Delaware Business Incorporators Lineup Compared 2026: 9 Entity Types Side by Side

Picture three people opening Delaware Business Incorporators' "Start a Company" menu on the same afternoon. One is a software founder whose investors want a Delaware corporation. One owns four rental houses and keeps hearing about something called a "Series LLC." The third runs a youth soccer league and needs a non-profit. They're all in the same menu, but they need very different filings, with different fees, paperwork and yearly bills.

DBI, the Wilmington filing service and registered agent, forms nine kinds of Delaware entities. Olivia Reviews lined them up side by side in October 2026, using DBI's pricing page, package listings, entity summaries and annual-requirement page, so you can see what each one costs to start and to keep. One important note first: DBI is a filing service, not a law firm, and neither are we. Which structure fits your situation is a question for an attorney or tax professional. This guide compares what DBI offers; it doesn't recommend an entity for you.

Quick take: Most of DBI's formations share the same $70 processing fee, and the differences come from Delaware's state fees and annual charges. LLCs and corporations start at $180 for a Bronze package. Series LLCs cost more up front ($250 plus $110). Partnerships carry a higher $220 state fee, and statutory trusts are the most expensive at $155 plus $520. Every new formation includes the first 12 months of registered agent service. DBI's site banner was showing code OX10 for 10% off through October 31, 2026, and you can see today's Delaware Business Incorporators deals for anything newer.

The Whole Lineup at a Glance

Entity	DBI fee + state fee	Yearly state cost (per DBI)	Typically used for, per DBI
LLC	$70 + $110	$400 tax, due June 1	Flexible management with limited liability
Series LLC	$250 + $110	$400 tax for the umbrella LLC	Several assets held in separate "series"
Stock (General) Corporation	$70 + $109	Most pay $225, due March 1	Companies issuing shares
Close Corporation	$70 + $109	Corporation taxes apply	Up to 30 shareholders, often family businesses
Public Benefit Corporation	$70 + $109	Corporation taxes apply	For-profit companies with a stated public benefit
Non-Profit (Exempt) Corporation	$70 + $109	$25 annual report; no franchise tax	Charitable, religious and similar organizations
Limited Partnership (LP)	$70 + $220	$400 tax, due June 1	General partner plus limited "silent" partners
General Partnership (GP)	$70 + $220	$400 tax, due June 1	Partnership registration in Delaware
Statutory Trust	$155 + $520	Not listed on DBI's annual page	A vehicle commonly used for real estate investments

State fees and taxes are set by Delaware and can change, so confirm them with the Delaware Division of Corporations. DBI's pricing page also lists a $250 annual franchise tax for foreign corporations registered in Delaware, due June 30.

LLC vs. Series LLC

The standard LLC

DBI describes the LLC as a hybrid between a corporation and a partnership: members' liability is generally limited to their investment, while management is more flexible and administration is usually simpler. Delaware doesn't require an annual report for LLCs, but every LLC pays the yearly tax, which DBI lists at $400. Package prices run from $180 (Bronze: name check, filing, state fee and first-year agent) to $735 (Platinum), including the state fee.

The Series LLC

A Series LLC is one "umbrella" LLC with separate sub-companies inside it. In DBI's words, the debts and liabilities of one series can be enforced only against that series' assets, if everything is set up properly. DBI's own example is a landlord who holds each apartment building in its own series. Since August 2019, the order form notes, Delaware has recognized "protected" series that aren't registered with the state, as well as "registered" series at $110 each.

DBI is unusually candid about the caveats. The certificate and operating agreement must both identify the company as a Series LLC. Each series needs its own Separate Series Agreement, records and accounts. Some states and countries don't recognize the structure, California treats each series as a separate LLC for registration and tax, and there's less case law than for traditional LLCs. DBI itself recommends a qualified attorney or tax professional here. The $250 order includes a Series LLC operating agreement template in Word, and Series LLC kits are listed from $125.

The Four Corporation Types

Stock (General) Corporation

The standard corporation, with shareholders whose risk is generally limited to what they invested, according to DBI's summary. The Bronze package is $180 and Silver $335. Silver adds preparation of the EIN form, a digital compliance kit with 20 customized stock certificates and a by-laws template. DBI says most corporations pay $225 a year in total, made up of the $175 minimum franchise tax and a $50 annual report fee, due March 1. Its international FAQ adds that the $175 minimum applies to corporations authorizing fewer than 5,000 shares, and the annual-requirements page notes that other share structures and calculation methods can produce a higher tax.

Close Corporation

Same $70 plus $109 filing, with built-in limits: no more than 30 shareholders, restrictions on transferring shares and no public stock offerings. DBI says common reasons to choose one are seeking S-Corporation status and simpler administration for small, often family, businesses. Close corporations can skip annual board meetings and be run by a shareholder agreement.

Public Benefit Corporation

A PBC is a for-profit company whose charter includes a public or environmental benefit. DBI explains that directors must weigh the impact of their decisions on society and the environment alongside shareholders' interests, and that PBCs differ from traditional corporations in purpose, accountability and transparency, not in taxation. The filing fee matches the other corporations.

