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Launch Blueprint
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Incorporate a Startup in United StatesDelaware (C-Corp)

The gold standard for VC-backed startups. Predictable corporate law and investor-friendly.

Key incorporation facts for United States

Time to incorporate
2 - 4 weeks
Estimated setup cost
$800 - $1,500
Corporate tax rate
21% federal + 8.7% DE
Ease of remote setup
Yes
Annual compliance: DE Franchise Tax + IRS 1120 + Annual Report \u00b7 Currency: USD \u00b7 11 required materials / 20 total

12-step launch checklist

From pre-launch name reservation through first annual filing.

  1. 01
    Choose company name and verify availability on DE.gov
    Pre-Launch
  2. 02
    Engage registered agent in Delaware
    Pre-Launch
  3. 03
    File Certificate of Incorporation with Delaware Division of Corporations
    Incorporation
  4. 04
    Adopt bylaws and appoint initial board of directors
    Incorporation
  5. 05
    Issue founder stock with vesting + sign IP assignments
    Incorporation
  6. 06
    File 83(b) election within 30 days of stock issuance
    Tax
  7. 07
    Obtain EIN via IRS Form SS-4
    Tax
  8. 08
    Open business bank account (Mercury / Brex / Chase)
    Banking
  9. 09
    Register for any required state sales tax permits
    Tax
  10. 10
    Publish Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
    Launch
  11. 11
    Set up payroll provider (Gusto / Rippling)
    Operations
  12. 12
    Pay first Delaware Franchise Tax (due March 1)
    Compliance

Legal & Incorporation

Articles, bylaws, founder stock and IP assignments needed to stand up a Delaware C-Corp ready for institutional investors.

Certificate of Incorporation

PDF

Official Delaware Division of Corporations form to legally bring your C-Corp into existence.

formREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Bylaws Template (Cooley GO)

DOCX

Standard corporate bylaws governing board, officers, and shareholder meetings.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Founder Stock Purchase Agreement

DOCX

Issue founder shares with vesting using the industry-standard Cooley template - critical for VC diligence.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

IP Assignment & Confidentiality (CIIAA)

DOCX

Assigns all founder pre-incorporation IP to the company - investors will not fund without this.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

SAFE (Post-Money) - Y Combinator

DOCX

The de-facto US seed-stage instrument; defer valuation and close fast.

templateOpen resource \u2192

Mutual NDA

DOCX

Two-way confidentiality for partner, customer, and investor conversations.

templateOpen resource \u2192

Tax & Banking

Federal and state tax registrations plus the banking onboarding pack that US digital banks expect.

EIN Application (IRS Form SS-4)

PDF

Federal Employer Identification Number - required for banking, payroll, and tax filings.

formREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

IRS Form 2553 (S-Corp Election)

PDF

Elect S-Corp tax treatment if your structure qualifies and you want pass-through taxation.

formOpen resource \u2192

Section 83(b) Election Letter

PDF

30-day election that prevents painful future taxation on founder stock vesting - DO NOT MISS the deadline.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Delaware Annual Franchise Tax Portal

PORTAL

Pay annual franchise tax (minimum $400) by March 1 each year to remain in good standing.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Mercury Business Banking Checklist

LINK

Document checklist used by Mercury, Brex, and Chase to open a US startup business account.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Regulatory & Licenses

Privacy, terms, and insurance requirements that any US-facing digital business must satisfy.

CCPA Compliance Checklist

PORTAL

California Consumer Privacy Act obligations for any business with California users.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Privacy Policy Template

DOCX

GDPR + CCPA-aligned privacy policy template for web/mobile apps.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

SaaS Terms of Service Template

DOCX

Self-serve SaaS terms - covers liability, data, refunds, and IP.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

SBA Business Insurance Guide

PORTAL

State-by-state required and recommended business insurance overview from the US Small Business Administration.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Local Infrastructure

Banking, registered agents, payments, and accelerators recommended for US startups.

Stripe Atlas

PORTAL

End-to-end Delaware incorporation, EIN, and Mercury bank account in a single onboarding flow.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Mercury Business Banking

PORTAL

Tech-first business banking with built-in treasury and virtual cards.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Harvard Business Services - Registered Agent

PORTAL

Reliable Delaware registered agent ($50-$99/year) - required to maintain DE incorporation.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

WeWork - Coworking

PORTAL

Flexible global coworking memberships and dedicated offices.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Y Combinator

PORTAL

Premier US accelerator - $500k investment in two batches per year.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to incorporate in United States?
Setup typically costs $800 - $1,500, with a 21% federal + 8.7% DE corporate tax rate.
How long does it take to incorporate in United States?
Incorporation usually completes in 2 - 4 weeks.
Can I incorporate remotely in United States?
Yes, United States supports fully-remote incorporation.
What annual compliance applies to a Delaware (C-Corp)?
DE Franchise Tax + IRS 1120 + Annual Report

Ready to incorporate?

Open the interactive launch blueprint for United States: track your progress, compare with other jurisdictions, ask the AI Launch Copilot, and download a personalised PDF plan.

Open Interactive Blueprint