The Delaware business entity search is a free tool that lets you look up any company registered in Delaware.
It is run by the Delaware Division of Corporations. You search by company name or file number, and the state shows the basic record.
Delaware has one big catch you must know about: the free search does not show whether a company is in good standing. That part costs extra. This guide explains both — the free search and the paid extras.
What Is the Delaware Business Entity Search?
It is the State of Delaware’s official database of registered businesses.
Delaware matters more than most states. A huge share of America’s large companies — and many small ones — are incorporated in Delaware even though they operate somewhere else.
If you are checking a company and cannot find it in its home state, there is a real chance it is registered in Delaware.
The Division of Corporations, part of the Delaware Department of State, keeps these records. Its free tool is called the General Information Name Search.
Delaware Business Entity Search: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Open the official search. Go to the Division of Corporations site at corp.delaware.gov and open the entity search (the General Information Name Search). No account is needed.
Step 2: Choose how to search. You can search by entity name or by file number if you have it.
Step 3: Enter the name carefully. Type the company’s legal name. Try variations if the first search finds nothing — punctuation and words like “The” can matter.
Step 4: Open the matching entity. From the results list, click the company to see its record.
Step 5: Read the record — and its warning. The record shows the basic facts (next section). Note the line Delaware prints on it: this is not a statement of good standing.
That last point is the key difference between Delaware and most other states.
What Information Does the Delaware Search Show?
The free record shows:
- Entity name — the legal name on file
- File number — Delaware’s ID number for the entity
- Formation date — when the company was formed (its incorporation date)
- Entity kind and type — for example, an LLC or a corporation
- Residency — domestic (Delaware) or foreign (from another state/country)
- Registered agent — the agent’s name and Delaware address
What the free record does not show:
- Whether the company is in good standing
- Its tax status or franchise tax balance
- Its filing history
Those sit behind the Division’s paid services, explained below.
Other Ways to Search in Delaware
- Name Availability Search — a separate free tool. Use it if you are starting a business and want to check whether a name is free. Do not use the entity search for this; it only finds existing companies.
- Name reservation — if your name is available but you are not ready to file, you can reserve it for 120 days for $75.
- Search by file number — if you have the file number from a contract or invoice, it takes you straight to the exact record.
Is the Delaware Business Entity Search Free?
The search itself is free. Looking up a company and reading its basic record costs nothing.
But Delaware charges for proof of status — this is where people get surprised:
| Service | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Entity search (name or file number) | Free | Basic record: name, file number, formation date, agent |
| Check entity status | $10 | The company’s current status |
| Status + tax and filing details | $20 | Status, franchise tax info, last 5 filings |
| Certificate of status (short form) | $50 | Official certificate banks and other states accept |
| Certificate of good standing (long form) | $175 | Certificate listing all filings |
So: research is free, official proof costs money.
Be careful with third-party sites selling Delaware “status reports” at marked-up prices. Order through the Division of Corporations itself.
What the Business Status Means
Because the free search hides the status, here is what Delaware’s paid status terms mean:
- Good standing — the company is current: its franchise taxes are paid and its reports are filed. This is what banks and partners want to see.
- Void / forfeited — the company has lost its good standing, usually for unpaid franchise tax or a missing registered agent. It cannot legally operate until restored.
- Dissolved / cancelled / terminated — the company has been formally ended.
- Inactive — a general label for entities no longer active on the register.
If a Delaware company appears in the free search but will not show or buy its status, treat that as a yellow flag and ask questions before you sign or pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are so many companies registered in Delaware?
Delaware has business-friendly laws and a famous specialist business court (the Court of Chancery). Many companies incorporate there even if their offices are in other states.
Does the free Delaware search show good standing?
No. The free record shows basic facts only, and it says so on the record itself. A current status check costs $10, or $20 with tax and filing details.
How much does it cost to check if a name is available in Delaware?
Nothing. The Name Availability Search is free. Reserving the name for 120 days costs $75.
Can I find a Delaware company’s owners in the search?
No. Delaware does not publish owners or shareholders in the entity record. You will see the registered agent, not the owners.
What is a Delaware file number?
It is the permanent ID number the Division assigns when an entity is formed. Searching by file number is the most precise way to find a record.
Searching another state? See our full guide to business entity search and the free searches for Utah, Texas, and Florida.