Non-Profit (Exempt) Corporation

DBI drafts the certificate of incorporation with non-profit wording, including a purpose statement and a statement that the corporation has no shares of stock. Two points to understand: forming the corporation doesn't make it tax-exempt, since you still need to apply to the IRS (DBI mentions Form 1023), and non-profits can't file an anonymous certificate, so the incorporator and initial director are named. On the plus side, DBI says non-profits don't pay Delaware franchise tax and file a $25 annual report. Packages run from $180 (Bronze) to $735 (Platinum).

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Partnerships and Statutory Trusts

Limited and General Partnerships

Partnerships have the highest state filing fee among DBI's standard formations: $220 on top of the $70 processing fee, so the Bronze package is $290. An LP has at least one general partner, who manages the business and takes on unlimited liability, and at least one limited partner, whose liability DBI says is limited to their investment and who has no role in daily operations. The Platinum LP package is $835 and includes a physical kit, EIN form preparation, a certified copy, an incumbency certificate, an apostille or gold-sealed certificate, and a law book. LPs and GPs pay the same $400 annual tax as LLCs.

Delaware Statutory Trust

The most expensive formation on the list, at $155 plus a $520 state fee. DBI's page describes statutory trusts as commonly used to hold and manage real estate investments, with investors owning beneficial interests and a trustee running the trust. It also discusses tax and investment angles that are well outside a filing service's role, so treat this as one to plan with a tax advisor and attorney.

What the Package Tiers Add

For LLCs, corporations and non-profits, DBI uses the same four tiers, priced at $180, $335, $435 and $735 including the state fee:

• Bronze: name check, preparation and electronic filing, the stamped document by email in 1–3 business days, free US shipping of documents and the first year of registered agent service.
• Silver: adds EIN form preparation and a digital compliance kit by email (no binder, slipcase or metal seal).
• Gold: swaps in a physical kit with a hot-stamped binder, slipcase and metal embossing seal, plus a certified copy.
• Platinum: adds an incumbency certificate, an apostille for one Hague-member country or a gold-sealed certificate, and a Delaware law book.

For context, DBI's standalone EIN preparation is $135, and kits on their own run $75 to $175 for physical versions and $75 to $95 for digital ones. Before picking a tier, compare current Delaware Business Incorporators offers.

Costs That Apply to Every Entity

Registered agent: free for the first 12 months, then $100 a year with a US billing address or $120 with a non-US address, invoiced three months before your anniversary. Rush service: 24-hour state processing for new formations is $100 total and same-day is $200 total, though DBI already files the same day for weekday orders received between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Late payments: Delaware adds 1.5% interest per month plus a penalty, which DBI lists at $200 for LLC, LP and GP taxes.

Doing business outside Delaware

Whatever entity you choose, operating in another state may mean registering there too. DBI's foreign qualification service is $250 plus a $100 registered agent fee ($120 for non-US billing) and the other state's fees. If you need a Delaware business license, DBI lists a $155 one-time processing fee, with Delaware charging a $90 annual fee, renewals due December 1.

What We Like, What to Watch

What we like

• One clear pricing page that splits DBI's fee from Delaware's fee for every entity.
• The same $70 processing fee across most formations.
• Plain-English summaries of each entity type, including caveats for Series LLCs.
• A free first year of registered agent service with every new formation.

What to watch

• Annual state costs vary widely by entity and arrive every year.
• Series LLCs and statutory trusts carry legal and tax questions DBI can't answer for you.
• Non-profits still need IRS approval and can't be filed anonymously.
• The 10-day refund policy covers DBI's service fees only, not state fees.

Who Each Option Tends to Suit

Based on DBI's own descriptions: LLCs for owners who want flexibility and simpler administration; stock corporations for companies issuing shares; close corporations for small groups of owners who want transfer limits; PBCs for for-profits with a mission written into the charter; non-profits for charitable and religious organizations; Series LLCs for owners holding several assets separately; partnerships for general-and-limited-partner setups; and statutory trusts for investment vehicles. Use this as a map for your conversation with an advisor, not as the decision itself.

How to Save

• Code OX10: DBI's site banner shows 10% off orders through October 31, 2026. It doesn't say whether state fees are included.
• Free handbook: DBI says requesting its Delaware Incorporation Handbook gets you a $20 code for a future order.
• Buy the tier you need: kits and EIN preparation can be added later.
• Check for newer offers on the Delaware Business Incorporators coupon page.

DBI Lineup FAQ

Which entity costs the least to form with DBI?

LLCs and corporations both start at $180 for a Bronze package. LLCs carry a $400 yearly tax, while DBI says most corporations pay $225 a year.

Can non-US residents form these entities?

DBI's international FAQ says non-US residents can form Delaware LLCs and C-corporations with a Delaware registered agent, without showing a passport or traveling to the US.

Do series in a Series LLC each pay a filing fee?

Protected series aren't registered with the state. Registered series, which Delaware has allowed since 2019, cost $110 each, according to DBI's order form.

Does DBI help me choose an entity?

DBI's specialists will answer questions about its services, but it isn't a law firm. For structure and tax choices, talk to a licensed attorney or tax professional.

Final Verdict

DBI's lineup is easier to compare than most, because almost everything starts from the same $70 processing fee and the real differences show up in Delaware's state fees and yearly charges. LLCs and corporations are the budget starting points, Series LLCs and statutory trusts need professional advice, and non-profits need an IRS step afterward. Settle the structure with your advisor, pick the leanest package that fits, and use OX10 while it lasts.

→ 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.