Delaware Business Incorporators Beginner's Guide 2026: Your First Company, Step by Step

The side hustle has customers now. Real ones, paying real invoices, and somebody at a family dinner has just asked, "So, are you an LLC yet?" You nod like you know what that means. Later, at the kitchen table, you open a laptop and meet a wall of words: registered agent, certificate of formation, operating agreement, franchise tax.

This guide is for that kitchen-table moment. Olivia Reviews read Delaware Business Incorporators' glossary, start-up FAQ, ordering FAQ, fee schedule and free resources on October 20, 2026, and turned them into a plain-English starting path: the words you need, the handful of services a first-timer actually uses, and the order to do things in. DBI (as the company calls itself) is a filing service in Wilmington, Delaware, not a law firm, and this isn't legal or tax advice. Whether Delaware or an LLC suits you is a question for an attorney or accountant.

Quick take: A first-timer's DBI path is short: check the name for free, settle the structure with an adviser, file (from $70 plus Delaware's state fee, with the first 12 months of registered agent service included), add an EIN if you'll open a US bank account, and keep a simple record kit. Grab the free Delaware Incorporation Handbook first, which DBI says also brings a $20 code for a future order, and see today's Delaware Business Incorporators deals before you pay.

Six Words to Learn Before Anything Else

Illustration of an official certificate with a ribbon seal and quill — Formation documents, certificates and seals are the paperwork side of a new company. Image: Delaware Business Incorporators

DBI publishes a long glossary. These are the six terms a beginner meets on day one, in DBI's own definitions, trimmed:

LLC (limited liability company): an entity with limited liability similar to a corporation, which DBI says is generally regarded as more flexible and easier to administer.
Member: a person who owns all or part of an LLC, similar to a shareholder in a corporation.
Certificate of Formation: the document filed with the state that creates the LLC and lists details such as its name and its registered agent's address.
Registered agent: the agent appointed to receive legal papers (service of process) and tax notices for the company. Required by law in most states.
Operating agreement: the document setting out how an LLC is structured and run and how distributions work, similar to a corporation's by-laws.
Good standing: the status a company keeps by meeting state requirements, such as paying annual taxes and keeping a registered agent.

One more useful idea: DBI acts as your organizer (for an LLC) or incorporator (for a corporation). Its glossary says its role ends once the company is registered and the initial member or director takes over.

Do You Need a Lawyer to Start?

Not to file, according to DBI's start-up FAQ: you aren't required to use an attorney to form a Delaware LLC or corporation, and DBI prepares and files the documents. It's equally clear that it can't give legal, tax or financial advice, and that you should consult an attorney if you need it. A sensible beginner's split: let an adviser help you choose the structure, then let a filing service do the paperwork.

Your First Five Steps With DBI

Step 1: Check the name, and hold it if you're not ready

Reserved sign icon for corporate name reservation — Not ready to file? A name reservation holds the name. Image: Delaware Business Incorporators

A name availability check is free; DBI suggests contacting one of its Incorporation Specialists before you order, and the check is included in its formation services. If you've found the perfect name but aren't ready to form the company, a corporate name reservation costs $50 plus Delaware's $75 fee. Then proofread the name letter by letter. DBI's ordering FAQ warns that the information becomes permanent once registered.

Step 2: File the company (from $70 plus the state fee)

DBI's processing fee for a new LLC or corporation is $70. Delaware adds $110 for an LLC or $109 for a corporation. Every formation includes the name check, preparation and filing, same-business-day processing, the first year of registered agent service, email reminders and, in DBI's words, lifetime customer support. Order before 3:00 p.m. Eastern on a weekday and DBI promises to file that day. The state's stamped proof of filing comes back in 1 to 3 business days.

Beginner tip: online Delaware orders don't require you to send any documents or a signature, per the start-up FAQ, and you can choose "Unlisted" if you'd rather your name not appear on the Certificate of Formation.

Step 3: Get an EIN if a US bank account is next

Most new owners want a business bank account soon after filing, and DBI's EIN page says banks require an Employer Identification Number to open a US business account. You don't need employees to get one. DBI prepares and files the application for $135 if you have a Social Security Number, typically in 1 to 2 business days. DBI says the process starts after the company is registered and before the bank account is opened.

→ Check the latest Delaware Business Incorporators coupon codes and deals

Step 4: Start a simple record book

Corpkit corporate kit binders with slipcase and certificates — Physical kits come in binders with a slipcase and a metal embossing seal. Image: Delaware Business Incorporators

Banks, partners and future investors may ask who owns the company. A kit keeps that in one place. DBI's digital LLC kits cost $75 to $95 and arrive by email the same day with printing instructions, an operating agreement, 20 membership certificates, a member ledger and a basic seal image. Physical kits run $75 to $175 and add a slip-case binder and a metal embossing seal. For a beginner on a budget, the digital kit covers the essentials; you can always print it into your own binder.

