Compliance
EIN vs business license: clarifying what you need (and what you do not)
EIN is federal tax ID; business license is state/local permit. Most non-resident Delaware LLCs need EIN but not business license.
EIN: always needed
Federal EIN is required for opening US bank accounts, applying to Stripe, hiring contractors, and filing Form 5472. Every operating LLC needs EIN.
Cost: free from IRS directly; included in most formation service bundles.
Business license: depends on operations
Business licenses are state or local (city/county) permits required for specific business types or locations. Delaware itself does not require general business licenses for most LLCs.
Other states/cities may require: California (varies by city), Hawaii (general excise license), Washington state (business license), Florida (depends on activity).
Industry-specific licenses
Some industries require federal licenses: alcohol, firearms, broadcasting. Some require state licenses: real estate brokers, contractors, financial advisors. Most online business models (SaaS, ecommerce, content creation, agency) do not require industry-specific licenses.
Check NAICS code and industry-specific licensing requirements for your business activity.
Form your Delaware LLC with Delewarellc
$297 + Delaware state fee, one-time. 8-10 day turnaround. Multilingual founder-led support.
More from the Delewarellc blog
- Delaware LLC vs Wyoming LLC for non-residents: which to choose in 2026
- Stripe Atlas 2025-2026 changes: what changed for non-resident founders
- Form 5472 late filing: how to recover from missed years
- Mercury banking in 2026: non-resident approval reality
- BOI report under the Corporate Transparency Act: 2026 status update