OffshoreGuy
Jurisdiction · DE

Delaware

Delaware is the VC-default state for raising venture capital. The Court of Chancery has more case law on corporate disputes than any other US court, and Delaware C-Corps remain the structural prerequisite for most US VC term sheets. Our Delaware C-Corp SKU ships at $299 through Harvard Business Services.

REPUTABLE3-day formationApostille supportedNo public UBO register
Why this jurisdiction

What makes Delaware different

  • VC-default: Delaware C-Corps are required by most US institutional investors.
  • Chancery Court: fastest corporate dispute resolution in the US.
  • Franchise tax applies: typically $400+/yr for active C-Corps.
  • Pairs with the SAFE / convertible-note / priced-round playbook.
KYC reality

What we collect, and what Delaware filing requires

We collect
  • Email, country of residence, intended use statement
  • OFAC + EU + UN sanctions screen
  • Tier 1 KYC on this SKU when it ships in Phase 2
Local filing requires
  • Beneficial owner identification per local AML obligations
  • Notarized passport copies and proof of address

The honest note: Delaware licensed agents apply local AML rules to every formation. Anonymous formation is not available.

Banking compatibility

Where Delaware entities bank

Primary US (tech)Built around Delaware C-Corps. Default banking choice.
VC-friendly US railSpecialized for funded Delaware C-Corps.

Banking compatibility varies. We surface the rail categories that have a track record of onboarding Delaware entities. See the Banking page for named rails.

Full banking ranking
Case for / case against

When this jurisdiction is right (and wrong)

Case for

If you're raising US venture capital, you almost certainly need a Delaware C-Corp. The structure is non-negotiable for most institutional rounds.

Chancery Court's depth of corporate case law makes Delaware the lowest-risk forum for shareholder-dispute resolution.

Case against

Delaware C-Corps are tax-inefficient for non-fundraising operators. If you're not raising, a Wyoming LLC is structurally cheaper.

Franchise tax surprises catch non-residents. Plan for at least $400-$1,000/yr depending on share authorization.

FAQ

Common Delaware questions

How long does Delaware formation take?

Most Delaware formations are filed within the published timeline shown on the jurisdiction's at-a-glance card. Apostille turnaround adds 5-10 business days where required.

Can I form a Delaware entity in Bitcoin?

Yes. Accepted forms of payment are BTC (on-chain and Lightning) and USDT (TRC-20 / ERC-20), settled via BitSettle, our proprietary settlement system. Settlement to local providers happens off-platform via our OTC desk where required.

Does the licensed agent collect KYC even if I'm in Tier 0?

Yes. The licensed registered agent in your selected jurisdiction is a regulated trust-and-corporate-service provider statutorily required to identify the beneficial owner regardless of our platform-level KYC tier.

What banking works with this entity?

See the banking page for our full ranking by rail. The most common rails for this jurisdiction are listed in the Banking compatibility section above.

Can I dissolve the entity later?

Yes. Dissolution / strike-off is a standalone SKU. Pass-through state fees apply per jurisdiction.