Step 5: Decide what name customers will see

Doing Business As DBA registration form on a desk with a pen — A DBA lets your company trade under a different name. Image: Delaware Business Incorporators

Your legal company name and your brand don't have to match. A "doing business as" (DBA) name, also called a trade or fictitious name, lets the company operate under another name without filing an amendment, according to DBI's DBA page. In Delaware, DBAs are filed at the county level (New Castle, Kent or Sussex). DBI charges $135 per name plus the $25 county fee, and the process takes about 7 to 10 business days. DBI notes that a DBA usually doesn't give exclusive rights to the name, so ask an adviser about trademarks if the brand matters.

What the Registered Agent Actually Does

Mailbox illustration — A registered agent receives legal and tax mail on your company's behalf. Image: Delaware Business Incorporators

This trips up almost every beginner. DBI's start-up FAQ says you don't need an office in Delaware, only a Delaware registered agent, which must be located in the state and open during business hours to receive legal notices. It also acts as a go-between with the Delaware Secretary of State's office. DBI's first 12 months are free with a new formation; after that it's $100 a year with a US billing address. A registered agent isn't a business address for your website, though. That's a separate virtual office or mail forwarding service.

A First-Timer's Starter Budget

Item	DBI price (Oct 20, 2026)	Do you need it on day one?
Name availability check	Free	Yes
New LLC filing	$70 + $110 state	Yes
Registered agent, year one	Included	Yes (required)
EIN preparation (with SSN)	$135	If you're opening a US bank account
Digital LLC kit	$75–$95	Recommended for records
DBA name	$135 + $25 county fee	Only if you'll trade under another name
Electronic delivery	$0	Yes, instead of $35 US express

Then there's year two. DBI's start-up FAQ lists the recurring Delaware costs as a $400 annual LLC tax (or $225 for most small corporations) plus the agent renewal, and says these taxes aren't tied to activity level or income. Put the date in your calendar on the day you form.

Free Help for Beginners

DBI offers more free learning material than most filing services:

The Delaware Incorporation Handbook, recently updated, free by email or PDF download, with free US shipping for a printed copy.
Free Entrepreneur Resources: PDF checklists on topics such as Shopify stores, Etsy, SEO, podcasting and solopreneurship.
The glossary and FAQs quoted throughout this guide.
Paid eBooks, such as "Solopreneur Success" at $19.95, if you want more depth.

What We Like and What to Watch

What we like

Plain-language glossary and FAQs written for first-timers.
A low $70 processing fee, with the state fee shown separately.
Free name check and a free first year of registered agent service.
Live staff by phone, email or chat on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

What to watch

Delaware's yearly tax arrives whether or not the business earns anything.
Details become permanent once filed, so typos are costly.
Refunds cover DBI's service fees only, within 10 days.
No legal or tax advice is included.

Who This Guide Is For

A good fit: freelancers and side-hustlers forming a first company, online sellers who need a business bank account, and anyone who has already been told by an adviser or investor to use Delaware. Maybe pause: if your business will only ever operate in your home state, ask a professional whether a local filing makes more sense. DBI also files in other states through its sister site, dbiglobalfilings.com.

How Beginners Can Save

Request the free handbook: DBI says it comes with a code to save $20 on a future order.
Choose $0 electronic delivery rather than $35 express shipping.
Skip rush fees: same-day processing is already included for weekday orders before 3:00 p.m. Eastern.
Buy only what you need now: kits, DBAs and other add-ons can come later.

Promotional codes change often, so check current Delaware Business Incorporators offers on the day you order.

Beginner FAQ

Do I have to live in Delaware?

No. DBI's start-up FAQ says you only need a Delaware registered agent, not an office in the state.

Can I order by phone instead of online?

Yes. DBI accepts orders by phone, fax, email, courier or mail, but those need a signed order form and take longer. Online ordering is the fastest, and Delaware orders on its website don't need a signed form.

What if I make a mistake on my order?

DBI says orders are processed immediately and may not be changeable, so check spelling, punctuation and capitalization first. If DBI makes a filing error, its refund policy says it will correct it at no charge.

Where do I start if I'm still unsure?

Read the free handbook, write down your questions, and call an Incorporation Specialist at 1-800-423-2993. For structure or tax questions, book time with an attorney or accountant, then browse Delaware Business Incorporators offers once you're ready.

Final Verdict

Forming a first company sounds bigger than it is. With DBI, the core is a name, a $70 filing fee plus the state fee, and a registered agent that's included for year one. Add an EIN if a bank account is next and a simple kit to keep records straight, learn the six words above, and put next year's tax date on the calendar. Get the structure question answered by a professional first, and the paperwork part can be done before lunch.

→ Check the latest Delaware Business Incorporators coupon codes and deals

Olivia Reviews researched Delaware Business Incorporators using its official website, product listings and published policies in October 2026. We haven't personally tested these products. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.