ZenBusiness (which has formed more than 300,000 businesses) has an inviting offer for LLC formations that is among the best options nationwide and in Delaware. We pride ourselves in offering the most bang for your buck in the industry.
We offer LLC formations for free (only pay your state fee). In addition, we receive spectacular feedback from our clients, with more than 10,000 reviews available online, and nearly universal acclaim from our customers. Get this discount!
Furthermore, ZenBusiness is a public benefit corporation, which indicates that we’re focused on more than simply maximizing our profits.
We have a partnership with Kiva.org to help lift people out of poverty through financial lending, and ZenBusiness also loans money to help women- and minority-owned businesses get off the ground.
It’s tough to top what ZenBusiness has to offer, no matter what state you’re starting a business in.
LegalZoom is the biggest name in the LLC formation service industry. They’ve been a prominent player in this market for years, and they advertise more than most of their competitors combined.
They also serve a very high volume of customers, so there’s no denying that LegalZoom is a popular service. In addition, LegalZoom has thousands of mostly positive customer reviews available online.
However, their pricing is acceptable but uninspiring. Their LLC formation packages are threadbare and lacking value compared to many of their competitors.
If you prioritize using the company with the largest volume of customers or the biggest brand power, LegalZoom is certainly worth a look.
Northwest Registered Agent has a personalized nationwide customer support network.
While they may not have the extensive Delaware-specific knowledge you’ll find with Harvard Business Services, Northwest does have plenty of appealing selling points of their own.
Northwest provides all of its clients with support from their Corporate Guides. These highly trained representatives walk you through each step of the formation process, and you can contact your Guide at any time to ask questions or get advice.
Northwest’s pricing starts at $225, and that rate includes 12 months of their registered agent service.
While their competitors typically only scan the government documents they’re legally required to scan, Northwest scans all documents they receive on your behalf.
They provide solid overall value, and they also receive strong reviews from their customers, albeit in a smaller volume of feedback than some other companies in this guide have to offer.
If you’re looking for more personalized service, Northwest is a good DE LLC service.
Who doesn’t like getting things for free? Along with ZenBusiness, IncFile is one of the only companies we’ve ever heard of that actually offers to form your Delaware LLC at absolutely no charge, as long as you pay your own state fee.
This is a bargain, and it gets even better when you realize that IncFile is far from a barebones service.
With IncFile, that free formation package we just discussed actually comes with a free year of registered agent service.
In addition, they have a positive reputation for customer feedback, as they have thousands upon thousands of reviews available online, and nearly all of them are perfect five-star scores.
The only real drawback of IncFile is that their customer support team can sometimes take a bit to get back to you, and they don’t have the Delaware-specific knowhow that some options in this guide can offer.
Still, it’s hard to complain about a company that offers to form your LLC for free, while still throwing in a full year of registered agent service.
Harvard Business Services is a Delaware-only LLC formation service. Harvard Business Services can get your business formed the same day you place your order.
Additionally, Harvard Business Services has thousands of reviews. If that wasn’t enough for you, Harvard Business Services charges just $50 per year for registered agent service, and they guarantee that rate for the life of your business.
If you have any questions or concerns, their customer support teams have a large amount of experience in this state, and they can answer even your toughest questions.
Harvard Business Services has plenty of their own advantages as well, especially since their $89 package includes a year of registered agent service.
What Is A Delaware LLC?
LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnerships, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes.
An LLC may also elect to be taxed like a corporation, although this is not a very common option.
There are similarities to corporations too, especially when it comes to financial responsibilities. In an LLC, the owners or members are not usually personally accountable for the financial status of the business. This means that if someone sues your LLC, your personal assets are not at risk.
While Delaware does not legally require LLCs to create an operating agreement, it’s still strongly recommended. This document can help clear up any disagreements between your owners, and it’s also just generally convenient to have a roadmap of your LLC’s operational aspects.
The state of Delaware provides some distinct advantages over other states when it comes to the formation of LLCs, starting with the fact that very little information is required to form one.
This goes hand-in-hand with the state’s policy of allowing LLC owners to remain anonymous. All you need to operate a compliant LLC in Delaware is a designated contact person for your person, as well as a registered agent located in the state.
In addition, Delaware has a separate court system (called the Chancery Court) that specifically hears business matters. This means the state has a more established body of case law and precedent for LLCs than most states do, and business lawsuits typically proceed quickly.
Finally, Delaware allows entrepreneurs to form series LLCs. In fact, we have an entire guide on how to form a series LLC in this state. The series LLC is a group of LLCs that fall under the umbrella of one parent LLC.
The big advantage of series LLCs is that each LLC in the series is shielded from the liability of each other LLC, and you only need to form one entity instead of several separate LLCs or a corporation with subsidiaries.
Get The Best LLC Service
| Service | Price | Value | Legit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 ZenBusiness | $0 + state fee | Excellent | Absolutely |
Want the best LLC service? Choose ZenBusiness. We have formed 400,000+ businesses and accumulated thousands of positive customer reviews.
We'll form your LLC for free — just pay your state's required fee!
In Conclusion
There are several great companies that we appreciate for LLC formations in the state of Delaware.
ZenBusiness has a free formation offer and is the most well-rounded company in this industry, and Harvard Business Services’ combination of fair prices and Delaware-specific expertise is inviting. As for Northwest Registered Agent, it has personalized customer support.
Meanwhile, IncFile also offers LLC formations for free, and LegalZoom has an advantage in the area of customer volume and brand power.
We hope this guide helped you hone in on which company is the right choice to form your Delaware limited liability company!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Get More Information About Forming LLCs in Delaware?
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in Delaware. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
How Can I Search the Delaware Business Name Database?
One of the most important steps in forming a Delaware LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the state’s Name Availability Search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in Delaware, check out our full article on the topic.
Where Can I Find the Delaware Certificate of Formation?
You can print off a paper copy of the Delaware Certificate of Formation at this link.
What Are the Ongoing LLC Maintenance Requirements in Delaware?
Every LLC operating in the state of Delaware is required by law to pay a $300 annual franchise tax, which you can pay on the Delaware Corporations Information System website. Aside from this payment, there is no requirement in Delaware for LLCs to file an annual report.
Where Can I Get Information on Licensing for My Delaware LLC?
All businesses operating in Delaware are required to obtain the state’s general business license, which you can acquire online. In addition, it’s likely that your business will need at least one industry-specific license or permit.
You can get more information about these licenses by visiting the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation website.
How Quickly Can Delaware Form My LLC?
Delaware has some of the quickest expedited turnaround times available in any state, but it will cost you a premium fee. The standard processing speed in Delaware is between 10-15 days, but you can speed up your formation with the following options:
- 24-hour service: $50
- Same-day service: $100
- Two-hour service: $500
- One-hour service: $1,000
Which Company Provides the Best Delaware Registered Agent Service?
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to Delaware registered agents.
How Can I Dissolve My Delaware LLC?
Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to Delaware LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
What if I Need to Expand a Business From Another State to Delaware?
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in Delaware. Instead, you’ll need to foreign qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in Delaware for more information.
Best LLC Formation Services in All 50 States
We've broken down the best LLC formation services in all 50 states. Select your state for more information.
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