Wyoming vs Delaware LLC Comparison: Privacy, Fees & Foreign Founder Suitability
Compare upfront costs, ongoing annual maintenance, Court of Chancery benefits, and privacy protections to select the best jurisdiction for your U.S. business.
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)
Compare upfront costs, ongoing annual maintenance, Court of Chancery benefits, and privacy protections to select the best jurisdiction for your U.S. business.
Statutory Roadmap & Decision Matrix
| Phase / Step | Core Requirement | Governing Agency / Portal | Statutory Fee | Standard Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Evaluate Your Capital & Funding Strategy | Wyoming Secretary of State & Delaware Division of Corporations | $0 | Strategic evaluation |
| Step 2 | Calculate Ongoing Annual Maintenance Costs | Wyoming Secretary of State & Delaware Division of Corporations | DE: $300/yr | WY: $60/yr | Annual |
| Step 3 | Compare Beneficial Privacy and Public Records | Wyoming Secretary of State & Delaware Division of Corporations | $0 | Ongoing |
Step 1
Evaluate Your Capital & Funding Strategy
If you plan to raise institutional angel or venture capital funding, U.S. investors and startup accelerators (e.g., Y Combinator) overwhelmingly expect a Delaware C-Corporation or Delaware LLC convertible to C-Corp. If you are bootstrapping, running e-commerce, or managing digital services, Wyoming offers lower recurring overhead.
Step 2
Calculate Ongoing Annual Maintenance Costs
Delaware imposes a mandatory minimum Annual Franchise Tax of $300 for LLCs due June 1. Wyoming imposes an annual license tax of just $60 (or $0.0002 per dollar of assets located in Wyoming, whichever is greater).
Step 3
Compare Beneficial Privacy and Public Records
Wyoming does not list LLC members or managers on the public state registry. Delaware also protects ownership privacy on basic filing certificates, but requires disclosure in certain annual franchise filings.
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