Company

Stripe Atlas vs Clerky vs Firstbase vs doola: prices compared

Stripe Atlas, Clerky, Firstbase and doola all form a US company, but they differ in who they suit. As of October 2026, Atlas costs $500 and bundles banking and equity paperwork, Clerky costs from $427 and is built for founders who expect to raise venture money, Firstbase advertises $99 plus a separate registered agent fee, and doola sells annual plans from about $297 a year.

Prices below come from each company's own pricing page as of October 2026. They change often, so check the live page before paying. This is not legal or tax advice.

Quick comparison, as of October 2026

• Stripe Atlas: $500 one-time, including state filing fees and the first year of registered agent service. Delaware C corporation or LLC. $100 a year for the registered agent afterwards, according to Stripe.
• Clerky: $427 for the pay-per-use option, or $819 for the lifetime package. Delaware incorporation with expedited filing and the first-year registered agent. Post-incorporation setup ($299) and stock plan adoption ($199) are sold separately on the pay-per-use route.
• Firstbase: a Start package listed at $99 with formation in Delaware or Wyoming, an EIN and a bank application through a partner. The registered agent is required and billed separately at $299 per state, per year.
• doola: the Starter plan at $297 a year plus state fees, covering LLC or C corporation formation, an EIN and a US business address. State annual report filing is not part of Starter.

Stripe Atlas

Atlas bundles the most items into one fixed fee of the four. According to Stripe's documentation, it forms a Delaware C corporation or LLC, obtains the EIN, sets up founder equity vesting and files an 83(b) election for each founder. It also includes document templates developed with the law firm Cooley, $2,500 in Stripe credits and partner perks.

The Atlas page says the $500 can be refunded if you deposit $5,000 into a Stripe Treasury account within 90 days. Stripe's documentation says Atlas companies can open a financial account with Stripe and accept Stripe payments straight after incorporation, before the EIN arrives. Stripe also publishes guides for founders in India and Singapore.

Fits best: founders who want one fixed fee, Stripe payments and standard templates, and who do not need much legal customisation.

Clerky

Clerky is priced as a legal-document service rather than a bundle. Its pricing page lists the incorporation fee, expedited filing, the first year of registered agent service, and reminders for the annual report and franchise tax. The $299 post-incorporation setup includes a pre-filled 83(b) election with filing instructions. The page also lists an EIN application for non-US founders and a corporate bank account application.

The lifetime package adds standard fundraising, hiring and commercial documents for the life of the company. That matters if you expect to issue SAFEs, option grants and offer letters repeatedly. Clerky does not state the registered agent price after the first year on that page, and the pay-per-use route covers incorporation only.

Fits best: founders planning an institutional round who want to keep using the same document set afterwards.

Firstbase

Firstbase's headline price is low, but its pricing page says the registered agent is required for incorporation and is not included in the $99. Firstbase Agent is listed at $299 per state, billed annually. Optional extras include mailroom, accounting and tax filing; tax filing is listed at $1,799 a year for C corporations and multi-member LLCs.

The page does not list an 83(b) price, so ask before relying on it. The $99 figure is shown as a discount from $399, which suggests it may be a promotion. Treat the real first-year cost as at least the formation fee, the agent and the state filing fee, which Firstbase says you pay separately.

Fits best: founders who want a low entry price and are happy to add services one at a time.

doola

doola works as a subscription. Its pricing page lists Starter at $297 a year plus state fees, and higher tiers at $1,999 and $2,999 a year that add tax and compliance work. The company says it works with founders around the world. Bank applications are referred to its partner Mercury, which is a fintech company rather than a bank, and the page says each founder or majority owner needs a passport or US government ID.

The pricing page does not mention 83(b) elections. If you plan to grant founder stock with vesting, confirm that filing is covered before buying.

Fits best: non-US owners who want ongoing bookkeeping and compliance help from the same provider.

Costs that none of these fees cover

Delaware charges its own annual costs whichever service you choose. The Delaware Division of Corporations says annual reports and franchise tax are due by March 1. As of October 2026, the annual report fee is $50 for a non-exempt domestic corporation. The franchise tax minimum is $175 under the authorized shares method and $400 under the assumed par value capital method, and late filing carries a $200 penalty plus interest.

The authorized shares method can produce a large bill for a startup with many authorized shares, so most small companies use the assumed par value method. That is a filing decision, not something the incorporation fee settles.

What to check before you pick

1. Entity type. Investors in US venture rounds generally expect a Delaware C corporation. An LLC suits a different plan.
2. 83(b) election. It has a 30-day deadline after stock is issued, so make sure the provider files it. See our guide to filing an 83(b) election.
3. Tax treatment of stock. If you hope to qualify for the small business stock exclusion, read our explainer on QSBS rules under Section 1202, because a C corporation is required.
4. Year-two price. Compare registered agent fees after the first year. Atlas lists $100 a year and Firstbase $299 per state; Clerky and doola do not state a renewal price on their pricing pages.
5. Banking. Check what ID the bank partner requires, especially if founders live outside the US.

For more on setting up and funding a company, browse our founders and funding coverage, or the wider startups section.

Frequently asked questions

Is Stripe Atlas worth $500?

For a founder who wants a Delaware C corporation, an EIN, 83(b) filing and templates in one purchase, the fee covers the core items. Cheaper headline prices exist, but some charge separately for the registered agent or the 83(b) filing.

Can non-US founders use Stripe Atlas, Clerky, Firstbase or doola?

Atlas, Clerky and doola each say they work with founders outside the US; Firstbase cites customers in 190+ countries but its pricing page does not spell out eligibility. Stripe describes Atlas as a way to start a US company from anywhere in the world, and Clerky offers EIN applications for non-US founders. Bank requirements differ, so confirm what ID the bank partner accepts.

Which is cheapest in the first year?

On headline prices, Clerky's pay-per-use option at $427 is below Atlas at $500, but its 83(b) help sits in the $299 post-incorporation setup, which brings the two to roughly $726 against Atlas's $500. Firstbase's $99 grows once the $299 registered agent and state fees are added, and doola's $297 plan excludes state fees. Compare totals at checkout, not headline prices.

Do I still pay Delaware taxes after using one of these services?

Yes. The Delaware annual report and franchise tax are separate from the formation fee and are due by March 1 each year, according to the Division of Corporations.