How To Search Delaware Business Entities
- How To Search Delaware Business Entities
- How To Find the Owner of a Business Entity in Delaware?
- Why Conduct a Delaware Entity Search?
- Who Holds Data for Delaware Business Entity Search?
- What Entities Can You Register in Delaware?
- How Do I Check If a Business Entity Name is Taken in Delaware?
- How Do I Set Up a Business Entity in Delaware?
- How Much Does It Cost To Start a Business In Delaware?
- Additional Information Available on the Delaware Secretary of the Commonwealth's Website
- FAQs About Business Entity Searches in Delaware
An average of 270,000 to 350,000 new business entities, including corporations and LLCs, are formed annually in Delaware. Over 80% of the U.S.-based business entities that went public in 2023 were registered in the state. The most reliable source for accurate and complete information on business entities in the state is the Delaware Department of State’s website.
Looking up a business entity in Delaware will generally reveal important information about the business. For instance, it can help verify if the entity is legally registered and has a good reputation and financial standing. Such details are often vital in making informed decisions, including deciding whether or not to invest in the business or become a partner.
Choose Your Search Criteria
The Delaware Department of State’s Entity Search tool basically allows anyone to search a business entity using any of the following criteria:
Entity NameEnter the business’s full or partial name in the appropriate field.
File NumberIf the entity’s file number with the Division of Corporations is known, enter it in the appropriate search field.
Review Search Results
Once the preferred or available search parameter is provided in the relevant field, click the “Search” tab on the Entity Search tool and wait for the search results. Typically, a list of records matching the search criterion, which includes file numbers and entity names of such records will be displayed.
Further Assistance
Navigating the Delaware Department of State’s Entity Search portal is easy. However, you may contact the Division of Corporations if you need further assistance with searching for any business entity registered in the state.
How To Find the Owner of a Business Entity in Delaware
Unlike many states, Delaware offers business owners a high level of privacy protection. No state law requires the disclosure of the names or contact information of business owners, directors, or their managers in the formation documents.
Generally, the Division of Corporations in Delaware does not request or store any information regarding LLC’s owners and managers. This explains why the result of a typical entity search in the state using the Division of Corporations’ Entity Search portal will not reveal any information about the business ownership. You may contact the registered agent of a business entity for the possibility of finding the owner of the business.
Why Conduct a Delaware Entity Search?
A Delaware entity search can help anyone looking to conduct due diligence on a business to obtain certain information on the entity, including its status, reputation, and legal structure. Information obtained from such search will reveal if the business exists, can be trusted, and if a business relationship may be established with it.
In Delaware, investors may research a business entity to determine their financial standing and other important information to enable them to make informed investment decisions.
Before entering into a procurement contract with any supplier in the state, an individual or business may look up the supplier by conducting a Delaware entity search to find if they are reputable and legitimate.
Generally, information obtained from a Delaware entity search on any business may prevent someone from falling victim to potential fraud or scams. A typical entity search conducted in the state will reveal certain registration details and the entity’s status.
Who Holds Data for Delaware Business Entity Search?
What Entities Can You Register in Delaware?
As stipulated in Titles 6, 8, 12, and 15 of the Delaware Code, the following entities may be registered in the state:
When a business becomes incorporated, it becomes a separate entity from the owner(s) and may enter into contracts separately from its owners. Generally, the owners become shareholders. In Delaware, a business may register as any of the following corporate entities:
- C Corporation
This is an independent legal entity controlled by the shareholders, officers and a board of directors. It is usually subject to more tax deductions than any other business structure, but the owners generally pay lower income tax.
- S Corporation
This corporation is designed in such a way that helps it avoid double taxation as with C corporations. Losses and profits may be passed through directly to business owners’ personal income to help avoid corporate tax rates.
In a limited partnership, there is a general partner and at least one limited partner. Typically, the general partner retains all the management authority, while a limited partner has no such powers, or the powers are limited. There is also limited liability protection for limited partners under this business structure.
LLCs are generally designed to protect small business owners from certain personal liabilities. Owners may choose to be taxed either as partners (if there are two or more members), or as corporations, or like a sole proprietorship, may be disregarded for tax purposes.
Under Delaware law, a statutory trust is a legal entity with a real estate ownership structure where several investors hold an undivided fractional and beneficial interest in the trust. This business structure is primarily established by professional real estate companies in the state.
A general partnership basically assumes equal partnership and ownership in a business. Unless otherwise agreed or specified, the partners share all liability and management among themselves.
Per Title 6, Chapter 19 of the Delaware Code, an unincorporated non-profit association may consist of two or more members that come together by mutual consent for a common, lawful, non-profit purpose. They are generally established without forming a formal corporation to simplify administration.
How Do I Check If a Business Entity Name is Taken in Delaware?
