Delaware Business Incorporators Review 2026: What $70 Really Buys You
Two friends are splitting a plate of fries and sketching an app on the back of a receipt. One has a cousin who "did a Delaware LLC." The other read that big companies are incorporated in Delaware. Neither lives there. By the time the check arrives, they have three browser tabs open, each one quoting a different price for the same piece of paper.
Delaware Business Incorporators, Inc. (often shortened to DBI) is one of the services in those tabs. It files Delaware LLCs and corporations, serves as the legally required registered agent, and sells the extras that come later: company kits, good standing certificates, apostilles, virtual offices and mail forwarding. Olivia Reviews went through its fee schedule, package listings, FAQs and refund terms in October 2026 to separate the headline price from the total cost. One important note up front: DBI is a document-filing service, not a law firm, and this review isn't legal or tax advice. Whether Delaware or an LLC is right for you is a question for an attorney or accountant.
Quick take: DBI is a long-running Wilmington filing service with clear pricing: $70 plus the state fee for a basic LLC or corporation filing, and a free first year of registered agent service. The add-ons are useful but quickly raise the bill, the refund window is only 10 days, and Delaware's yearly taxes apply no matter which filer you use. The site is advertising a 10% code through October 31, 2026; see today's Delaware Business Incorporators deals for the latest.
Who's behind the counter
DBI's founder letter belongs to Douglas R. Murray, who says he started his first company, a telephone answering service, on April 1, 1969, then sold it in 1992 to focus on helping attorneys, accountants and entrepreneurs form Delaware entities. DBI itself was chartered on September 3, 1986. Its history page says the firm moved from a card file box and a fax machine to a cloud-based customer system, and that it has owned its Wilmington headquarters on Old Capitol Trail (number 3422) since 1987.
That building matters more than it might seem. A registered agent's address goes on your public filings, and DBI's argument is simple: because it owns its office, the address should stay the same. The company also says it has a direct online connection to Delaware's corporate information system, which it uses for fast filings and same-day document retrieval.
Five DBI services, up close
Pick 1: Delaware registered agent service
Every Delaware company must keep a registered agent with a physical, staffed Delaware office to accept legal papers and state tax notices. With a new formation, DBI covers year one at no charge. Renewals are $100 annually if your billing address is in the US, or $120 if it's abroad. The company says it logs, scans and emails service-of-process documents, then ships them by express courier with tracking at no extra charge. It also sends email reminders before franchise tax deadlines. Already have an agent elsewhere? DBI lists a change of agent at $50 plus a $50 state fee.
Pick 2: Delaware virtual office with a signed lease
Some banks, platforms or partners want proof of a real business address, and a registered agent address isn't the same thing. DBI's virtual office comes with a one-year signed lease and a unique suite number, plus mail forwarding and a Delaware phone number forwarded to your own number or voicemail. The fee page lists $900 a year, paid in advance, plus a $95 one-time setup fee. DBI says it uses e-notary services so the lease can be completed quickly from inside or outside the US. If you only need mail handled, its PMB mail forwarding plans run $95, $195 or $295 a year, plus a postage deposit and a $25 setup fee. You'll need a notarized USPS Form 1583 and two IDs.
Pick 3: Corpkit LLC kit
DBI calls the $125 Corpkit its most popular LLC binder. The listing describes a binder with a matching slipcase, the company name stamped on the spine in one of three orientations, a locking D-ring, inside pockets, and a hand embossing seal with pouch. Colors include black with gold or silver, blue, burgundy and green. Budget-minded owners can pick the EZ Snap kit at $75, while the Execukit sits at $175. A digital kit delivered by email costs $75 to $95, according to the fee schedule.
Pick 4: The Platinum package for paperwork-heavy deals
At $735, including the state filing fee, Platinum is DBI's most complete LLC package. On top of the basic filing and the free first year of agent service, it includes a physical kit with an embossing seal, an operating agreement template, EIN form preparation and a certified copy of the formation document. The extras that set it apart are an incumbency certificate prepared to your specifications, a Delaware law book with the LLC statute, and either one apostille (for a single Hague Convention country) or a gold-sealed formation certificate. The corporation version is priced the same. This package mainly makes sense when overseas banks or partners will ask for authenticated documents.
Pick 5: Delaware Corporation Laws Annotated
For people who like reading the rules themselves, DBI sells the current edition of Delaware Corporation Laws Annotated for $149. The listing says the single volume covers the General Corporation Law, the Limited Liability Company Act, franchise tax, partnerships and statutory trusts, along with a schedule of fees. It's a reference book, not advice for your particular situation.
