Delaware Business Incorporators Care Guide 2026: Keep Your Company in Good Standing
Picture a small software company three years after its founders formed it in Delaware. The product is doing fine. Then the bank asks for a certificate of good standing to renew a credit line, someone checks the state's records, and the answer comes back: the company isn't in good standing. Nobody paid the annual tax. Nobody noticed the reminder emails.
Forming a company takes a day. Keeping it in good shape takes a few small habits every year. Delaware Business Incorporators, Inc. (DBI), the Wilmington filing service and registered agent, sells nearly every service involved, from amendments to revivals, and lists the fees on one pricing page. Olivia Reviews turned that page, DBI's annual-requirements page and its service pages into a maintenance guide in October 2026. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Quick take: Every Delaware company needs three things each year: a paid registered agent, a paid state tax and, for corporations, an annual report. Miss them and the company can go void. DBI handles the routine (agent renewals from $100 a year, a done-for-you tax compliance service), the changes (amendments at $225 plus state fees, corrections, agent changes at $50 plus $50) and the rescues (revival at $225 plus state fees and back taxes). Through October 31, 2026, its banner offered 10% off with code OX10. See today's Delaware Business Incorporators deals for anything newer.
The Three Things Every Company Owes Each Year
DBI's tax compliance page boils the yearly routine down to three tasks, and warns that missing any of them risks the entity going void and losing the legal ability to do business:
- Pay the registered agent. DBI's fee is $100 a year with a US billing address or $120 with a non-US address. It invoices three months before your formation anniversary, so the bill arrives with time to spare.
- Pay the state tax. DBI lists $400 a year for LLCs, LPs and GPs, due June 1, and $225 for most corporations ($175 franchise tax plus a $50 annual report fee), due March 1.
- File the annual report, if one applies. Corporations file online with their franchise tax. Delaware LLCs don't file an annual report.
Late payments cost more than the fee itself. DBI lists a $200 state penalty for late LLC taxes plus 1.5% interest per month, and its pages show $125 or $200 for late corporate filings, also with 1.5% monthly interest. Check current amounts with the Delaware Division of Corporations.
Let Someone Else Keep the Calendar
For registered agent clients, DBI sells a Done-For-You Tax Compliance Service. The idea is simple: DBI files the annual report and pays the franchise tax for you each year. Its promise is unusually direct. If the report isn't filed or the tax isn't paid on time, DBI says it will pay the penalty and interest.
The conditions: the service is billed on top of the agent fee, it works only with auto-pay, and state fees above $400 need a separate payment arrangement. DBI doesn't post a price on the page; it sends a sales order for you to approve. DBI's homepage also describes a customer portal for approving orders, paying invoices, setting up auto-pay and viewing legal documents online.
When Something About the Company Changes
Amendments: $225 plus state fees
DBI explains that an amendment changes a previously filed document, and lists the kinds of changes it covers: a new company name, updated agent contact details, a new business address, director or member information, the number of authorized shares, par value and business activities. Its pricing page lists $225 plus a $220 state fee for LLCs or $214 for corporations.
Three things an amendment can't do, per DBI: change the original filing date, change the organizer or incorporator, or switch your registered agent.
Switching registered agents: $50 plus $50
Changing agents is its own filing. DBI lists a $50 processing fee and a $50 state fee to move your company's agent to DBI. It prepares a one-page document to make the switch.
Fixing a mistake: Certificate of Correction
If something on file is simply wrong, DBI offers a certificate of correction at $225 plus a state fee of $189 to $284, depending on the correction and any taxes due.
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Keep Your Records in One Place
Banks, investors and buyers often ask to see who owns what. DBI's kits are built for that: digital LLC or corporation kits at $75 to $95, delivered by email with templates, 20 certificates, a member or stockholder ledger and a basic company seal image; or physical kits at $75 to $175 with a slip-case binder, a metal embossing seal and printed certificates. Need certificates on their own? DBI's order form for customized LLC membership or corporate stock certificates is $95.
