 Delaware |  Wyoming | |
|---|---|---|
| All-in to start with usOur $40 fee with the EIN, the registered agent for the first year, and the state fee. | $195 | $187.40 |
| State filing fee | $110 | $102.40 |
| Typical approval time | 2–3 weeks (expedite available) | 1–3 business days |
| What the state asks each year | Franchise tax $300 | Annual report from $60 |
| Yearly state cost, about | $300 | $60 |
| Total over 5 years, aboutFormation, then four years of registered agent ($45) and state fees. Excludes bookkeeping and IRS filings, which are the same in every state. | $1,575 | $607.40 |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | None |
| Owners in the public formation document | Not listed | Not listed |
| Newspaper publication after formation | No | No |
Delaware against Wyoming
Advantages
- The standard for companies that will raise money from investors, with a specialised business court (the Court of Chancery).
Disadvantages
- Costs $7.60 more to form than Wyoming.
- About $240 a year more to keep than Wyoming (franchise tax $300).
- Slower approval: usually 2–3 weeks (expedite available).
- Has a state income tax, though it normally only reaches income connected to the state.
Wyoming against Delaware
Advantages
- Cheaper to form: $102.40 state fee against $110 in Delaware.
- Cheaper to keep: about $60 a year to the state, against $300 in Delaware.
- Faster approval: usually 1–3 business days, against 2–3 weeks (expedite available).
- No state income tax on wages.
- The state that introduced the LLC in 1977, and the most common choice of non-resident founders.
Disadvantages
None against Delaware.
Which one to choose
Choose Delaware if you plan to raise money from investors or set up a holding structure: that is what Delaware is for. For an online or service business owned from abroad, Wyoming is usually the better fit, and over five years it costs about $967.60 less.
If your company will have staff, an office or a warehouse in one particular state, form it there: otherwise you register in that state anyway. Federal taxes and IRS filings are the same in every state.
General information about the states, not legal or tax advice. State fees change occasionally; the price at checkout is the price you pay.
Delaware or Wyoming
Questions about this comparison
Is a Delaware or a Wyoming LLC cheaper?
Wyoming is cheaper to form: $187.40 all-in with us, against $195. Each year after, Delaware costs the state about $300 and Wyoming about $60, plus $45 for the registered agent.
Which is faster, Delaware or Wyoming?
Delaware usually approves an LLC in 2–3 weeks (expedite available), Wyoming in 1–3 business days. We file within 48 hours of payment in either state.
Can a non-US resident form an LLC in Delaware or Wyoming?
Yes, in both. Neither state asks for citizenship or residency, and the registered agent we include provides the in-state address. The EIN is included without an SSN.
Another pair