# Stripe Atlas alternatives, and when not to form a US company

Firstbase, doola and Clerky each form a US company for a different kind of founder. The formation fee is the small number: a foreign-owned Delaware LLC costs about $1,400 a year to keep, and many companies that only want dollars don't need one.

By Pavel Skalin, Founder & CEO, Align · Updated 6 November 2026 · 7 min read · https://alignlabs.dev/guides/stripe-atlas-alternatives

## Key takeaways

1. As of November 2026, Stripe Atlas costs $500 to form a Delaware company, then $100 a year for the registered agent. Firstbase, doola, Clerky and LegalZoom price the same job differently.
2. The formation fee is the small number. A foreign-owned single-member Delaware LLC still costs about $1,400 a year to keep with a paid tax filing, before any bank or accounting fees.
3. A foreign-owned single-member US LLC must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120, and the IRS penalty for not filing is $25,000.
4. If you only need US customers to pay you, you may not need a US company at all. Named USD account details can do that from your home-country company.

## The short answer

The main alternatives to Stripe Atlas are Firstbase, doola and Clerky, with general formation services such as LegalZoom below them on price. Clerky fits a Delaware C corporation that plans to raise money. Firstbase and doola fit non-US founders who want an address, tax filing and bookkeeping alongside the formation. Atlas fits if you want Stripe payments running on day one.

Before you compare them, ask whether you need a US company at all. If your goal is to get paid in dollars by US customers, a named USD account in your existing company's name can do that without a US entity, its filings or its costs.

## Stripe Atlas and its alternatives compared

Prices are from each provider's own page, as of November 2026. Check them before you buy: several are shown as discounts.

| | Entity and state | Price shown | Registered agent | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe Atlas | Delaware LLC, C corporation or subsidiary | $500 once, state filing fees included | First year included, then $100 a year | Founders who want Stripe, an EIN and 83(b) filing handled together |
| Firstbase | Delaware or Wyoming | Start at $99 (listed down from $399), plus state fee | $299 per state a year, required | Non-US founders who want add-ons from one provider |
| doola | US LLC or C corporation | Starter at $297 a year, plus state fees | Listed in its plan comparison | Founders who want formation and tax together: $1,999 a year with filings |
| Clerky | Delaware C corporation | $427 to incorporate, or $819 for a lifetime package | First year included | Startups that will raise and hire, with legal paperwork to match |
| LegalZoom | LLC, by state | $0 to $299, plus state fees | Not in the packages; sold separately | Founders who only need the filing and will manage the rest |

**Stripe Atlas.** Atlas forms the company, gets the EIN, issues founder equity and files 83(b) elections. It includes document templates and $2,500 in Stripe credits. It asks for a company address and a US phone number, and you can get virtual ones through its partners. Atlas says it can't guarantee approval for Stripe payments, and cryptocurrency businesses are among the categories it says may be barred from Stripe payments even though it can form them.

**Firstbase.** It says it has founders in more than 180 countries. Start covers formation in Delaware or Wyoming and EIN setup, but the registered agent is a required extra at $299, and a US address is required too, so the $99 headline isn't the total. Tax filing is $899 a year for a non-US-owned single-member LLC and $1,799 for C corporations and multi-member LLCs. Firstbase One, with accounting, is $199 a month billed yearly.

**doola.** It works with founders outside the US and prices its plans by the year. Starter covers formation, an EIN and a US business address. Tax and Compliance is $1,999 a year plus state fees, and Business-in-a-Box is $2,999 a year plus state fees, adding bookkeeping and monthly statements.

**Clerky.** Clerky is the legal-paperwork choice: its packages include incorporation, plus fundraising and hiring documents, for a Delaware C corporation. Clerky says it isn't a law firm. It offers EIN applications for founders outside the US. Its incorporation product is for Delaware C corporations, so it isn't a match if you want an LLC.

**LegalZoom.** Its Basic LLC package is $0 plus state fees, Managed Service is $249 and Expert Service is $299. An EIN and an operating agreement start at Managed Service. For a founder outside the US, the gap is everything after filing, since you'd arrange address, tax and compliance yourself.

## What the company costs after year one

Formation prices dominate comparison pages, but the running costs are what you pay every year. These are minimum examples for a Delaware company, using listed prices:

| Yearly cost | Single-member LLC, non-US owner | C corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Registered agent (Atlas price) | $100 | $100 |
| Delaware tax | $400 flat LLC tax | $175 to $400 minimum, by method, plus a $50 annual report fee |
| US tax filing (Firstbase price) | $899 | $1,799 |
| **Total** | **$1,399** | **$2,124 to $2,349** |

That excludes bookkeeping, banking, a US address and any tax owed. You can file through your own accountant and pay a different amount, but you can't skip the work. Late Delaware filings carry a $200 penalty plus interest of 1.5% a month.

Two filings catch non-US founders out:

- **Form 5472.** A foreign-owned US disregarded entity, which is what a single-member LLC usually is, must file a pro forma Form 1120 with Form 5472 attached. The IRS says the exception for foreign persons with no US-source income doesn't apply to these entities. The penalty for failing to file is $25,000. If the failure continues more than 90 days after the IRS tells you, a further $25,000 applies for each 30-day period, or part of one, that it goes on.
- **Your home country.** A US company doesn't remove your tax position at home. Ask an adviser in your own country how it treats the company, and where the company is managed from.

There's one less filing than there was. FinCEN's final rule, effective 14 August 2026, says US companies are exempt from beneficial ownership reporting.

## Timing for non-US founders

The EIN is usually the slow step. Atlas says it takes 1 to 3 business days if the founder has a US Social Security number, a US address and a US phone number, and 5 to 35 business days otherwise. If your principal place of business is outside the US, the IRS takes applications by phone on 267-941-1099, by fax or by mail, not online.

