Delaware Entity Search: Look Up, Reserve, and Register a Business Easily

Looking for a fast Delaware entity search? Use Delaware’s public business search to find any LLC or corporation by name or file number, then review key details like entity type, formation date, and registered agent. For official proof of status, follow the record to the Online Status tool or order a Certificate of Good Standing; for new formations, run a Delaware name availability check first.

How to Perform a Delaware Entity Search

Delaware’s General Information Name Search lets you look up any registered business by Entity Name or File Number and returns results in real time. The results list includes active and inactive entities and, per the notice on the page, is not an indication of current status. You’ll confirm identity on the free detail page, then use paid tools if you need official proof.

Step 1 – Open the official search page

Go to the Division of Corporations’ General Information Name Search. This page is the only authoritative free lookup for Delaware entities.

Step 2 – Choose your lookup: Entity Name or File Number

Pick one input method:

• Entity Name: type a distinctive name (e.g., Blue Coast, Harbor Ridge Holdings, Bayfront Analytics, Cedar & Slate Studio).
• File Number: paste the exact Delaware file number if you have it (e.g., from prior documents).
  The form is not case sensitive and supports exact-phrase searches with quotation marks.

Step 3 – Refine & Interpret Your Results

When you press Search, Delaware returns a simple table with two columns (FILE NUMBER and ENTITY NAME), and it includes both active and inactive entities. That list is a snapshot, not a status check. To narrow the noise and spot true conflicts, use the tactics below (illustrated with “BLUE COAST” example, which naturally produces a long list).

How to tighten a busy results list (with “BLUE COAST” examples)

1. Run an exact-phrase pass.
   Re-run as “Blue Coast” (quotes). This trims out looser matches and shows entities that contain the exact phrase, e.g., BLUE COAST CAPITAL, LLC and BLUE COAST ENTERPRISES, INC. The search is not case-sensitive and supports quotes for exact matches.
2. Add one distinctive word to test availability.
   Try “Blue Coast Holdings”, “Blue Coast Harbor”, or “Blue Coast Robotics”. You’re probing for a distinguishable name, Delaware requires names to be “distinguishable upon the records” for both LLCs and corporations. If the same stem already appears many times, a fresh lead word (or a coined brand) usually tests better than cosmetic tweaks.
3. Reverse or restructure the phrase.
   If “Blue Coast” is noisy, try “Harbor Blue” or a different stem entirely (e.g., “Azure Coast”, “Coastline Harbor”). You’re checking whether a truly new brand element reduces collisions under the distinguishability rule.
4. Click into likely conflicts and read the free detail page.
   Open the closest matches to compare Entity kind/type, Residency (Domestic/Foreign), Formation date, and Registered agent. This helps you judge whether a near match is truly a conflict or a different kind of entity you can steer around. (Remember: the free page doesn’t confirm good standing, status/certificates are separate.)
5. Iterate until you have a clean candidate, then (optionally) reserve it.
   Once your query returns only distant names, or none, consider moving forward with filing or lock it with a 120-day Name Reservation if you need time.

Quick “BLUE COAST” sandbox, what usually passes vs. risks

Use this table to think like the examiner while you iterate names in the search box.

Step 4 – Open the entity detail page and verify the record

Click a name to open its free detail page, which shows core data pulled in real time. Use this to confirm you’ve got the right company.
What you’ll see on the free page: entity name, file number, incorporation/formation date, registered agent name, agent address & phone, and residency (Domestic/Foreign).

Step 5 – Request documents or certificates if needed

The free page doesn’t prove good standing. For official confirmation, use Online Status (two options): Status ($10) or Status + Tax & History ($20). For bank-ready evidence, order a Certificate of Status/Good Standing via the Document Filing & Certificate Request Service.

Step 6 – Optional for new names: check availability or reserve

If you’re searching to secure a brand-new name, use the Division’s Name Reservation tool (Example names to test availability: Harbor Blue Coast LLC.):

Holds the name 120 days for $75; you can reserve or re-reserve online.

