Forming a US company — usually a Delaware C-corp for the venture track, or an LLC otherwise — used to mean a lawyer and a few thousand dollars. Now it's a flat fee and a weekend.
| Price | Includes | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firstbase | $399 one-time (incl. state fees) | LLC or C-corp in DE or Wyoming, EIN, bank-account assistance | non-US founders, budget LLCs |
| Clerky | $427 pay-per-use; $819 Company Lifetime Package (+ ~$89 DE state fee) | legally rigorous DE C-corp docs, cap table, registered agent | venture-track startups, YC-style founders |
| Stripe Atlas | $500 one-time | DE C-corp, EIN, standard incorporation docs, founder share issuance, 1 yr registered agent | global founders wanting speed + Stripe integration |
Stripe Atlas is the fastest and most global — it forms a Delaware C-corp, gets your EIN (even without a US SSN), issues founder shares with 83(b) election help, and sets up a year of registered-agent service, all for $500. It also gives you Stripe payments, and partner perks ([AWS](/entry/eks-vs-gke-vs-aks-managed-kubernetes-pricing-and-the-part-that-isnt-the-control-), etc.). Best default for a founder anywhere in the world who wants to move quickly.
Clerky is the choice when legal correctness matters most — it's built by startup lawyers, and the paperwork it generates is what YC companies and venture investors expect to see, with the fewest cleanup issues at your first priced round. The Company Lifetime Package ($819 plus state fees) covers incorporation plus a year of registered agent and ongoing compliance reminders. More expensive, more thorough.
Firstbase is the budget option at $399 including state fees, and it's flexible on entity type (LLC or C-corp) and state (Delaware or Wyoming), with help opening a US bank account through partners. Good for non-US founders and for people forming an LLC rather than a venture-track corp.
Move fast, anywhere in the world, want Stripe: Atlas. Venture-track and want bulletproof paperwork: Clerky. Cheapest, or forming an LLC, or need banking help as a non-US founder: Firstbase.