Delaware is the most expensive anonymous LLC state to maintain. Here is exactly what you pay and why some founders choose it anyway.
By Shafwan Ahmed, Operations & Fulfillment Lead, Anonymousllc.co
Anonymousllc.co charges $297 for Delaware LLC formation. The Delaware state filing fee of $110 is paid separately to the Delaware Division of Corporations. Total year 1 cost: $407. This includes formation filing, registered agent year 1, custom operating agreement (required under Delaware law), EIN from the IRS, and applications to 4-5 US banks.
Delaware imposes a $300 annual franchise tax on all LLCs, due June 1 each year. This is not based on income — it is a flat fee every Delaware LLC pays regardless of revenue. Miss the deadline and Delaware charges a $200 late penalty plus 1.5% monthly interest. The franchise tax is paid directly to Delaware, not to Anonymousllc.co.
This $300/year is the key cost difference between Delaware and other anonymous states. Wyoming charges $60/year (annual report). New Mexico charges $0/year. Nevada charges $350/year (Business License + Annual List). Over 5 years, Delaware costs approximately $1,767 total vs Wyoming at $797.
| Timeframe | Delaware | Wyoming | New Mexico | Nevada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $407 | $397 | $347 | $722 |
| Year 2 | $340 | $100 | $40 | $390 |
| 3-Year Total | $1,087 | $597 | $427 | $1,177 |
| 5-Year Total | $1,767 | $797 | $507 | $1,957 |
| 10-Year Total | $3,467 | $1,297 | $707 | $3,907 |
Assumes ~$40/year RA renewal for all states.
The $300/year franchise tax buys access to the Court of Chancery — specialized business law judges with no juries. Venture capital attorneys default to Delaware. Investors expect Delaware. If you are building a startup that will raise institutional capital, the franchise tax is effectively the cost of entry into the VC ecosystem. For every other use case, Wyoming provides equivalent anonymity at $240/year less.
$297 Anonymousllc.co + $110 state fee. Court of Chancery jurisdiction.
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