Online Delaware Corporation FAQ

How do I form a corporation in Delaware?

In Delaware, you create a corporation by filing "certificate of incorporation" with the Division of Corporations and paying a filing fee. You'll also need corporate bylaws and resolutions signed by the board of directors, although these documents don't need to be filed with the Division of Corporations. Your bylaws explicitly state the rights and responsibilities of the shareholders and directors and govern how your corporation will be run.

After your certificate of incorporation has been filed and you sign corporate bylaws, your corporation is official, but you will still need to obtain the licenses and permits that all new businesses must have to operate. These may include a business license (sometimes also referred to as a "tax registration certificate"), a federal employer identification number, a sellers' permit, or a zoning permit. Forming a corporation does not exempt you from any of these requirements that apply to all businesses.

For more information, see the Licenses & Permits for Your Business area of Nolo's website.

To begin creating your Delaware corporation, visit the Online Corporation page on the Nolo website.

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Do I need to file a beneficial ownership information report for my corporation?

All corporations, unless exempt, must complete a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report by the appropriate deadline. You must file your BOI report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury. File online through FinCEN's BOI E-Filing System.

In your BOI report, you must provide basic information about:

  • your corporation (the reporting company)
  • the individual who filed your corporation's formation documents (the company applicant), and
  • your corporation's beneficial owners (those owners who either own or control at least 25% of your corporation's interests or have substantial control over your corporation).

Your filing deadline and the information required for your BOI report depend on when you formed your corporation.

If you formed your corporation in 2024, then you must file your BOI report within 90 days of when either you received actual notice or when your state's filing office provided public notice of your corporation's creation, whichever is earlier. If you formed your corporation in 2025 or later, then your deadline is reduced to 30 days.

If you formed your corporation in 2023 or earlier, you must file a BOI report by January 1, 2025. You don't need to complete the section related to the company applicant in the BOI report. This section only applies to companies formed on or after January 1, 2024.

There's no charge for filing a BOI report. You can learn more about FinCEN's new reporting requirement and how it applies to your corporation in our article on BOI reports.

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How much will it cost to form my Delaware corporation?

The price of Nolo's Online Corporation formation service varies depending on your needs.

Nolo's Basic Service. The price starts as low as $49 for Nolo's Basic Service, which includes preparation and filing of the certificate of incorporation, a written consent form (in lieu of minutes) for the first meeting of the board of directors, including banking resolutions, and standard filing, which will take from three to five weeks (longer in case of delays at the Division of Corporations).

Nolo's Standard Service. Our Standard Service package, for $149, gets you all of the benefits of the Basic Service plus preparation of the IRS application for an employer tax ID (Form SS-4) and our Business Forms Bundle, containing 30 forms and contracts that every small business needs. Includes access to NoloCloud Legal Forms for business anywhere at any time from your account. Processing time is three to five weeks (longer in case of delays at the Division of Corporations).

Nolo's Express Premiere Service. Includes Nolo's Standard Service plus Priority Rush Filing, a personalized corporate record book that is foil-stamped with your company name, 20 personalized stock certificates, and a personalized corporation seal, for $299. With Priority Rush Filing, your certificate of incorporation will be filed within one business day, and you'll receive your final corporate documents three business days later (longer in case of delays at the Division of Corporations). Your corporate records kit will be sent to you directly from the manufacturer.

Note that filing fees charged by the state are not included in our package prices. The Delaware Division of Corporations charges $109 in state fees for our Basic and Standard packages and $159 for the Express Premiere package. The filing fee will be added to your total when you check out.

To compare Nolo's Delaware corporate packages, see the package and pricing details. Please note that coupon codes are not applicable to corporate packages.

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How long will it take to form my Delaware corporation?

With the Priority Rush Filing that comes with Nolo's Express Premiere Service, your certificate of incorporation will be filed with the Division of Corporations within one business day, and you'll receive your final corporate documents three business days later. If the Division of Corporations is experiencing delays, it may take up to two weeks to receive your documents (even with expedited service). Your corporate records kit will be sent to you directly from the manufacturer.