Proof Documents You'll Be Asked For
| Document | DBI price (Oct 2026) | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|
| Good Standing, Short Form | $99 + $50 state ($149) | Bank accounts, loans, leases |
| Good Standing, Long Form | $99 + $175 state ($274) | A full filing history for deals or due diligence |
| Certificate of Incumbency | $135 | Showing who the officers or managers are |
| Certified copies | $25 base + $50 per copy | Official copies of filed documents |
| Embassy legalization | $250 service fee, plus other fees | Using documents abroad |
DBI's good standing page says the certificate confirms franchise taxes are paid and, for corporations, annual reports are filed, and that DBI can usually get one in less than 60 minutes through its direct connection with the state. In other words, the routine above is what makes these documents possible.
If the Company Has Already Lapsed
It happens: a founder moves on, a card expires, a reminder goes to an old inbox. When a Delaware LLC goes void, DBI's revival page explains, it's marked "not in good standing," and a Certificate of Renewal and Revival brings it back. You pay all back fees, taxes, interest and penalties. DBI checks the balance due, sends an updated estimate and emails the renewal certificate for your signature. Its pricing page lists $225 plus a $240 state fee for LLCs or $209 for corporations, plus the past-due taxes. You don't have to be an existing DBI client to use the service.
Speed costs extra here: rush service for revivals and cancellations is $200 total for 24 hours or $400 total for same day, double the new-formation rush rates.
When the Company Grows, or Ends
Growing into another state: DBI's foreign qualification service is $250 plus a $100 registered agent fee ($120 for non-US billing) and the other state's fees. Opening a Delaware location: DBI's business license service carries a $155 annual processing fee plus Delaware's $90 annual fee, on auto-pay. Closing down: an LLC cancellation is $225 plus $220 state, and a corporate dissolution $225 plus $194 state, each plus past-due taxes. DBI notes the company must be in good standing first.
A Simple Maintenance Calendar
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| Three months before your anniversary | Pay DBI's registered agent invoice |
| By March 1 | Corporations: annual report and franchise tax |
| By June 1 | LLCs, LPs, GPs: $400 annual tax |
| By June 30 | Foreign corporations: $250 franchise tax |
| Whenever details change | File an amendment or correction |
| Before any bank or deal deadline | Order a good standing certificate |
What We Like, What to Watch
What we like
- One pricing page that separates DBI's fee from the state's fee.
- A done-for-you tax service with a promise to cover penalties if DBI misses a deadline.
- Clear lists of what an amendment can and can't change.
- Revival help even for companies that aren't DBI clients.
What to watch
- Some fees differ between DBI's pages, such as late penalties and processing fees on the dissolution page.
- The tax compliance service price isn't published.
- Back taxes, interest and penalties add up quickly on a lapsed company.
- DBI isn't a law firm, so structure and tax questions need a professional.
Who This Guide Is For
Great for: founders who formed a Delaware company and now have to keep it current, non-US owners who can't easily follow Delaware deadlines, and anyone reviving a company they forgot about. Maybe skip: if a lawyer or accountant already manages your filings, check with them before adding another service.
How to Save on Upkeep
- Code OX10: DBI's banner offered 10% off orders through October 31, 2026. It doesn't say whether state fees are included.
- Free handbook: request DBI's Delaware Incorporation Handbook, and DBI says you'll get a $20 code for a future order.
- Pay on time: avoiding the $200 penalty and 1.5% monthly interest saves more than any code.
- Skip rush fees unless a deadline forces them, and choose $0 electronic delivery.
Codes change, so compare current Delaware Business Incorporators offers before you order.
DBI Maintenance FAQ
Do Delaware LLCs file an annual report?
No. DBI's annual-requirements page says Delaware doesn't require one for LLCs, but every LLC pays the yearly tax, which DBI lists at $400.
Can I change my company name with DBI?
Yes, through an amendment. DBI lists $225 plus a state fee of $220 for LLCs or $214 for corporations.
What happens if my company goes void?
It's no longer in good standing. DBI's renewal and revival service files the paperwork to bring it back once back taxes, interest and penalties are paid.
Can I close a company that isn't in good standing?
Not directly. DBI says a company must be in good standing before a dissolution or cancellation can be processed, so a void company needs to be revived first.
Final Verdict
A Delaware company is low-maintenance, not no-maintenance. Pay the agent, pay the tax, file the report if you're a corporation, and keep your records and certificates in order. DBI covers each step and the fixes when something slips, at clearly listed prices. Set the calendar now and see today's Delaware Business Incorporators deals before you order.
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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.