State comparisons
Delaware LLC vs Every US State
Wondering whether to form in Delaware or your home state? These side-by-side comparisons cover all 50 states plus DC — formation fees, recurring annual costs, franchise tax, owner privacy, and court systems — with a clear recommendation for each.
Last updated: June 3, 2026
Quick answer
Delaware wins for founders who want investor credibility, strong privacy (member names are not public), and the specialized Court of Chancery — especially non-residents and online businesses. Your home state usually wins if you are a US resident running a local, single-state operation, because forming out of state means registering as a foreign LLC and paying two states. Pick your state below for the exact numbers.
Compare Delaware against50 pages
- vs Alabama
- vs Alaska
- vs Arizona
- vs Arkansas
- vs California
- vs Colorado
- vs Connecticut
- vs DC
- vs Florida
- vs Georgia
- vs Hawaii
- vs Idaho
- vs Illinois
- vs Indiana
- vs Iowa
- vs Kansas
- vs Kentucky
- vs Louisiana
- vs Maine
- vs Maryland
- vs Massachusetts
- vs Michigan
- vs Minnesota
- vs Mississippi
- vs Missouri
- vs Montana
- vs Nebraska
- vs Nevada
- vs New Hampshire
- vs New Jersey
- vs New Mexico
- vs New York
- vs North Carolina
- vs North Dakota
- vs Ohio
- vs Oklahoma
- vs Oregon
- vs Pennsylvania
- vs Rhode Island
- vs South Carolina
- vs South Dakota
- vs Tennessee
- vs Texas
- vs Utah
- vs Vermont
- vs Virginia
- vs Washington
- vs West Virginia
- vs Wisconsin
- vs Wyoming
The most common comparisons
The highest-interest matchups are Delaware vs Wyoming (privacy and cost), Delaware vs Nevada (asset protection), and Delaware vs California (the $800 minimum tax). If you have already decided on Delaware, read the complete Delaware LLC guide or jump straight to how to form one.
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