With the Basic or Standard Service, your corporation will be formed, and you will receive your final corporate documents, within three to five weeks (longer in case of delays at the Division of Corporations).

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Will I have to pay taxes on my Delaware corporation?

Delaware state taxes. You'll need to pay a corporate franchise tax to the Delaware Division of Corporations each year by March 1. You can learn more about how to calculate your corporation's franchise tax at https://corp.delaware.gov/frtax/.

Federal income tax on C corporations. The Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017 established a new single flat tax rate of 21% for corporations. This replaces the corporate tax rates ranging from 15% to 35% that corporations paid under prior law.

Federal income tax on S corporations. The IRS does not impose taxes on S corporations; S corporation income is reported on the shareholders' individual tax returns.

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Do I need a lawyer to form a corporation in Delaware?

You can form your own corporation online by using Nolo's Online Corporation service. We will walk you through the information needed to form a corporation. If you have a complex question, you may want to consult a business lawyer or tax expert.

If you are trying to convert an LLC or partnership into a corporation, you should consult an attorney. There are some legal and tax ramifications to closing down an existing business and starting a new one that are beyond the scope of our service.

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Does Delaware require that corporations have bylaws?

Delaware's Division of Corporations does not require you to file written bylaws, but our customized bylaws help ensure that courts will respect the shareholders' personal liability protection, help to avert misunderstandings among the shareholders over finances and management, lay out the procedures for handling the departure and addition of shareholders, and more. Every corporation needs bylaws to outline the corporate structure and establish the powers of directors, officers, and shareholders.

Nolo offers an online form you can use to create customized bylaws for your corporation. You can learn more about bylaws in the Corporations section of Nolo's website.

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Can I form a corporation in a different state if my business will operate in Delaware?

Corporations formed in Delaware are not required to have a principal office in Delaware. But if you were to form a corporation out of state, you would still need to qualify your corporation to do business in Delaware—and this means you would have to file additional paperwork and pay additional fees. For more information on whether you'll need to qualify to do business in certain states, read Nolo's article Qualifying to Do Business Outside Your State on Nolo's website. Note that if you don't register to do business in another state when required, you won't be able to enforce contracts in that state.

Also, be ready for some state tax complications if you form your corporation in a state that's different from the state where all of its shareholders live. For one thing, the shareholders might have to pay personal income taxes in the other state on corporation income. (At best, you might get credit for those taxes in your home state and not have to pay twice. At worst, you might have to pay taxes you wouldn't have had to pay at home.) Other state taxes vary from state to state, and might influence your choice of location for a corporation. A corporation—like any business—has to pay franchise taxes, sales and use taxes, other transaction and excise taxes, and employment, property, and transfer taxes.

In addition, you need to maintain a registered agent in the state in which you incorporate.

To avoid these hassles, most smaller corporations that will operate only in Delaware form their corporation in Delaware.

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Does Delaware exempt sales of shares by small corporations from securities registration requirements?

A share of stock in your corporation is classified as a security under both Delaware and federal securities laws that regulate the offer and sale of corporate stock. However, Delaware and the federal government exempt most small corporations from these laws. Delaware exempts from state registration all share sales to any number of "accredited investors" located within or outside the state. Accredited investors include corporate officers, directors, and wealthy investors (those worth at least $1 million or who earn $200,000 per year if single, $300,000 if married). To qualify for this exemption:
  • the corporation must have a specific business plan or purpose
  • the corporate issuer must reasonably believe that the shares are purchased for investment, not resale, and
  • no general sales solicitations may be made, but the corporation can provide prospective accredited investors with a general announcement containing basic information.

No Delaware state filings or fees are required for this exemption. (6 Del. Administrative Code, Section 200-E-503.)

