How we spot Delaware openings
The public records behind Delaware New Openings, how we decide what's new, and what we can't see.
What we read
- Delaware Division of Revenue business licenses
Delaware's Division of Revenue publishes the state's business licenses, for retail, restaurants, contractors and services alike.
How we decide what's new
The state doesn't mark a license as new. License numbers start with a year, so we treat this year's numbers as new. We tested that on long-running firms, and they carry old years, but it's our reading and not a state definition.
What can go wrong
We leave out out-of-state addresses, trade-name-only registrations, movers, sales reps and non-resident contractors. Dates fall on the first of a month more often than not, so we show when a row first appeared in the file.
A record is a signal, not a promise. Some businesses open late, rename or never open. If a listing about your business is wrong, tell us and we'll fix it.
What this doesn't cover
What this covers. Every trade, but it isn't only storefronts: many holders work from home or from a van. “New” is our reading of the year in the license number, which we tested but the state doesn't define. There's no forward date.
Sources: Delaware Division of Revenue business licenses. Written from the public records themselves; check with the agency for anything legal or binding.
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