Stripe Atlas Pricing Plans

Stripe Atlas has a $500 one-time setup fee. That fee includes the formation of a Delaware C-Corp or LLC, the company tax ID (EIN) filed with the IRS, introductions to Atlas banking partners Mercury, Brex, and Novo (with the application pre-filled by Atlas), a Stripe account for payments, and one year of registered agent service in Delaware. Atlas companies also receive $2,500 in Stripe product credits during their first year after incorporation, plus legal document templates once the dashboard is set up.

Of course, there are ongoing costs of running the business. For Atlas C-Corps, which start with 10 million authorized shares by default, the sensible way to file Delaware franchise tax is the Assumed Par Value Capital method; for most early-stage companies this works out at roughly $400 in franchise tax plus a $50 annual report fee, so around $450 per year. After the first year, the registered agent service, provided by LegalInc, renews at a fixed $100 per year. Additionally, Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ for every successful U.S. card transaction, with additional charges for international transactions and currency conversion. You may also incur costs for bookkeeping or third-party support with tax filings and legal standing. Put simply, the ongoing costs will depend on the complexity and requirements of your business.

Whether Stripe Atlas is worth your money will depend on your goals for your business, your location, and your long-term strategy. For non-U.S. founders planning to set up a Delaware C-Corp or LLC, connect to the U.S. banking system, and accept payments around the world, Stripe Atlas offers a lot of power and convenience.

The $500 one-time charge is reasonable, especially considering it covers the incorporation, banking partner introductions, legal templates, the first year of registered agent service, and $2,500 in Stripe product credits during the first year. Stripe has a reliable payment processing ecosystem that meets the needs of SaaS, marketplaces, and e-commerce businesses accepting payments from international customers. Ongoing expenses include Delaware franchise taxes (around $450 per year for most early-stage companies using the Assumed Par Value Capital method), the registered agent renewal ($100 per year), and Stripe transaction fees (2.9% plus 30¢ per U.S. card payment), which can become significant as the business scales. And if you are specifically looking to raise venture capital, investors will likely prefer a Delaware C-Corp, which makes Stripe Atlas a reasoned choice for high-growth founders.

If you do not require a U.S. company, a U.S. bank account, or Stripe’s ecosystem, local incorporation in your own country may make more sense or be more cost effective. Collectively, Stripe Atlas is still worth it for founders who want a simple, speedy, and structured way to set up a U.S. business, but the longer-term costs of ownership should be understood before signing on.

The biggest lever is Delaware franchise tax. The $175 minimum you may see quoted applies to the Authorized Shares method, but Atlas C-Corps start with 10 million authorized shares by default, and under that method 10 million shares produces a tax bill of approximately $250,000. Filing with the Assumed Par Value Capital method instead brings the bill down to roughly $400 in franchise tax plus a $50 annual report fee for most early-stage companies. Many business owners are unaware of how the calculation method affects what they pay, and filing correctly can save hundreds of thousands of dollars compared with the default calculation.

The registered agent service is a fixed cost: the first year is included in the $500 formation fee, and it renews at exactly $100 per year through LegalInc. Some standalone registered agents charge as little as $50 per year, so switching after the first year can shave off a small amount, though the saving is modest compared with getting the franchise tax filing right.

If your only goal is a U.S. business presence and you do not need a Delaware C-Corp because you are not seeking venture capital or issuing stock, you might consider alternative incorporation services. Services like doola, Firstbase, or Incfile often offer cheaper LLC formations. An LLC is less attractive if you plan to issue stock or attract venture investors, but it can be a sensible alternative for a straightforward operating business.

Finally, payment processing fees can add up quickly. Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ per U.S. card transaction, and fees can be higher for international payments. You could save on processing by encouraging customers to pay via ACH transfer (0.8%, capped at $5.00) or by integrating lower-fee payment options such as bank transfer where appropriate. Saving even a few points on transaction fees can meaningfully reduce costs at high volume.