Confirm a Business Name 

Before you commit to branding, make sure your DE business name is available and compliant. Do three things:

1. Run a conflict check in the state’s database
2. Apply Delaware’s naming rules for your entity type, and
3. Optionally lock the name with a reservatuin if you’re not filing right away.

Remember, the search list shows active active and inactive entities and is not legal status determination, final conrfimation happens when the state accepts your filing.

1. Search Delaware records for conflicts

Start with the Division of Corporations’ General Information Name Search to see exact and close matches; the list includes active and inactive entities and updates in real time. If results are too broad, add distinctive words or use quotation marks for an exact phrase. If your goal is to secure a new name, use the Check Entity Name Availability link from the Division’s site to run an availability check designed for prospective names.

2. Apply Delaware naming rules (LLC & corporation)

Delaware requires specific endings and “distinguishable upon the records” names.

• Corporations:
  Must include a corporate identifier (e.g., “Corporation,” “Company,” “Incorporated,” “Limited,” or accepted abbreviations); the name must be distinguishable, may not include “trust” (with narrow statutory exceptions) or “bank” unless the entity qualifies. Written consent can allow use of a non-distinguishable name in limited cases.
• LLCs:
  Must include “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC”; the name must be distinguishable. LLC names also cannot include “bank” (with limited exceptions). Written consent may be used in edge cases similar to corporations.

3. Lock the name (optional) and finalize

Not filing this week? Reserve it online, the fee is $75 and the reservation lasts 120 days; you can re-reserve if needed. When you’re ready, submit your formation or incorporation. For brand safety beyond the state, search the USPTO database for identical or confusingly similar federal trademarks. Your name is effectively “confirmed” once Delaware accepts your filing.

Read Delaware Results Correctly

Delaware’s free General Information Name Search is a snapshot, useful to locate the right record, but the state is explicit: the results include active and inactive entities and are not an indication of current status. If you need to prove something (to a bank, vendor, or another state), you must use Delaware’s status or certificate tools.

Before ordering anything, decide what you actually need:

Pro tips to avoid rework:
Use quotation marks for exact-phrase searches; the form isn’t case-sensitive. Save the file number from the free record so you can order status/certificates faster later. If you’re not ready to file a new entity, use Name Reservation to hold the name for 120 days ($75).

Registered Agents in Delaware

Every Delaware entity must keep a registered agent with a physical Delaware address to accept service of process and official communications. Both the LLC Act and the General Corporation Law require it; if an agent resigns and you don’t promptly appoint a new one, the state can cancel an LLC’s formation or forfeit a corporation’s charter. When choosing a provider, compare options using our best registered agent in Delaware review so you get reliable service and reminders.

What a Registered Agent Does

A registered agent must be generally present during business hours to accept service of process and other communications, and forward them to the entity. Agents also forward Delaware’s annual tax statements to LLCs and must follow identity-verification rules issued by the Secretary of State. The Division’s own FAQ reiterates these duties and the in-state address requirement.

Who Can Serve, and Minimum Requirements

Delaware allows the entity itself, a Delaware resident, or qualified domestic/foreign business entities to serve as agent. Agents must maintain a business office in Delaware that is generally open; “virtual-only” setups aren’t sufficient for corporations. Commercial registered agents (serving 50+ entities) must meet extra qualifications (e.g., Delaware business license and on-site natural-person staff).

How to Appoint or Change Your Registered Agent

Every Delaware entity must keep a registered agent with a Delaware street address on file. You appoint the agent in your formation document (LLC Certificate of Formation or corporate Certificate of Incorporation), and if you switch agents or offices later you must file the state’s change-of-agent form and pay the statutory filing fee (currently $50). The agent’s name and address are public and will appear on the free state Business Entity Search page. Forms and fee details are maintained by the Division of Corporations.

