Lookup Business Entity | Form Corporation | FAQ
If you want to form a corporation in Delaware, the first step should be to do a Delaware Secretary of State Business Search. To see if the name is available in Delaware, go to the Delaware Secretary of State’s Business Search page. You must undertake a thorough search before registering a business in Delaware.
| Official Website: | https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/ecorp/entitysearch/namesearch.aspx |
| Address: | John G. Townsend Building, 401 Federal Street, Suite 4, Dover, DE 19901 |
| Telephone: | (302) 739-3812 |
| Working Hours: | 8:30am – 4:00pm, Monday to Friday |
Delaware Business Search Shortcut
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How To Lookup An Entity In Delaware
Delaware Secretary Of State Business Search By Name
- The first thing you should do is go to the Delaware Secretary of State business search website.
- Click “Search” after entering the entity’s name into the relevant area.
- Your Delaware business search should have yielded some results by now. You will be notified if there are no entities presently using the name you searched for, this will tell you whether your name is available for use or not. Select the name to view the entity’s information.
- You will be able to see all of the information on the entity of interest that the Delaware Secretary of State has made accessible to the public.
Delaware Secretary Of State Business Search By File Number
- To begin, go to the business search page and enter the file number of the entity you want to explore. When you’re ready, click Search.
- Because there will only be one entity linked with the file number you used to perform your search, your search will most likely provide only one result.
- To learn more about an entity, click on its name.
- You will be able to evaluate all the information on the entity at issue that the Secretary of State has made available for free. For a price of $10 or $20, depending on whether you choose to check the entity’s status or the franchise tax assessment, you can get further information
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Steps To Forming A New Corporation In Delaware
1. Choose the type of business
New businesses must determine the structure of their business. In the Delaware Department of Assessment and Taxation, the most frequent business formations are; limited liability companies, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and corporations.
2. Select a business name
The name of your corporation must include the terms “Incorporated,” “Corporation,” “Company,” or “Limited,” or a short version of one of those phrases. The name of your corporation must be distinct from that of other corporate names that are currently on record with the Delaware Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
By checking the Delaware business name database, names may be examined for availability. By submitting an Application for Reservation of Name to the Delaware Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Commercial Services, you can reserve a name for six months.
3. Get a registered agent
Delaware legislation requires that every corporation have and retain a registered agent in the state of Delaware, who can be either a Delaware citizen or a Delaware-licensed business entity. An entity with a certificate of power to conduct business in Delaware such as Northwest Registered Agent and GoDaddy, a Delaware resident, a Delaware company, or a foreign entity may serve as a registered agent.
4. Reservation of a name
The Delaware Division of Corporations permits you to reserve a name for your business. This is not a prerequisite for forming your business, but it will ensure that your name is reserved for you for 120 days.
5. Fill in the articles for Certificates of Incorporation/Formation
The articles must contain the following information: the corporation’s name; its intention; the number of shares it is permitted to issue; the name and address of the agent receiving service of process; the name and address of the resident agent receiving service of process; and the names and addresses of all incorporators.
6. Annual Reports and Franchise Payments
Every corporation in Delaware is obliged to submit an annual report each year. You must provide the following details in this report: business name; the name and location of the registered agent; executives’ and directors’ names and addresses; a description of the kinds of business services offered; shareholders’ names and addresses (for professional corporations).
7. Obtain the necessary permissions and licenses for your Delaware business
Take time to investigate any necessary permissions or licenses to maintain your new firm on the legal straight and narrow. Depending on the type of company services you offer, the county or city where your firm is situated, and if you employ people, different permissions and licenses may be required.
8. Obtain an EIN for your corporation
Obtaining a federal employer identification number (EIN) is required for your business. For taxation reasons, this identification number serves as the corporation’s Social Security number. Among other things, it enables you to recruit staff and create a company bank account. The IRS website has an online application that you may use to get an EIN. You will require this number for future documents and to file your company’s tax filings, so keep a record of it.
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Frequently Asked Questions On Delaware Secretary Of State Business Search
Is it possible to reserve a name using the Delaware Secretary of State’s Business Name Search?
No, the Delaware Secretary of State’s name search will simply check the availability of the name. It will not secure a name that is already taken. The simplest approach to ensure that no one else may use the name is to create a Delaware LLC or a Delaware Corporation with that name.
Is it necessary for my Delaware corporation name to contain a suffix such as LLC or Inc?
When you officially incorporate an LLC, the initials LLC or L.L.C., or the entire words Limited Liability Company, should be included in the business name. A newly created corporation must also add the proper suffix to reflect the type of business. When conducting a Delaware business name search, however, you simply need to submit the desired company name without the suffix.
What are the yearly requirements for a Delaware corporation?
Some recurring conditions must be satisfied to maintain your organization in good standing. Every year, all corporations are required to file an annual report with the Secretary of State. Profitable Delaware firms are expected to file and pay yearly tax returns as well as pay estimated corporation taxes. Corporations are required to have an annual meeting of the board of directors, which must be documented in corporate minutes. Corporations are required to have an annual shareholder meeting.