Delaware Contractor License Application: One Stop Portal Walkthrough

Everything Starts at Delaware One Stop

Nearly every state-level contractor registration in Delaware runs through the Delaware One Stop portal at onestop.delaware.gov. This single platform handles your Division of Revenue business license, your Department of Labor contractor registration, trade name (DBA) filings, and the tax account setup that feeds your Gross Receipts Tax obligations.

The portal doesn't handle county or municipal licensing — those are separate systems. It is the starting point for state-level registrations; local licensing follows once those state credentials are active.

Before You Log In: What to Have Ready

The application process moves faster when you've gathered everything upfront. Before creating your One Stop account, confirm you have:

• Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) from the IRS (required unless you're a sole proprietor with no employees)
• Entity formation documents — your Certificate of Formation, Certificate of Incorporation, or whatever the Division of Corporations issued when you formed your business structure
• NAICS code — contractors should select the appropriate code from Sector 23 (Construction). The specific code determines your tax classification and GRT filing structure
• Workers' compensation policy number or documentation of your exemption (sole proprietors with zero employees can file a waiver through the Division of Industrial Affairs)
• Written OSHA safety plan compliant with 29 CFR Part 1926, or evidence of active development with the Delaware Office of Safety and Health

The Registration Sequence

Step 1: Create your Go DE account. This is your secure login for the One Stop portal. You'll need to verify your identity through the portal's security process.

Step 2: File the Combined Registration Application (CRA). This is the core document. It simultaneously registers your business with the Division of Revenue and sets up your tax accounts. During this step, you'll select whether you're a Resident Contractor (physical office in Delaware) or Non-Resident Contractor (headquartered out of state).

The CRA triggers your state business license ($75 annual fee, prorated in the first year) and establishes your Gross Receipts Tax account.

Step 3: Establish your State Unemployment Insurance account. File Form UC-1 through the portal to set up your SUI account. For 2026, the taxable wage base is $14,500 per employee.

Step 4: Register for DOL Contractor Registration. Through the same portal, submit your application for the Contractor Registration Certificate. This requires uploading your workers' comp policy, your OSHA safety plan, and your active business license.

Registration fees are $200 (private work), $300 (public work), or $500 (both).

Step 5: Register your trade name (optional). If you operate under a name different from your legal entity name, register it through One Stop. As of February 2, 2026, trade name registrations moved from the Delaware Superior Court to the Division of Revenue — the process is now fully online, costs $25, and no longer requires notarization.

Processing Times and Common Stalls

Typical processing for the state business license is 5–10 business days. The DOL Contractor Registration can take longer if documentation is incomplete.

The most common reasons applications stall:

• Missing or expired workers' compensation coverage
• OSHA safety plan that doesn't meet reviewer standards (submitting a rough draft isn't enough)
• Name mismatches between the business entity filing and the DOL application
• For non-residents: not including the required 6% surety bond for contracts totaling $20,000+

If the DOL flags your application as incomplete, you have 15 days to provide the missing information. Miss that window and the application is rejected — you start over.

What Comes After One Stop

Once your state credentials are active, the next step is local licensing in whichever county or municipality your projects are in. New Castle County uses the eServices Portal, Kent County uses MyGovernmentOnline, and Sussex County uses its Self Service Portal. Cities like Wilmington, Newark, and Dover have their own application processes.

The Delaware General Contractor License Guide maps the full sequence from One Stop setup through county and municipal licensing, so you know exactly which application follows which and what documentation each requires.

See more Delaware guides →