A Delaware C-corp has $109 in state filing fees at minimum, Delaware's annual costs from year two, and a formation service fee that varies by provider and by what each price covers.
Rho forms a Delaware C-corp for $400. Rho forms a Delaware LLC for $349 all in, state filing fee included. Delaware's filing fee and its annual costs are listed separately below, so check what each service's price covers before you compare totals.
Here is the line-by-line, per the Delaware Division of Corporations (fee schedule revised August 1, 2026, and the franchise tax page) and the IRS:
Fee | Amount | Due | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Certificate of incorporation | $109 minimum (Delaware marks this fee as varying with stock, so treat $109 as the floor) | At filing | Delaware Division of Corporations |
Annual report | $50 | March 1 each year | Delaware Division of Corporations |
Franchise tax, authorized shares method | $175 minimum | March 1 each year | Delaware Division of Corporations |
Franchise tax, assumed par value capital method | $400 minimum | March 1 each year | Delaware Division of Corporations |
Expedited filing (if you request it) | $50 for 24 hours, $100 same day, per document | At filing | Delaware Division of Corporations |
EIN | $0 | n/a | IRS |
Rho Delaware C-corp formation | $400 | At formation | Rho Incorporation |
Delaware figures checked November 5, 2026. The IRS says you never have to pay a fee for an EIN (irs.gov, page last reviewed October 16, 2026, checked November 5, 2026). Delaware's maximum franchise tax is $200,000 ($250,000 for large corporate filers).
Here is the catch with franchise tax. The $175 figure is a minimum; with a large authorized share count the authorized shares method can produce a much higher bill, so Delaware allows the assumed par value capital method, which has a $400 minimum. Rho's Delaware franchise tax guide walks through both. Delaware LLCs owe a flat $400 annual tax by June 1.
What that means in practice: the state charges you once to form and every March after that to stay in good standing. The formation service fee is the part that varies most from one provider to the next.
Rho's $400 Delaware C-corp price is below Stripe Atlas's $500 and below Clerky's $427 Pay Per Use price (company websites, as of November 5, 2026). Atlas's $500 includes state filing fees, first-year registered agent service, 83(b) election filing and Stripe credits (stripe.com/atlas, November 5, 2026), so the prices are not like for like. How this comparison works: it compares each provider's published Delaware incorporation price, what the price says it includes, and the Delaware fees above, using company websites and Delaware sources checked November 5, 2026.
With Rho Incorporation, every Delaware C-corp formation document is reviewed by a licensed attorney, registered agent service is covered for the first year, and your EIN application is filed for you. C-corp filings take about 24 hours, starting the next business day after you submit, and you need at least one US-based owner or officer and a US operating address.
Start your Delaware C-corp with Rho Incorporation; the account application opens in the same flow, subject to approval.
Best for founders forming a Delaware C-corp who want their company formed and a business account opened in the same flow, subject to approval: Rho.
We assess formation options on price, what's included, and whether a business account can open in the same flow as formation.
If you want the step-by-step process rather than the price list, start with our guide on how to incorporate a startup. This page covers what each of those steps costs.
Delaware charges $109 minimum to file a certificate of incorporation and $110 to form an LLC, per the Delaware Division of Corporations fee schedule revised August 1, 2026. Checked against delaware.gov on November 5, 2026.
Delaware's recurring costs: a corporation pays a $50 annual report fee plus franchise tax ($175 minimum, or $400 minimum under the assumed par value capital method) by March 1, and an LLC pays a $400 annual tax by June 1.
Formation service prices cover different things, so check what each includes. Rho charges $400 for a Delaware C-corp. Rho charges $349 all in for a Delaware LLC, state filing fee included. Company websites list Stripe Atlas at $500 and Clerky's Pay Per Use incorporation at $427 (November 5, 2026).
An EIN is free from the IRS. A service that charges for one is charging for the paperwork.
Registered agent fees are set by each provider, not the state.
One-time costs
State filing fees
Every state charges a fee to file your formation document, and it is the one cost no route avoids.
Delaware corporations: $109 minimum for a certificate of incorporation, per the Delaware Division of Corporations fee schedule revised August 1, 2026. The fee rises with the number of authorized shares and with no-par stock.
Delaware LLCs: $110 for a certificate of formation. An LLC formed elsewhere that registers in Delaware as a foreign LLC pays $200.
LLCs in other states: fees vary widely. Montana charges $35, Kentucky $40, Texas $300, and Massachusetts $500, according to each state's own fee schedule.
Service fees: Stripe Atlas and Clerky
Formation services charge their own fees. Here is what Stripe Atlas and Clerky publish on their own sites as of November 5, 2026:
[Rho](https://www.rho.co/product/incorporation): $400 for a Delaware C-corp with attorney-reviewed documents, and $349 all in for an LLC, state filing fee included.
Stripe Atlas: $500 one time. Includes Delaware state filing fees, first-year registered agent service, 83(b) election filing and Stripe credits (stripe.com/atlas, November 5, 2026).
Clerky: $427 Pay Per Use incorporation; $819 Lifetime (clerky.com, November 5, 2026).
The gap reflects what's included, which varies by provider and package. Our best incorporation services review breaks down what each one includes.
Where Rho fits
Rho Incorporation forms Delaware C-corps for $400. It forms Delaware LLCs for $349 all in, state filing fee included. When you incorporate a Delaware C-corp with Rho, every formation document is reviewed by a licensed attorney, registered agent service is covered for the first year, your EIN application is filed for you, and you get 83(b) election support. C-corp filings take about 24 hours, with the clock starting the next business day after you submit.