• At formation:
  List the agent’s name and Delaware street address in your Certificate of Incorporation/Formation. (This information becomes part of the public record and appears in the free search results).
• To change later:
  File the state’s change-of-agent document (e.g., “Certificate of Change of Registered Agent/Office” for corporations or “Change of Agent Only Amendment” for LLCs). As of Aug. 1, 2024, the fee schedule sets this filing at $50; expedited options are available. Forms and instructions are on the Division’s Change of Agent page.

Not sure what applies in your case? Here’s a short explainer on whether you need a registered agent in Delaware.

What Information You’ll Find in the Search Results

This section is your data dictionary for Delaware’s free entity page, nothing more, nothing less. It lists what the Division says you’ll see on the free detail view, pulled in real time from state records. If you need status or official proof, jump back to “Read Delaware Results Correctly.”

Annual Reports and Compliance

Staying in good standing in Delaware is simple once you know who files what, and when. Corporations must file an Annual Report and pay corporate franchise tax; LLCs/LPs/GPs don’t file reports but must pay a $300 annual tax. Miss a deadline and Delaware adds a statutory penalty and monthly interest, and prolonged noncompliance can void or cancel your entity until you revive it. The mini guide below keeps you on track (with official sources for every rule).

Annual Report & Franchise Tax Deadlines

Delaware uses different calendars for corporations vs. alternative entities. Use this quick table to plan the year, then see the details that follow.

Corporation Annual Report & Franchise Tax

Domestic corporations file online by March 1. In addition to the Annual Report fee ($50; $25 if exempt), you’ll owe franchise tax calculated by one of two methods. Delaware sets the minimum tax at $175 (Authorized Shares method) or $400 (Assumed Par Value method) and caps standard filers at $200,000 (Large Corporate Filer cap $250,000). Miss the deadline and Delaware adds a $200 penalty plus 1.5% monthly interest on tax and penalty. Foreign corporations file by June 30 with a $125 report fee (late fee $125).

Delaware LLC/LP/GP Annual Tax ($300)

LLCs, LPs, and GPs don’t file Annual Reports, but they must pay a $300 annual tax by June 1. Delaware applies a $200 penalty and 1.5%/month interest if unpaid. There’s no proration, if the entity existed at any point in the tax year, the full amount is due. If you need a quick refresher on how Delaware treats the LLC “annual report” topic, use this short guide that explains why Delaware LLCs pay tax instead of filing a report.

Missed a Delaware Deadline?

Falling behind on your annual report or tax doesn’t just trigger late fees—it can knock your company out of good standing and, if ignored long enough, shut down your authority to do business until you fix it. Here’s what happens by entity type:

• Corporations: If you fail to file the report or pay franchise tax for 1 year, your charter becomes void by statute until revived.
• LLCs: If the annual tax isn’t paid, the LLC ceases to be in good standing; if it remains unpaid for 3 years, the certificate of formation is canceled as of the third anniversary of the due date.

How to Reinstate or Revive

If you fall out of good standing, Delaware allows you to revive or restore status after you pay what’s owed.

• Corporations: File a Certificate of Revival under Title 8 §312 and pay all back taxes, penalties, and interest (special rule for long-void charters). Forms/instructions are available through the Division.
• LLCs: File a Certificate of Revival under Title 6 §18-1109 after paying all due annual tax, penalties, and interest.

Register a Business in Delaware

This is your end-to-end path from picking a name to submitting state formation paperwork, without repeating earlier sections. You’ll (1) secure the name if you need extra time, (2) prepare the right formation document (LLC vs. corporation), and (3) file by upload or mail with the exact fees and add-on options the state publishes. Citations below point only to official sources so you can double-check anything in seconds.

1. Choose & Secure Your Name

If you’ve confirmed availability, you can reserve the name to hold it while you finalize documents or funding. Delaware’s reservation holds the name for 120 days and costs $75; you can reserve or re-reserve online with a card or ACH. (Reservation isn’t required to form, you can file immediately if you’re ready.)

Where to do it: Use the Division’s Name Reservation page (online portal) or submit the reservation application in writing if you prefer a paper route.

2. Prepare Your Formation Document (LLC vs. Corporation)

Draft the correct certificate and make sure it includes the statutory minimums. Delaware lets you add optional clauses, but you only need the elements below to create the entity.

