Delaware Business Incorporators Price Guide 2026: Real Costs at Every Budget
The first quote looks almost too small. Seventy dollars to start a Delaware company? Then you notice the words "plus state filing fees," and a few clicks later there's a kit, a certificate, a rush option, an address, and a reminder that something called franchise tax shows up every year whether you've made a sale or not. By the time you close the tab, nobody has told you the one thing you wanted: what this is actually going to cost.
So let's put the numbers on one page. Delaware Business Incorporators, Inc. (DBI), the Wilmington filing service and registered agent, publishes its fees on a single pricing page and lists every package as a separate order form. Olivia Reviews read both on October 27, 2026 and sorted them into budget levels, from a bare filing to a full Delaware presence, followed by the bills that arrive every year after. One reminder first: DBI is a filing service, not a law firm, and this guide is about prices, not legal or tax advice.
Quick take: A basic LLC or corporation filing with DBI costs $180 all in, including the state fee and the first year of registered agent service. Packages that add an EIN application and a company kit cost $335 to $435, and the international-ready Platinum package is $735. A Delaware virtual office with a signed lease costs $900 a year plus a $95 setup fee. After year one, plan on $100 a year for the agent plus Delaware's own annual tax: $400 for an LLC, $225 for most small corporations. For anything newer than this page, see today's Delaware Business Incorporators deals.
How a DBI Price Is Put Together
Every DBI price has two parts, and the pricing page always shows both. The processing fee goes to DBI for preparing and checking the forms, sending them and the state fee to Delaware, monitoring progress, fixing anything that needs fixing and returning the stamped documents. The state filing fee goes to Delaware for reviewing, scanning, indexing and stamping. DBI's base processing fee for a new LLC or corporation is $70, and it includes a name availability check, preparation and filing of the formation document, same business day processing, email reminders, lifetime customer support and the first year of registered agent service.
That last item matters. Delaware requires every company to have a registered agent, and DBI doesn't bill for it until the company's first anniversary.
Under $200: The Bare Filing
This level covers people who need the company to exist and plan to handle everything else themselves.
- Bronze LLC or Bronze Corporation package, $180: name check, preparation and electronic filing, the state fee, the stamped formation document by email in 1–3 business days, free shipping of documents within the US and 12 months of registered agent service.
- Name reservation, $125: $50 to DBI plus $75 to the state, for founders who have a name but aren't ready to file.
- A "doing business as" name, from $160: $135 processing plus $25 per county filing.
- A change of registered agent to DBI, $100: $50 processing plus $50 state fee, for companies that already exist.
If you want a record book but not a package, DBI sells company kits on their own. The EZ Snap kit is its $75 "Budget Option," the Corpkit is listed at $125 as its most popular, and the Execukit is $175. Digital LLC and corporation kits, delivered by email the same day, are listed at $75 to $95.
$335 to $435: The Paperwork a Bank Usually Asks For
Once a company needs a bank account, it usually needs an EIN, the federal tax ID number. DBI prepares that form for $135 on its own, which is why the middle packages are often better value than adding pieces one by one.
Silver, $335
Everything in Bronze, plus preparation of the EIN form and a digital compliance kit sent by email: 20 customized membership certificates and an operating agreement template in Word. The digital kit has no binder, slipcase or metal seal.
Gold, $435
Everything in Silver, but with a customized physical kit instead of the digital one: a hot-stamped binder with the company name in gold, a matching slipcase, a 1 5/8" metal embossing seal, six tabs and 20 certificates, plus a certified copy of the formation document. If you were going to buy a $125 kit and a certified copy separately anyway, the Gold package bundles them in.
Also in this range: a short-form certificate of good standing ($99 to DBI plus $50 to the state, same-day delivery per the pricing page) and a corporate banking resolution document ($135).
$350 to $850: Special Structures and Going International
A few structures and add-ons cost noticeably more up front:
- Series LLC, $360: $250 processing plus the $110 state fee.
- Delaware statutory trust, $675: $155 processing plus a $520 state fee, the highest formation fee on DBI's list.
- Platinum LLC, Corporation or Non-Profit package, $735: everything in Gold, plus a certificate of incumbency prepared to your specifications and either an apostille for one Hague-member country or a gold-sealed certificate. This is the package aimed at deals where foreign banks or registries need extra proof.
- Platinum LP or GP package, $835: higher because partnerships carry a $220 state filing fee.
Not sure the extras are worth it for your situation? Check current Delaware Business Incorporators coupons before you settle on a tier, then ask DBI's team which documents your bank actually wants.
$900 and Up: A Real Delaware Presence
The biggest line items at DBI aren't filings at all. They're services that give a company an address, a phone number and somewhere for mail to land.
- Virtual office with a one-year lease and suite number: $900 a year, paid in advance, plus a $95 one-time setup fee.
- Mail forwarding with a PMB number: $95, $195 or $295 a year for low, basic or high volume, each with a $25 setup fee plus a postage deposit.
- Delaware phone number with utility bill proof: $197 a year, plus the phone company's service and usage charges.
- Answering service with a real person: $99 a month for 50 calls, then $1 per extra call.
