Delaware business entity information, including entity name, type, File Number, and formation date, is available free through the Delaware entity search portal run by the Division of Corporations. Current status is a separate paid lookup, according to the Division's FAQ page, but the four core details above cost nothing to pull.
Below is how to run the search, where each data point sits on the entity details page, and what format Delaware uses for each one.
Summary table: finding your Delaware entity information
Every field below is free to look up on the entity details page.
Information required | Where to find it | What it looks like | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Entity name | Delaware business search results | TechFlow Solutions LLC | Use the exact legal name as registered |
Entity type | Entity details page ("Entity Kind" and "Entity Type" fields) | LLC, Corporation, LP, Partnership, Statutory Trust | Must match the Delaware designation |
File Number | Search results list and details page | Numeric, up to 9 digits | Officially called the "File Number" |
Formation date | Details page ("Incorporation Date or Formation Date") | Calendar date | Effective date of the certificate |
How to search for Delaware business entities
Go to the Delaware entity search portal and enter the business name. The name field is not case sensitive, and the portal instructs users to use quotation marks for an exact search. Results include both active and inactive entities, so confirm you have the exact registered name before relying on what you find.
What you'll see in search results
The free entity details page displays:
Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)
Entity kind and entity type (Corporation, LLC, LP, LLP, Statutory Trust)
File Number (Delaware's unique identifier)
Incorporation or formation date
How to find your entity number in Delaware
Delaware's entity number is officially the "File Number," a unique identifier assigned to each entity when it is incorporated, formed, qualified, or registered with the Division of Corporations.
Where to locate your Delaware entity number
Delaware business search (fastest method): Shown in the results list next to the entity name, and again on the entity details page, labeled "File Number."
Certificate of Formation or Incorporation: Usually printed near the top of the document.
Franchise tax portal: The franchise tax filing portal uses your File Number as your account identifier for annual filings.
Format: Numeric. The franchise tax portal accepts a File Number up to 9 digits; Delaware does not publish an official standard fixing File Numbers at a specific digit count.
How to find your entity type in Delaware
The portal records your entity's designation in two fields: "Entity Kind," the broad category, and "Entity Type," a subtype within that kind. Delaware's entity kind and type definitions list several entity kinds, including Corporation, Limited Liability Company, Limited Partnership, Statutory Trust, Partnership (General or Limited Liability Partnership), Credit Services Organization, Registered Series, and Unincorporated Non-Profit Association.
Entity Type then narrows that kind further, with subtypes such as General, Benefit Corporation, Closed Corp, Bank, Professional Association, and Exempt. "Public Benefit Corporation" and "Exempt Corporation," for example, are Entity Types under the Corporation kind, not separate kinds of their own.
Where to find your Delaware entity type
Delaware business search: Listed on the entity details page as "Entity Kind" and "Entity Type."
Certificate of Formation or Incorporation: The certificate title typically names the full type, for example "Certificate of Formation of a Limited Liability Company."
How to find your formation date in Delaware
Your formation date, the day a certificate to form a new entity becomes effective with the Division of Corporations, appears in the search results and on your certificate.
Where your Delaware formation date appears
Delaware business search: Listed as "Incorporation Date or Formation Date" on the entity details page.
Certificate of Formation or Incorporation: Usually stamped near the top, sometimes with the Division's filing seal.
Formation date vs. effective date
A Delaware formation document can name a future effective date, which splits the filing date from the date the entity legally came into existence. A corporation's certificate may take effect up to 90 days after filing under Title 8 Section 103(d) of the Delaware Code, and an LLC or LP may set an effective date up to 180 days out, for filings made on or after January 1, 2012, under Title 6 Section 18-206(b) and Section 17-206(b). Use the formation date shown on the portal, not the day you mailed or submitted the paperwork, for onboarding and compliance records.
Onboard your entity to Discern in minutes
You now have what you need from Delaware's system: business name, entity type, File Number, and formation date. Bring that information into Discern, and the platform takes over from there with registered agent coverage, annual report filing, and Delaware franchise tax calculation using both available methods to ensure the lowest amount.
If you operate in more than one state, Discern tracks the same entity record everywhere you're registered, pre-filling annual reports and foreign registrations while tracking franchise tax deadlines outside Delaware.
Book a demo with Discern to see how it handles Delaware compliance end to end.
Frequently asked questions about the Delaware business entity search
Here are answers to the questions that come up most often once you're in Delaware's system.
Is Delaware's "File Number" the same as an entity number?
Yes. Delaware doesn't use the term "entity number" officially; "File Number" is the correct name for the identifier assigned when your entity is formed, and it's what the franchise tax portal and most Delaware forms ask for.
Can I use the free entity search to confirm my company is in good standing?
No. The free search shows entity name, type, File Number, and formation date, but not current status. Good standing requires a separate paid status lookup through the Division of Corporations.
What's the difference between my formation date and my effective date in Delaware?
Your formation date is when the Division filed your certificate. Your effective date is only different if you specified a future date on the filing, which Delaware allows up to 90 days out for corporations and up to 180 days out for LLCs and LPs.
Why does Delaware use "Entity Kind" and "Entity Type" instead of one field?
Entity Kind is the broad legal category, such as Corporation or Limited Liability Company. Entity Type is a subtype within that kind, such as Benefit Corporation or Exempt. Both fields appear on your entity's details page and together describe your full designation.
Updated on
2026-09-10