When you incorporate a Delaware C-corp with Rho, your business account opens in the same flow, subject to approval: banking, invoicing, cards, and bill pay, all live the moment your account is approved. Funds can't move until your EIN is issued and attached to your account. To open a Rho account this way, your company needs at least one US-based owner or officer, a US operating address, and a business in an industry Rho supports.
Best for founders forming a Delaware C-corp who want their company formed and a business account opened in the same flow, subject to approval.
Expedite fees
Standard processing runs on the state's timeline. If you need it faster, the Delaware Division of Corporations charges $50 for 24-hour service and $100 for same-day service on a certificate of incorporation or formation, plus $500 for 2-hour and $1,000 for 1-hour priority processing per document, all on top of the base filing fee.
Recurring costs
Formation is a one-time cost. These repeat every year the company exists.
Registered agent
Every state requires a registered agent with an in-state address, so unless you are located in the formation state, you will hire one. Prices are set by each provider, not the state. See our Delaware registered agent guide for how to choose.
Franchise taxes and annual reports
Delaware corporations file a $50 annual report and pay franchise tax on or before March 1, per the Delaware Division of Corporations. The franchise tax minimum is $175 under the authorized shares method and $400 under the assumed par value capital method, with a maximum of $200,000 ($250,000 for large corporate filers). Delaware LLCs file no annual report but pay a flat $400 annual tax on or before June 1, and a late payment adds a $200 penalty plus 1.5% interest per month. Run your own numbers with our Delaware franchise tax guide, because the authorized shares method can produce large default bills that the assumed par value capital method often reduces.
Other states set their own annual fees. California, for example, charges every LLC doing business or organized in the state an $800 annual tax, according to the California Franchise Tax Board.
Foreign qualification
If you incorporate in Delaware but operate somewhere else, you register there as a foreign entity and pay twice: two filing fees, often two registered agents, and two sets of annual obligations. Texas, for example, charges $750 to register a foreign LLC or corporation, according to the Texas Secretary of State, and California's $800 annual LLC tax applies to LLCs doing business there. For many small businesses this single line item erases the benefit of leaving home, which is why we usually point non-venture founders to our analysis of the best state to form an LLC.
Hidden and optional costs
EIN: $0 from the IRS. The IRS says you never have to pay a fee for one, so any fee for an EIN is a service fee. Your EIN application is filed for you as part of formation, and funds cannot move in your Rho account until the EIN is issued and attached.
Bylaws and operating agreement templates. Free to cheap online, included in better formation packages, or a few hundred dollars from a lawyer. Worth real money only when your ownership structure is not standard.
83(b) election: postage now or a tax bill later. Filing the election costs you a stamp, but missing the 30-day window on founder stock with vesting can turn every future vesting event into taxable income. Read our 83(b) election guide before you issue founder shares.
Total first-year cost: three founder profiles
Cost | DIY home-state LLC | Delaware LLC through a $0 service | Venture-track Delaware C-corp |
|---|---|---|---|
State filing fee | Varies by state ($35 in Montana, $500 in Massachusetts) | $110 | $109 minimum |
Service fee | $0 | $0 | Varies by service ($427 or $819 at Clerky, $500 at Stripe Atlas) |
Registered agent, year 1 | $0 if you serve yourself | $0 if your service includes a first year | Included in year one at Rho and Stripe Atlas |
EIN | $0 | $0 | $0 from the IRS |
Annual state tax or report | Varies by state | $400, due June 1 | $50 annual report plus franchise tax ($175 minimum, or $400 minimum under the assumed par value capital method), due March 1 |
Delaware state fees in year one | Your state's fees | About $510 | $109 minimum to file, then $225 or more each March 1 |
Delaware figures are from the Delaware Division of Corporations as of November 5, 2026; Stripe Atlas and Clerky figures are from each company's site on the same date. Two things stand out. First, Delaware's $400 annual LLC tax means Delaware is rarely the cheap option for an LLC that could have stayed home. Second, on the venture track, the recurring Delaware obligations are the same no matter who files for you.
How to keep costs down
Incorporate in your home state unless you have a specific reason, usually venture capital, to be in Delaware.
Never pay for an EIN, and decline checkout add-ons you have not priced against standalone alternatives.
Note every renewal price before buying a free tier, including registered agent service after any free first year.
If you are a Delaware corporation, recalculate your franchise tax under the assumed-par-value method before paying the state's default bill.
Put your compliance dates on a calendar. Late fees and penalties are the only formation costs that are pure waste.
Related incorporation guides
The full ranking: See our roundup of the best incorporation services for startups, scored on price, speed, and what comes after filing.
Shopping on price: Our cheapest incorporation service comparison ranks every major provider by true first-year cost.
The process: Our step-by-step guide to incorporating a startup runs from entity choice through your 83(b) election.
Firstbase pricing: Our Firstbase pricing guide itemizes the formation fee and every add-on subscription.
The budget route: Our Bizee (formerly Incfile) review covers the $0 plus state fees option.
The tax bill: Our Delaware franchise tax guide shows how the authorized shares and assumed par value capital methods are calculated.
The C-corp: Our Delaware C-corp guide covers what a Delaware C-corp is and when it makes sense.
Ready to incorporate? Rho Incorporation forms your Delaware C-corp for $400, with your business account opening in the same flow, subject to approval. Rho also forms LLCs for $349 all in, state filing fee included.