    Any share sale that qualifies for the Delaware accredited investor exemption should also be exempt from federal registration under federal private offering exemption for non-advertised sales to a limited number of people—generally 35 or fewer, not counting accredited investors.

    If shares are to be sold to any unaccredited investors in an unadvertised sale, no federal registration is required if no more than 35 unaccredited investors are offered the stock. Such limited offerings are also exempt from Delaware state registration. But the corporation must file Form LOE, Notice of Limited Offering Exemption, with the Investor Protection Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice within 15 days of the first sale. (6 Del. Administrative Code, Section 200-E-502(b).) No filing fee is required.

    With our service, each shareholder will receive a shareholder representation letter to sign, stating their relationship to the corporation.

    State securities exemptions in Delaware are regulated by the Investor Protection Unit of the Fraud & Consumer Protection Division of the Delaware Department of Justice. For more information, see the website of the Investor Protection Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice.

    Does forming a corporation mean I don't need Delaware business licenses or permits?

    Forming a corporation does not take the place of obtaining a business license, tax registration certificate, and other required business permits. A corporation merely creates an ownership setup that limits the owners' personal liability. For more information on required licenses and permits, see the Licenses & Permits for Your Business area of Nolo's website.

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    How can a Delaware corporation be ended after it has been formed?

    Your corporation will exist—and incur taxes and fees, whether or not you are actively operating a business—until you take legal steps to dissolve it. If you decide to discontinue business as a corporation, you must file articles of dissolution or a similar document with the Delaware Division of Corporations. Dissolution can be more complicated than incorporation.

    For general information on closing a business, read the article Closing Your Business: What You Need to Do on Nolo's website.

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    Does Nolo form professional corporations in Delaware?

    No, Nolo does not form professional corporations. In Delaware, those with professional licenses, such as architects, attorneys, certified or other public accountants, chiropodists, chiropractors, doctors of dentistry, doctors of medicine, optometrists, doctors of osteopathy, doctors of podiatric medicine, professional engineers, and veterinarians can form professional corporations or regular corporations. You should consult with a lawyer if you are interested in forming a professional corporation.

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    How long do I have to work on my corporate order?

    You have as long as you like to work on your corporate formation on Nolo.com. When you fill out your information in the corporation interview, your answers are automatically saved.

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    What happens after I complete Nolo's corporation interview?

    You will receive a confirmation email, and your certificate of incorporation will be generated and sent to the Division of Corporations.

    If you ordered Nolo's Express Premiere Service, your corporate records binder and company seal will be sent to you independently, directly from the manufacturer.

    When we send you your final corporate documents, you will receive instructions on a few more steps you need to take, which include holding an initial meeting of your directors and shareholders (who are likely the same persons). You'll also receive details related to filing your BOI report, including your filing deadline, instructions on how to file, and your company applicant's FinCEN ID, which you must use to complete your BOI report.

    After completing your corporation interview, you may no longer go back and change your answers because your order is being processed. You may, however, view your answers by signing in to your Nolo account at https://store.nolo.com/products/customer/account/login, clicking on My Account, and clicking on Delaware corporation.

    Once we send your documents to the Division of Corporations, we cannot refund your state filing fees and other third-party costs, such as courier and delivery services, should you decide to cancel your order. If you have a question after submitting your order, you may contact our filings specialists by going to www.nolo.com/customer-support/filing-support.

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    What if I want to change the information I gave you for my new corporation?

    You can take as much time as you like to work on your corporation answer choices. Every time you add or edit an answer, your work is automatically saved.

    After completing your corporation interview, you may no longer go back and change your answers because your order is being processed. You may, however, view your answers by signing in to your Nolo account at https://store.nolo.com/products/customer/account/login, clicking on My Account, and clicking on Delaware corporation.

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    Where can I learn more about Delaware corporations?

    To learn more about corporations, visit the Corporations area of Nolo's website or read Nolo's book Incorporate Your Business, by Attorney Anthony Mancuso.

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