The first step form an LLC or incorporate your business is to identify the type of business you want to start or pursue. In the state of Delaware, a business license is required and you will need to apply for same prior to forming an LLC or corporation. The important question is where do you begin and what are the procedures?

The Need for Delaware State Business License

Delaware is considered one of the top states in the country that provides a positive and highly lucrative business environment for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This is more so because of several advantages including low franchise tax for all types of small businesses, no Delaware sales tax, Court of Chancery that greatly minimizes cost, time, and risk of any commercial litigation, and a high level of privacy among others.

In order to set up your company, a business license in Delaware is a must. According to the Division of Revenue, State of Delaware, “Any person or entity conducting a trade or business in the State of Delaware is required to obtain a Delaware state business license from the Delaware Division of Revenue.”

This includes any entity located in the state that conducts business outside Delaware.

How to Obtain Delaware State Business License

How and where do you get your Delaware company license from? You can obtain your Delaware state business license by completing an online registration form here. This is a service that allows the simultaneous registration with other federal and state entities.

There is a second option available, which is to download the Combined Registration Application (CRA) form. This form is a combined registration application for state of Delaware state business license and/or withholding agent. The CRA form also contains “Special Requirements” for Contractors form that has to be filled by both Resident and Non-Resident Contractors. Upon completion, you can mail it to DIVISION OF REVENUE, P.O. BOX 8750, WILMINGTON, DE 19899-8750.

The time taken to process business license in Delaware is almost a month after you have registered or mailed the CRA form to Delaware Division of Revenue. If you apply online then you have the option of printing a temporary license after the CRA submission or license registration process is complete. Online applicants normally receive their permanent licenses within a period of 10 days.

Types of Business License in Delaware

There are different requirements for Delaware company license and it varies according to the type of business and business activity being conducted by you. The most common type of Delaware state licenses issued include:

• Liquor & alcohol licenses
• Cigarette & tobacco licenses
• Professional licenses
• Contractors licenses
• Firearm related licenses
• Gambling & lottery licenses

You will need to renew your business license in Delaware each year on 31 December, or on the date when it was issued initially under the provision of Delaware Code § 516(g) and § 2216 of Title 13. The annual fee varies according to the type of business but the standard fee for a first location is $75.00.

When your state business license is due for renewal, you can also go with an optional 3 year renewal. Opting for a 3-year renewal means you will be required to pay a license fee that is equal to 3 times the standard fee for the business type or category your company falls under.

You can also take advantage of the senior citizen discount of 75% on your annual license fee if you are 65 years of age or older on or before 1st January in the current license year. There are specific requirements that businesses have to meet in order to be eligible for the senior citizen discount.
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Note: If there is any change in the legal entity of your business, like a sole proprietorship becoming a C corporation, you will require a new business license in Delaware. It will be your responsibility as a business owner to inform Delaware Business License Department regarding this change of legal entity.

Once your company is set up, you will need:

1. Tax ID (EIN) – free over the Internet or phone.
2. Yearly Requirements and Fees for Maine companies
3. Company Minutes & Stock Certificates – are included in incorporation. You will have access to documents generated on your client account.

Maine additional services

• Registered Agent
• Annual Report
• EIN (Tax ID)
• More Additional Services

• Why Maine?
• Mainea Registered Agent
• Maine Annual Requirements
• Maine Corporation Statutes: Title 13: Maine Business Corporation Act; Title 31

• Why Maine?
• Mainea Registered Agent
• Maine Annual Requirements
• Maine LLC Statutes: Title 31: Partnerships & Associations; Chapter 13: LLCs

Pricing $89.00 per year, special for pre-pay $40 per year

Don’t get fooled by companies claiming the lowest price and increasing it later. Our pricing is very simple. We charge $89 per year. We also have few specials. Whenever you decide to pre-pay additional years you get them for $40/year.

Why you need a Registered Agent?

Maine State laws require business entities to maintain a Resident Agent in the state that you form your business. The agent’s name and office address are included in the Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization to give public notice of where to send important documents to your business entity.

If you need Registered agent in other State than Maine click here.
We offer Registered Agent service in all 50 States.

State Fee for changing Maine Registered Agent

Registered Agent Change/Change of Office: $35.00

Registered Agent Requirements

Each domestic corporation shall maintain in this State a clerk, who is a natural person resident in this State. The clerk may be, but is not required to be, one of the directors or officers of the corporation, or the clerk may be a person holding no other position with the corporation. The clerk must be appointed by the corporation’s board of directors unless the articles of incorporation reserve appointment of the clerk to the shareholders. The clerk of a corporation is not an officer but performs the functions provided in this Act. The duties of the clerk are ministerial only, and the clerk is not liable in that capacity for any liabilities of the corporation, including, but not limited to, debts, claims, taxes, fines or penalties. Unless otherwise provided by the bylaws, the clerk shall keep on file a list of all shareholders of the corporation and keep, in a book kept for that purpose, the records of all shareholders’ meetings, including all records of all votes and minutes of the meetings. These records may be kept by the clerk at the registered office or another office of the corporation to which the clerk has ready access.

Annual reports are due by June 1st and the cost is $85 for corporations and LLCs.

If you need help, we can file the annual report for you. Our fe is only $15. To order our service, please click on the following link:

Order Maine Annual Report Service