfiles.delaware.gov
- A name reservation can be renewed by the same applicant for further 120-day periods. Source: delcode.delaware.gov
- Trade names moved from county Prothonotaries to the Division of Revenue's Delaware One Stop on February 2, 2026. Source: corp.delaware.gov
Sources and accuracy
We checked this page against official Delaware sources on . Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.
Items we couldn’t confirm on an official page (5)
- Some Division pages (the FAQ and How to Form pages) still show the old, lower LLC annual tax; the tax instructions page says $400. We couldn't confirm on an official page which tax year the $400 first applies to.
- Delaware doesn't say officially which differences in punctuation or entity endings it ignores when comparing names.
- We haven't confirmed Delaware's naming rules for professional entities.
- We couldn't find a published standard processing time.
- We didn't find any bulk business data sold or published by Delaware.
See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only DE Division of Corporations can change an official record.