With sensible adjustments to your franchise tax filing, registered agent arrangements, business structure, and payment mix, you can noticeably reduce the total cost of running a Stripe Atlas company while keeping the benefits of a U.S.-based entity.

There are cheaper alternatives to Stripe Atlas for entrepreneurs looking to incorporate a U.S. business without having to pay the $500.00 setup fee. You can still include U.S. company formation and bank account setup, and tax compliance, but do this cheaper or provide to you more flexibility.

Firstbase is a popular alternative. The company offers Delaware C-Corp and LLC formation starting somewhere around $399.00. It also helps you with your U.S. incorporation, applies for an EIN, and access to a business banking account. They offer different pricing and additional benefits (i.e., discounts on SaaS Tools). Doola is another option as it specializes in supporting non-U.S. founders (those outside the U.S.) form a U.S. LLC or C-Corp at a lower price, as their lowest plan starts at $297.00. They provide tax compliance support, offer banks as partners, and easily integrate with them.

For those who are not tied to having a Delaware C-Corp, Incfile or ZenBusiness are affordable alternatives for forming a U.S. LLC or corporation for the low, low price of $0.00 (plus state fees). You are allowed to use U.S. company registrations, provide yourself with registered agent support, prepare legal documents, and integrate banking, but some of the features are still an extra charge as seen in the $500.00 charges from Stripe Atlas.

Another way to reduce costs is to register a U.S. LLC directly with a state, as in Wyoming, Florida, or New Mexico. Lower annual fees occur here too, than Delaware. And unless you want the company taxes, you may skip them at the same time. Some founders use the LLC self-incorporation with the IRS website for EIN registration and services like Wise or Mercury banking and skip the whole expensive incorporation platform altogether.

In the end, if a cheaper alternative to Stripe Atlas is right for you, depends on the needs of your business. If you need an investor friendly full-service Delaware C-Corp, Stripe Atlas maybe still be the best option for you. If you want lower-cost U.S. business formation and just want to do some of the setup steps on your own, then Firstbase, Doola, Incfile, or ZenBusiness are likely to save you money while providing you with basic incorporation and banking support.

Yes, in addition to the $500 setup fee, there are ongoing costs to using Stripe Atlas. The main ones are:

1. Delaware franchise tax & annual report: For most Atlas companies filing with the Assumed Par Value Capital method, expect roughly $400 in franchise tax plus a $50 annual report fee, around $450 per year. Note that the $175 minimum often quoted applies to a different calculation method that produces a far higher bill for the 10 million authorized shares Atlas C-Corps start with.

1. Registered Agent renewal fees: Stripe Atlas covers the first year, then the service renews at a fixed $100 per year through LegalInc.

1. Stripe payment processing fees: Standard Stripe transaction fees apply at 2.9% + 30¢ per U.S. card transaction, and are higher for international payments.

1. Tax filing & compliance costs: Atlas handles the EIN filing and the automatic 83(b) election, but ongoing tax filings are your responsibility. Stripe has curated partner products with exclusive perks for Atlas founders to simplify this, though hiring an accountant can still range from approximately $200 to $1,000+ per year depending on complexity.

1. Other legal & banking costs: Contract reviews, payroll, or tax structuring through third parties carry their own fees.

Worth noting on the plus side: Atlas companies receive $2,500 in Stripe product credits during their first year after incorporation, which offsets some of these early costs. Overall, Stripe Atlas offers a fuss-free setup, but the cost of operating a Delaware company goes beyond the $500 fee once state compliance and ongoing legal and financial management are factored in.

In most cases, no. Once you complete the application and Stripe begins the incorporation process, the $500 fee is not refundable simply because you changed your mind about proceeding with the business. The fee covers the Delaware filing, the EIN registration, and the setup work Stripe carries out on your behalf.

There is one important exception: Stripe’s own documentation states that it will refund the fee if it is unable to support your business. So if your company falls into a restricted category or Stripe cannot serve it for another reason, you are entitled to a refund. If an issue arises during formation, contact Stripe support. If you are unsure about forming a U.S. company, review all costs and potential legal obligations before applying.