LLC for Beginners

LLC for Beginners › Delaware

Forming an LLC in Delaware for the first time

The Delaware filing fee is $110. For a beginner the best service is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year covers the filing, agent, EIN application and the annual report, so year 1 comes to $309.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026

Your Delaware checklist

  1. File the Certificate of Formation of a Limited Liability Company. $110 to the Delaware Secretary of State.
  2. Registered agent. The LLC itself, a Delaware resident, or a business entity formed in Delaware or authorized to do business there. You may serve as your own agent if you meet that rule; Mainstay Filing includes one in its price.
  3. EIN. Free from the IRS; included in the application Mainstay Filing prepares.
  4. Operating agreement. Write one even for a single owner. No upcharge at Mainstay Filing.
  5. Annual report. No annual report. Every Delaware LLC pays a $400 annual tax by June 1 (raised from $300 starting with tax year 2026).. Due: Annual alternative-entity tax due on or before June 1.
Best for beginners

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year + $110 state fee

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
  • Compliance reminders and stored documents

Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.

Total for the first three years

$1,507 with Mainstay Filing, state fees included. Others: Northwest Registered Agent $1,199; ZenBusiness $1,407; Bizee $1,208; LegalZoom $1,657 (these totals leave out any charge for filing the annual report).

Questions

What is the best LLC service for a beginner in Delaware?

Mainstay Filing. First year $309 including the $110 Delaware filing fee; $599 in year 2.

Can a beginner file an LLC in Delaware without a service?

Yes: file the Certificate of Formation of a Limited Liability Company with the Delaware Secretary of State for $110. Required registered agent: The LLC itself, a Delaware resident, or a business entity formed in Delaware or authorized to do business there.

Sources