How Do I Set up a Business Entity in Delaware?
Regardless of the type of business entity, the following steps are generally required to set up or form an entity with the Division of Corporations under the Delaware Department of State:
- Choose the intended business entity type. The Legal Business Structure Table provided by the state’s Division of Revenue and the Registration Process Flow Chart should help you have a basic overview of entity choices.
- Contact a Delaware registered agent and inform them of the intention to set up or form a business entity.
- Perform a business entity search to determine if the proposed name has not been taken by another entity and to ensure it is distinguishable from any other business entity. Afterward, you may reserve the name online or in writing.
- File and submit the appropriate Formation Forms and certificate of incorporation using the Delaware Division of Corporations’ Document Filing and Certificate Request Service. These documents may also be submitted by mail to:
John G. Townsend Building
401 Federal Street
Suite 4
Dover, DE 19901 - Report information about beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in compliance with the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).
- File an annual report and /or pay franchise tax after incorporation. If listed as an exempt domestic corporation, tax payment is not required but an annual report must be filed.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Delaware?
Below is a list of different business structures that may be registered in Delaware and the applicable formation fees:
Additional Information Available on the Delaware Department of State’s Website
FAQs About Business Entity Searches in Delaware
Frequently asked questions regarding business entity searches in Delaware and their answers include the following:
- Why would I need to search for a business entity in Delaware?
A Delaware entity search will generally provide you with some important details about the entity. For instance, you may be able to learn about an entity’s financial standing, reputation, status, and trustworthiness after conducting an entity search.
- What types of entities can I search for in Delaware?
The Division of Corporations’ Entity Search tool allows anyone to search for registered corporations, limited partnerships, general partnerships, LLCs, and statutory trusts in Delaware.
- Where can I perform a business entity search in Delaware?
The Business Entity Search tool maintained by the Division of Corporations allows the public to conduct a Delaware business entity search online. Alternatively, you may contact the Department of State’s office if you wish to search for a business entity in the state.
- What information do I need to conduct an entity search in Delaware?
If you wish to conduct a Delaware business entity search online using the Division of Corporations’ Business Entity Search portal, you may either use the business name or the file number as the search criterion.
- How do I find the official name of a Delaware business?
You may uncover the official name of a Delaware business by searching the Division of Corporations’ Business Entity Search portal with the business file number if known or partial characters from the entity name.
- Can I search for foreign entities in Delaware?
Yes. A foreign corporation that operates in Delaware may be searched using the Division of Corporations’ Business Entity Search tool.
- What information can I find in the Delaware entity search?
If you conduct a Delaware entity search, you will find basic details like the entity’s file number, residency (domestic or foreign), entity type, entity kind, incorporation/formation date, and registered agent information.
- How do I verify if a Delaware business is in good standing?
You may verify if a registered business in Delaware is in good standing by submitting a written request for a certificate of good standing to the Division of Corporations. This service costs about $175.
- Can I search for an entity in Delaware by its owner’s name?
No. The Division of Corporations’ Business Entity Search portal makes no provisions for looking up an entity by its owner’s name. In general, ownership information of an entity is not publicly accessible in Delaware.
- How often is the Delaware business entity database updated?
The Delaware Division of Corporations’ Business Entity search database is updated regularly. The database holds real-time information, and any information retrieved generally reflects the data on it as of the date of conducting an entity search.
- Can I obtain copies of business filings in Delaware?
Yes. Interested persons may obtain copies of business filings in Delaware by submitting their requests through the Document Filing and Certificate Request Service or mailing a completed Certification Request Memo to the Division of Corporations.
- How do I find out who the registered agent of a Delaware business is?
You may find out the details of a business registered agent in Delaware by conducting an entity search using the Division of Corporations Business Entity Search tool.
- How can I search for Delaware businesses by their tax ID number?
Contact the Delaware Division of Corporations to search for a registered business in the state using its tax ID number.
- What should I do if I can’t find a business entity in the Delaware search?
If you are unable to find a business entity in Delaware using the Division of Corporations’ Business Entity Search portal, double-check to confirm that the search parameters are correctly spelled in the search fields. If the challenge persists, you may contact the Division of Corporations at (302) 739-3073 or by email for further search.
- How To Search Delaware Business Entities
- How To Find the Owner of a Business Entity in Delaware?
- Why Conduct a Delaware Entity Search?
- Who Holds Data for Delaware Business Entity Search?
- What Entities Can You Register in Delaware?
- How Do I Check If a Business Entity Name is Taken in Delaware?
- How Do I Set Up a Business Entity in Delaware?
- How Much Does It Cost To Start a Business In Delaware?
- Additional Information Available on the Delaware Secretary of the Commonwealth's Website
- FAQs About Business Entity Searches in Delaware