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DBI price check
| Service | Price listed (Oct 2026) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| New LLC filing | $70 DBI + $110 state | Anyone who just needs the company formed |
| New corporation filing | $70 DBI + $109 state | Founders forming a stock corporation |
| Corporate name reservation | $50 DBI + $75 state | Holding a name before you're ready |
| Certificate of good standing (short form) | $99 DBI + $50 state | Bank accounts and contracts; emailed same day |
| Registered agent renewal | $100/yr (US) or $120/yr (non-US) | Year two onward |
| Corpkit LLC kit | $125 | Owners who want a physical record book and seal |
| Virtual office with lease | $900/yr + $95 setup | Businesses that need a Delaware office address |
| Platinum LLC or corporation package | $735 | International deals needing apostilles and incumbency |
What to know before you pay
The yearly bill. Forming the company is a one-time cost. Keeping it is not. DBI's fee page lists Delaware's annual LLC/LP/GP tax at $400, due June 1, and the corporation franchise tax at $225, due March 1. It also notes a $200 late fee plus 1.5% interest per month. Those amounts are set by the state and can change, so check them with the Delaware Division of Corporations.
Timing. Get your order in on a weekday before 3:00 p.m. (and after 8:30 a.m.), outside holidays, and DBI commits to filing it electronically with Delaware that same day. The state's stamped copy then follows within one to three business days, per the ordering FAQ. Paid state rush options are $100 total for 24-hour service and $200 total for same-day service on new formations.
Accuracy and changes. DBI says it drafts your certificate and sends it for review before filing, and it promises your documents will match your order exactly. Once a filing is registered, though, the information is permanent. Check spelling, punctuation and capitalization carefully.
Refunds. The 10-day refund policy covers DBI's service fees only. Government fees, third-party costs and shipping aren't refunded. Requests after 10 days aren't accepted, and physical products must be returned within 10 days of shipping. The good standing service is listed as non-refundable.
Payment and privacy. Online orders accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Wires, checks and money orders need a signed order form. You can choose "Unlisted" to keep an owner's name off the Certificate of Formation.
Our take on the trade-offs
What we like
- A clear split between DBI's processing fee and Delaware's filing fee on nearly every price.
- The first 12 months of registered agent service are included with a new formation.
- Decades in business, at an address the company owns.
- A documented same-day processing commitment during business hours.
- Options for non-US founders, including document authentication services.
What to watch
- A 10-day refund window that excludes state and third-party fees.
- Kits, rush service, apostilles and virtual offices raise the total quickly.
- Delaware's annual taxes come on top of the agent renewal every year.
- No legal or tax advice is included, so structure and tax questions need a professional.
- Wire, check and money order payments need a signed order form and take longer.
Who it's for, and who should skip
Worth a look: founders who've been asked by an investor or partner to use a Delaware entity, non-US entrepreneurs who can't travel, and law or accounting firms that handle filings for their clients and need a dependable agent in Delaware.
Maybe skip: a local business that will only operate in its home state may not need Delaware at all. A Delaware company that does business elsewhere may also need to register in that state. DBI sells this as a Foreign Qualification service, at $250 plus a registered agent fee and the other state's fees. Ask a professional before choosing.
How to save
- Code OX10: DBI's own site banner advertises 10% off orders with code OX10 until October 31, 2026. The banner doesn't say whether state fees are included.
- Free handbook: request the Delaware Incorporation Handbook, and DBI says you'll get a $20 code for a future order.
- Skip what you don't need: electronic delivery is $0, while US express shipping costs $35.
Codes change quickly, so check current Delaware Business Incorporators offers before you order.
Delaware Business Incorporators questions, answered
Can I move my existing Delaware company to DBI as agent?
Yes. DBI lists a change of registered agent at a $50 processing fee plus a $50 state fee. It prepares and files a one-page document to make the switch.
How quickly can I get a certificate of good standing?
DBI says it can usually email one within two hours if you order before 3:00 p.m. Eastern, though it notes the two-hour timing isn't promised. Paid 30-, 60- and 90-minute expedited options are available.
Is a virtual office the same as a registered agent?
No. DBI treats them as separate services. The registered agent receives legal and state notices, while the virtual office gives you a leased business address, a suite number and a Delaware phone number.
Will forming in Delaware save me taxes?
DBI doesn't promise that, and neither can we. Tax results depend on where you live and operate, so ask a licensed tax professional.
Final verdict
Delaware Business Incorporators is a practical, established choice if you've already decided on a Delaware entity and want filings handled quickly with transparent fees. The free first-year registered agent service and same-day processing commitment are strong points. The strict refund window, extra-cost add-ons and recurring state taxes mean you should plan for the second year, not just the first day. Keep the order lean, use the current code while it lasts, and compare Delaware Business Incorporators deals before you check out.
→ 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.