How do I verify a company in Delaware?

License Search
4 min readApr 26, 2023

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Delaware Business License (Source: https://delaware.licenselookup.org/business/)

Delaware is one of the most popular states for business people. Even though they do not have a physical presence there, many businesses choose to incorporate in Delaware. According to data from Delaware’s annual report, it is the most popular state for publicly traded corporations.

A lot of business owners favor Delaware because of its regulations, which give companies more flexibility in structuring and shareholder rights. It is inexpensive to register, provides tax benefits, and gives very robust privacy protections. Also, many investors like Delaware businesses, due to the favorable legal precedent and trust in the legal system.

However, you should ensure that the company can be trusted or avoided at all costs because fraud is a persistent concern that can result in loss. As a result, the government has overseen some basic steps for conducting a Delaware corporation search and determining whether a company is operating within the state. Yet, there are some basic steps you can take before searching, such as reviewing websites, addresses, and so on. As a result, this article has broken down all of the necessary methods to easily verify a company in Delaware.

Spelling and Grammar

The first step in figuring out whether a company is valid is to run a quick search for certain items on its website that could indicate whether or not they are legitimate. For example, check spelling and grammar. If the website often uses poor grammar or poor English that should raise a red signal.

Free Business Name Search

Look for the organization’s phone number and address. Check that the phone number and run a Delaware corporation search using websites like White Pages. In the site’s reverse phone directory, enter the business’s phone number. It will show the address. Ask its agents why there is a difference if the address lines up differently than the info you have been given. There can be a problem if the corporation is unable to justify the variance, such as by citing the existence of numerous locations.

Also, you can check references. On occasion, businesses will post references and reviews on their websites. If so, ask for a phone number so you can call or email the individual or company providing the reference. Alternatively, request references along with their contact info (phone, email). Pick another organization if the first one lacks references or won’t supply any.

Privacy Policy

In addition, you should seek the business’s history and privacy policy. This might include information about its history, moral attitude, and mission. A privacy policy will typically verify its registered business address and name. It will enable you to conduct an official business credit search through a reputable credit reporting service. Besides, every organization has a registration number. The number ought to be made visible on their website along with the location of registration.

Use Online National Directories

For a quick search across the country, you can also attempt an online directory. Even though it’s less likely unless there’s a good reason, registering a firm nationally might still be worthwhile. Remember to start with the company that issues the certification if you’re seeking specific registration for certification.

Also, it is possible to run a Delaware corporation search on the Secretary of State website of the state or territory.

Payment Mode

One of the most crucial factors when determining whether an enterprise is a red flag is payment mode. If you’re an investor or a job seeker, it’s crucial to find out if there are secure payment options available.

Contact the Company

The quickest way to get an EIN is to give it a call. Ask the accounting department if the receptionist is unable to give you the number because it requires a taxpayer identification number to complete 1099-MISC documents, which vendors send out annually to some suppliers and service providers. Accounts receivable staff is often familiar with handling requests for EINs.

Besides, if you have its invoice, you might locate the EIN on it. Look for it close to or in the remittance information. Check the footer of the page to see if any companies have listed their EIN on their letterhead.

Visit the Company

The address provided on the website can be used to determine a firm’s legitimacy with a high degree of accuracy. It is not authentic if, despite your best efforts, you can’t find it; nevertheless, if you do, you should enter and take a look around. It is not easy to evaluate the company or the workplace culture without physically visiting the address. But visiting the site provides the only chance to interact with the management and the workers of the business.

Most businesses show all of their diplomas and honors for everyone to see. In addition, they hand out flyers and even booklets to passersby who are potential clients or job seekers.

To Sum Up…

There are several methods for verifying a company, but which one you use is entirely up to you. Even so, as the number of frauds grows by the day, it is a necessary step before cooperating. Never put your trust in a company that appears to be the wrong fit for you. The more careful you are as a business owner, the better protected your company will be. Conduct due diligence on potential customers and suppliers to ensure you are dealing with legitimate companies.

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