The Ecommerce package, $1,500
For online sellers who want the whole set at once, DBI lists an Ecommerce LLC package and an Ecommerce Corporation package at $1,500 each. The LLC version includes formation, a certificate of good standing, EIN application preparation, the first year of registered agent service, a digital compliance kit, the virtual office with suite number and lease, a Delaware phone line with utility bill proof and low volume mail forwarding. Since the virtual office alone is $900 plus setup, the bundle is mainly worth it if you'd buy most of those services anyway. It's for new companies only, according to the listing.
What Speed and Shipping Add
DBI says normal processing for most filings and document requests takes 3–5 days. Faster service is priced as a state fee plus a matching DBI fee:
- 24-hour service on a new LLC, corporation or non-profit: $100 total.
- Same-day service on a new formation: $200 total.
- Same-day revival or cancellation: $400 total.
Delivery is free when documents arrive electronically. Express shipping with tracking is $35 to a US address and $150 to most addresses abroad, with possible surcharges for some countries that DBI says it flags in advance.
Budget Levels at a Glance
| If you can spend | A realistic DBI order | Listed price (Oct 27, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| About $180 | Bronze LLC or corporation package | $180 |
| About $335 | Silver package with EIN form and digital kit | $335 |
| About $435 | Gold package with physical kit and certified copy | $435 |
| About $735 | Platinum package with incumbency certificate and apostille or gold seal | $735 |
| About $1,000 | Virtual office with lease, plus setup | $900 a year + $95 |
| About $1,500 | Ecommerce LLC or corporation package | $1,500 |
The Bills That Come Back Every Year
A formation price is a one-time cost. These are not. DBI lists them on the same pricing page:
| Recurring cost | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| DBI registered agent | $100 a year (US billing address) or $120 (outside the US) | From the first anniversary |
| Delaware LLC, LP or GP tax | $400 | June 1 |
| Delaware corporation franchise tax and report | $225 for most small corporations | March 1 |
| Foreign corporation franchise tax | $250 | June 30 |
DBI notes the $400 LLC figure applies starting August 1, 2026. For late LLC tax or corporation franchise tax, the state adds a $200 late fee and interest of 1.5% a month. Corporations with larger share structures can owe more than $225, so check with DBI or your accountant once you know your share count.
Refunds: What You Can Get Back
DBI's 10-day refund policy lets you ask for DBI's service fees back within 10 days of buying, for any reason. It doesn't cover government fees, payments to third parties or shipping, and physical products must come back within 10 days of the ship date. If DBI makes a filing error, it says it will correct it at no charge.
Keeping the Total Down
- Use the free tools first: DBI offers a free company name availability check and a page of free entrepreneur resources.
- Pick digital over physical if you don't need a seal and binder: the Silver package costs $100 less than Gold.
- Skip rush service unless a closing date or investor deadline really requires it.
- Choose electronic delivery, which costs nothing.
- Price the bundle honestly: the Ecommerce package only saves money if you'd buy the virtual office and phone line anyway.
Before you pay, see the latest Delaware Business Incorporators offers.
→ Check the latest Delaware Business Incorporators coupon codes and deals
What We Like and What to Watch
What we like
- Every price shows DBI's fee and the state fee separately.
- The first year of registered agent service is included with new formations.
- Clear package steps, each adding specific documents.
- A 10-day refund window on DBI's own service fees.
What to watch
- Yearly costs, especially the $400 LLC tax, add up faster than the formation fee.
- Virtual office and phone services are billed a year in advance.
- Government fees and shipping aren't refundable.
- DBI doesn't give legal or tax advice about which structure you need.
Who Should Spend How Much
Stay at $180 if: you're forming a simple company, you already have an accountant handling the EIN, and you don't need a paper record book. Step up to $335 or $435 if: a bank account is next and you'd like the EIN form prepared for you. Consider $735 if: foreign partners, banks or registries will ask for an apostille or incumbency certificate. Budget $1,000 or more if: you need a Delaware address and phone, not just a filing.
DBI Price Guide FAQ
What's included in DBI's $70 fee?
The name check, preparation and filing of the formation document, same business day processing, email reminders, lifetime customer support and the first year of registered agent service. The state fee is added on top.
When does DBI bill for the registered agent?
The first year is free with a new formation. After that, it's $100 a year for a US billing address or $120 for a billing address outside the US.
Is the Ecommerce package cheaper than buying the parts?
Only if you need most of them. The virtual office alone is $900 a year plus a $95 setup fee, so the bundle makes sense mainly for sellers who want the address and phone line too.
Can I get my state fees refunded?
No. DBI's refund policy covers its own service fees, requested within 10 days of purchase, but not government fees, third-party payments or shipping.
Final Verdict
DBI's pricing is easier to read than most, because every line shows who gets the money. The real planning question is not the $70 headline but the level you need: a bare $180 filing, a $335 to $435 package for banking paperwork, $735 for international proof, or a $900-plus Delaware presence. Pick the level, then put the yearly agent fee and state tax in your calendar, and the cost of a Delaware company stops being a surprise.
→ Check the latest Delaware Business Incorporators coupon codes and deals
Olivia Reviews researched Delaware Business Incorporators using its official website, service listings and published policies in October 2026. We haven't personally tested these services. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.