Your Delaware Corporation name can identify the type of products and services your business will provide; or it may be the name of the founder; or it can be a combination of the two or something else.

In any case, the Delaware Corporation name that you choose must be distinguishable from the name of any other registered Delaware Corporation or other business entity and the name must also be different from any reserved names on record with the state of Delaware.  Your Delaware Corporation name must not imply that it was formed for a purpose other than that stated in your Certificate of Incorporation; and your Delaware Corporation name must not be a name that is likely to mislead the public.

Delaware state law restricts the use of certain words and phrases in Corporation names.  The name of a Delaware Corporation also must include the word "Corporation" or "Incorporated" or an abbreviation of one of these words.  If you choose us to help you for a new Delaware Corporation we will make sure that the name you have chose complies with all Delaware requirements.

It's important to choose a good name for your Delaware Corporation because if you want to change it after you incorporate you will have to file amended Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State (and pay a fee).

Every Delaware Corporation must have an address that is physically located in the state of Delaware.  This address is "registered" with the Delaware Secretary of State.  The Registered Address is where official and legal correspondence can be delivered.

The individual or company that is registered with the state of Delaware to receive all correspondence on behalf of the Delaware Corporation is called a "Registered Agent".  You may act as your own Registered Agent, however, many Delaware Corporations hire a Registered Agent because they don't have a physical address within the state of Delaware or to provide a distinct level of privacy.

All Delaware Corporations are required to have a Board of Directors.  Directors are the people who will set policies for your Delaware Corporation and manage the business and its resources.  In the majority of small corporations directors are the owners. The Certificate of Incorporation or Corporate Bylaws may define specific qualifications for Directors. 

The Board of Directors is responsible for creating rules, approving budgets and distributing profits to shareholders. One of the most important duties of the Board of Directors is electing Officers for your Delaware Corporation.  The same person may be a Director and an Officer at the same time.  Directors need not be residents of the state of Delaware or shareholders of the Delaware Corporation unless the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws require it.

Normally Directors for your Delaware Corporation are elected for a term of one year.  Elections are held at the annual meeting of Shareholders.  The Directors serve until the next annual Shareholders meeting.

The Board of Directors elects Officers for your Delaware Corporation in accordance with the Corporate Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation.  Officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the Delaware Corporation.  Officers handle the day to day operation of the Delaware Corporation.

Unless specifically prohibited by the Corporate Bylaws or Certificate of Incorporation, in a Delaware Corporation the same person may hold more than one Corporate Office at the same time.  However, there are certain legal affairs in which the same person cannot act in more than one capacity.

The number and type of Officers required for a Delaware Corporation are defined in the Corporate Bylaws or in a resolution of the Board of Directors. 

One Officer - usually the Secretary - is given responsibility for preparing Minutes of Directors and Shareholders meetings and for authenticating records for the Delaware Corporation. 

The Delaware Corporate Income Tax Rate is 8.7%.   You may form an S Corporation in Delaware.  S Corporations may "pass through" all corporate profits to the shareholders (owners) who then pay tax at their applicable personal rate.  S Corporations do not pay any Delaware Corporate Income Tax.

In order to form a Corporation in Delaware you must file a Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State.  The Certificate of Incorporation must include certain specific information about your Delaware business. If the Certificate of Incorporation does not conform exactly to state of Delaware requirements it will be rejected.  You may subsequently amend the Certificate of Incorporation for your Delaware Corporation but you will have to pay a fee to the state of Delaware in order to make the changes official.

A Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, is used by the IRS to identify a business entity.  An FEIN is like a Social Security Number for your Delaware Corporation.  All Delaware Corporations are required to have an FEIN.

Corporate stock is evidence of ownership of a Delaware Corporation.  When you form your Delaware Corporation, you will need to determine what type of stock and the number of shares of each type that you want to authorize.  You do not have to sell the number of shares that are authorized.  Many small Delaware Corporations hold 100% of the shares.

Stockholders in a Delaware Corporation are entitled to voting rights or dividends of the Corporate profits or both.  Whoever owns over 50% of the stock of the Delaware Corporation is able to make all Corporate business decisions.  Delaware Corporations usually hold at least 51% of the corporate stock in order to retain control of the Delaware Corporation.

The Board of Directors holds an initial meeting to elect Officers, authorize issuance of stock and adopt the Corporate Bylaws.  Bylaws are the internal rules of your Delaware Corporation.  They are adopted by the Board of Directors and vary widely from Corporation to Corporation.  Commonly bylaws include the number of seats on the board of directors; how Directors are elected; how meetings of Directors and Shareholders are to be conducted; what Officers the Delaware Corporation will have and a description of each of their duties. 

As your company grows over time, you may amend your bylaws as necessary.  Bylaws generally cannot be amended by the Board of Directors unilaterally.  A vote by the majority of Stockholders of the Delaware Corporation is usually required to amend the Corporate Bylaws.  Bylaws may include any rules for managing the business and conducting corporate affairs.  Almost anything may be written into the Bylaws, however, the Bylaws must not be in violation of any federal or Delaware law or the Delaware Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation.  A copy of the Corporate Bylaws should be maintained at the Corporation's principal Delaware office.

Note that forming a Delaware Corporation doesn't take the place of obtaining a business license, tax registration certificate, or other required business permits.  A Delaware Corporation merely creates an ownership structure that limits the owners' personal liability.  You may still need to take care of getting set up to do business with your local government.

Depending on the nature of the business and the location of your Delaware Corporation you may need to get one or more city business licenses or permits.  The business licenses or permits that are required for your Delaware Corporation vary depending on your business activities and the specific locations within the state of Delaware in which you want to conduct business.

If your Delaware Corporation will be selling products in Delaware you may be required to obtain a Reseller's Permit from the appropriate Delaware state agency.  If your Delaware Corporation will be selling products in Delaware you will also be responsible for all applicable local and state of Delaware sales taxes if there are any.

Every Delaware Corporation must hold corporate and shareholder meetings, at least annually, and must keep minutes of each meeting on file.  A copy of the minutes is evidence that the meetings took place and includes all resolutions that were adopted.  The minutes of each meetings must be open for inspection by any Shareholder or Director.  This meeting requirement is often overlooked and comes into play when the Delaware Corporation is challenged for any reason.  Keeping proper meeting minutes and documenting resolutions made and approved by the Directors is a formality that could save your Delaware Corporation a lot of potential trouble.

Every Delaware Corporation is required to file an Annual Report with the Delaware Secretary of State EACH year.

The Delaware Corporation Annual Report is due at the Delaware Secretary of State EACH year by March 1.

Every Delaware Corporation is also required to pay an Annual Franchise Tax to the state of Delaware EACH year.

The Annual Delaware Corporation Franchise Tax is based on the value of the shares which the Delaware Corporation has issued or by the total number of shares which the Delaware Corporation is authorized to issue.

If a Delaware Corporation does not file its Corporation Annual Report with the Delaware Secretary of State by the due date of March 1 then the DE Secretary of State will impose a late filing fee on that Delaware Corporation.