• LLC – Certificate of Formation (Title 6 §18-201): Must state the LLC name, the registered office address in Delaware, and the registered agent’s name/address; you may add any other matters the members choose.
• Corporation – Certificate of Incorporation (Title 8 §102): Must include the corporate name (with a proper ending), registered office/agent, authorized shares and par value (for stock corps), name/address of incorporator(s), and any optional provisions you want in the charter.

Where to get the state templates: The Division hosts fillable sample forms for both LLCs and corporations and explains how to submit them.

3. File Online (Upload) or by Mail

Delaware accepts filings through its Document Filing & Certificate Request Service (upload) or by mail. The upload route creates the cover memo for you automatically; if you mail, include the Filing Cover Memo with contact and return instructions.

Base state filing fees (as of Aug. 1, 2024):

• LLC formation (domestic): $110 (base state fee; certified copy + expedited service are optional add-ons). For a full fee breakdown beyond the base state charges, see our Delaware LLC cost guide.
• Corporation incorporation (domestic): $109 base fee for a 1-page filing; total can vary if stock is changing. (Corporate franchise tax is separate.)

Expedite options: The fee schedule lists 24-hour (+$50) and same-day (+$100) service tiers for most formation filings; faster tiers may be available through special handling. Check the Division’s expedite guidance if timing is critical, then review how long it takes to get a Delaware LLC so you can plan approvals and pick the right speed.

4. After the State Stamps “Filed”: Do These Next

Getting the approval email or stamped copy means you exist, but you’re not done. Knock out these immediate tasks to stay bank-ready and compliant.

• Order proof (optional): You can request a Certificate of Status/Good Standing at the time of filing or after, $50 Short Form; $175 Long Form.
• Get an EIN (free): Apply directly with the IRS online; never pay a third party for an EIN.
• Licensing & tax registration: If you’ll operate or hire in Delaware, use the state’s One Stop to handle business licensing and related registrations. If you plan to scale headcount or outsource payroll/HR, compare PEO companies in Delaware to streamline compliance and benefits.
• Beneficial ownership reporting: Requirements have shifted multiple times. Before you file any BOI report, check FinCEN’s latest official page for current rules and deadlines.

If you prefer a walkthrough focused only on LLCs, follow our how to start an LLC in Delaware guide.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid During a Delaware Entity Search

A quick search can reveal useful facts, but it also presents opportunities for errors if you’re not careful. Failing to read results thoroughly or skipping essential details can lead to confusion down the line. With just a few best practices, you’ll minimize your risks and glean the most accurate information from each lookup.

Misreading business status or filing errors

It’s easy to overlook small indicators in an entity’s profile. A record showing “Void” status might still appear in the database, but it’s no longer active. Meanwhile, a mismatch between the registered agent’s address and the official listing might signal outdated records. Beware of:

• Conflicting addresses: Compare multiple sources to confirm accuracy
• Inconsistent file numbers: Use the correct identifier for each search
• Typos in the results: Recheck if the spelling or punctuation seems off
• Missed deadlines: A “Not in Good Standing” label might just mean late filings

Taking an extra moment to cross-verify data can help you steer clear of dealing with a defunct entity or an unfiled update.

Failing to verify franchise tax standing

Paying the business entity tax (commonly called franchise tax) is essential in Delaware. Some entrepreneurs assume an active listing automatically means taxes are current, but that’s not always the case. Double-checking this detail prevents unwanted surprises like:

• Penalties for late payments
• Potential holds on official certificates
• Difficulty raising funds or expanding
• Negative impressions among investors

Confirm the tax record by contacting state officials or reviewing the entity’s payment history to ensure you’re partnering with a fully compliant organization.

FAQ – Delaware Entity Search and Business Filing

Below, you’ll find concise answers to the most common questions about searching and registering businesses in Delaware. Each response is designed to give you immediate clarity, helping you avoid delays or confusion when navigating the state’s system.