Other services may need the EIN before they'll work with you: Relay, for one, requires it. Plan for weeks, not days, from filing to a working account. [US business bank accounts for non-residents](https://alignlabs.dev/guides/us-business-account-for-non-residents) covers what each provider then asks for.

## Do you need a US company at all?

Use this test before paying anyone.

| What you need | US company? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| US venture investors | Usually yes | They commonly expect a Delaware C corporation; ask them |
| US staff or a US office | Usually yes | Take advice on employment and state registration |
| To use Stripe from a country it doesn't list | Maybe | See [Stripe alternatives](https://alignlabs.dev/guides/stripe-alternatives-for-non-us-companies) first: a merchant of record may be simpler |
| A Mercury or Relay account | Yes | Both require a US-registered company. Mercury requires a company formed and registered in the US or a US territory, with existing or planned US operations |
| US customers paying by ACH or wire | No | US account details in your existing company's name are enough |
| To hold and move dollars | No | See [how to get a USD account as a non-US company](https://alignlabs.dev/guides/usd-account-for-non-us-company) |

If the first four rows don't apply, you're likely paying for a company that doesn't do anything for you. A US company also doesn't change who you are to compliance teams: banks and payment providers still ask who owns it and where the money comes from.

If you're in that position, you have two options:

1. **Keep your home-country company** and add US account details for it. [Getting paid by US customers without a US entity](https://alignlabs.dev/guides/get-paid-by-us-customers-without-us-entity) covers the invoice and Form W-8BEN-E.
2. **Form the company later.** You can add a US subsidiary when you have US staff, investors or revenue that justify it. Atlas forms subsidiaries too.

## Where Align fits

Align doesn't form companies, and it isn't a bank. It gives registered companies based outside the US a [named USD account](https://alignlabs.dev/accounts/usd-business-account) in the company's own name, with a US account number and routing number for ACH and wires, and a named account for SWIFT. ACH and wire access isn't automatic: you request it, and Align's US banking partner runs a second review, and it can decline or set limits.

Align suits a company that wants dollars without forming in the US. It's the wrong choice if you need a US bank relationship for a US entity. Some countries and activities are prohibited, so check [eligibility](https://alignlabs.dev/eligibility) first. Pricing is by quote.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Talk to an adviser before forming a company.

## Sources

All accessed 6 November 2026.

- Stripe, [Atlas](https://stripe.com/atlas), [Atlas docs](https://docs.stripe.com/atlas), [How to incorporate your company](https://docs.stripe.com/atlas/signup), [Business taxes](https://docs.stripe.com/atlas/business-taxes) and [Restricted business categories](https://support.stripe.com/questions/stripe-atlas-restricted-business-categories)
- Firstbase, [Pricing](https://www.firstbase.io/pricing) and [Home page](https://www.firstbase.io/)
- doola, [Pricing](https://www.doola.com/pricing/)
- Clerky, [Pricing](https://www.clerky.com/pricing)
- LegalZoom, [LLC formation](https://www.legalzoom.com/business/business-formation/llc-overview.html)
- Delaware Division of Corporations, [Pay taxes and file annual reports](https://corp.delaware.gov/paytaxes/) and [LLC/LP/GP tax instructions](https://corp.delaware.gov/alt-entitytaxinstructions/)
- IRS, [Instructions for Form 5472](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i5472)
- IRS, [Employer identification number](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/employer-identification-number)
- FinCEN, [Beneficial ownership information](https://www.fincen.gov/boi)
- Mercury, [FAQs](https://mercury.com/faq)
- Relay, [Required documents by entity type](https://relayfi.com/hc/en-us/articles/38049251551636-Required-Documents-and-Organization-Details-to-Open-a-Relay-Account-by-Entity-Type/)

## Common questions

### What is the best alternative to Stripe Atlas?

It depends on the company you need. Clerky suits a venture-backed Delaware C corporation that will raise money and hire. Firstbase and doola suit founders who also want a US address, bookkeeping and tax filing from one provider. If you need nothing beyond a filing, a basic service such as LegalZoom's costs less up front but leaves more to do yourself.

### Can a non-US founder use Stripe Atlas?

Yes. Stripe says you can apply online from almost anywhere in the world. Without a US Social Security number, Atlas says the EIN takes 5 to 35 business days rather than 1 to 3, and it can't guarantee your business will be approved for Stripe payments.

### Do I have to file taxes if my US LLC makes no money?

Usually yes, so ask a tax adviser. The IRS requires a foreign-owned US disregarded entity to file a pro forma Form 1120 with Form 5472. The exception for foreign persons with no US-source income doesn't apply to these entities. Delaware's $400 LLC tax is also due each year.

### Do I need a US company to get paid by US customers?

No. US customers can pay a foreign company by ACH or wire if it has US account details, and a foreign company with no US business usually gives them Form W-8BEN-E rather than an EIN. Take tax advice for your own case.

### Does a new US company have to file a beneficial ownership report?

No. FinCEN's final rule took effect on 14 August 2026 and says US companies are exempt from beneficial ownership reporting. Foreign companies that register to do business in a US state may still have to report, unless an exemption applies.

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This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and providers' terms change; check the sources linked above and take advice on your own situation.

## Related guides

- [US business bank accounts for non-residents: what you need](https://alignlabs.dev/guides/us-business-account-for-non-residents)
- [How to get a USD account as a non-US company](https://alignlabs.dev/guides/usd-account-for-non-us-company)
- [Stripe alternatives for companies outside Stripe's countries](https://alignlabs.dev/guides/stripe-alternatives-for-non-us-companies)
- [How to get paid by US customers without a US entity](https://alignlabs.dev/guides/get-paid-by-us-customers-without-us-entity)