Stripe Atlas Alternative for a Delaware LLC Owned From Abroad
Atlas and our Non-US Founder Package both form Delaware companies. Ours is $399 plus Delaware's $110 fee for an LLC, an EIN without an SSN, and a prepared bank application; the agent renews at $99/yr.
Stripe Atlas and the Non-US Founder Package overlap more than most comparisons on this site: both form Delaware companies for founders outside the United States, and both price the first year at roughly $500. What each one does with that money is different. Atlas is built for startups heading toward venture funding. The package is built for owners who want a Delaware LLC and a bank application without learning the process. It's our package, and it competes with Atlas.
Stripe Atlas at its best
- Venture tooling. 83(b) election filing, equity issuance, and SAFEs, on documents drafted with Cooley.
- An all-in price. $500 includes Delaware's filing fee and year one of registered agent service.
- A way to get the fee back. Stripe refunds the $500 after a $5,000 deposit into Stripe Treasury.
- Perks. $2,500 in Stripe credits, plus about $50,000 in partner perks as Stripe advertises them.
- Fast filing. Next-day expedited filing in Delaware.
- Entity choice. LLC or C-corp.
How the two compare
| Stripe Atlas | Non-US Founder Package | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront price | $500 once | $399 once |
| State fee | Included (Delaware) | Added: $110 for Delaware |
| What's included | Delaware LLC or C-corp, registered agent year one, EIN, 83(b) filing, equity tools | Delaware LLC, registered agent months 1 to 12, EIN, bank account application |
| Recurring cost after year 1 | Registered agent $100/yr; Delaware taxes not included | Registered agent $99/yr; Delaware tax not included |
| EIN without SSN | EIN included; no-SSN process not described on the page | Yes, SS-4 prepared and faxed |
| Bank account help | Stripe Treasury; $500 refunded on a $5,000 deposit | We help you set up a bank account with our partners; your application is ready as soon as you sign |
| US tax filing (5472) | Not included | Not included |
| States | Delaware only | Delaware |
From stripe.com/atlas as of September 29, 2026.
First-year math in Delaware
Atlas: $500, state fee and agent already in. The package: $399 plus $110, which is $509, with the agent included too. That's a $9 difference in Atlas's favor, before any Treasury refund. After year one, it's $100 against $99 for the agent. On cost alone, there's no real winner, and with the refund, Atlas can come out well ahead.
Both prices leave out Delaware's annual LLC tax, which you pay to the state either way.
Three differences worth knowing
The bank account route
Atlas connects you to Stripe Treasury. We take a different path: we prepare an application for our partners from your checkout details and your filed Certificate of Formation, and it's finished when you sign the SS-4. You approve it and it goes out, without waiting on your EIN. The decision sits with our partners, and approval isn't guaranteed.
The EIN, written out
The Atlas page includes an EIN but says nothing on how it's obtained for someone with no SSN. With the package, we fill in Form SS-4 the way the IRS asks foreign applicants to, you sign it electronically, and we fax it. The IRS typically issues the number in two to eight weeks, and it can't be rushed.
What the company is for
Atlas's strengths, from the 83(b) filing to SAFEs and investor-ready documents, matter most for a C-corp raising money. If you're running an agency, a SaaS product, or a store and don't plan to sell equity, those features go unused, and the bank application matters more.
When Stripe Atlas is the better fit
Pick Atlas if you're building a venture-backed C-corp, if you'd keep $5,000 in Stripe Treasury and get the fee back, or if you already run your payments through Stripe. For those founders, Atlas is the stronger product.
Delaware basics for either choice
- A Delaware LLC files no annual report and pays a flat tax instead: $400 for 2026, due June 1, not prorated for a short first year.
- A corporation pays franchise tax rather than the LLC tax.
- Your registered agent must have a real Delaware office, open for business.
- Switching agents later costs $50 in state fees.
Outside our package
The annual LLC tax, US tax returns, and any Form 5472 your LLC owes aren't part of the package. Atlas doesn't include 5472 help either. Plan on a tax professional who works with foreign-owned companies.
Order the Non-US Founder Package
See everything in our Non-US Founder Package
Common questions
What does each cost in the first year?
Stripe Atlas is $500, and that price already covers Delaware's filing fee and the first year of its registered agent. Our package is $399 plus the $110 filing fee, so $509. Atlas is $9 less.
What about the years after?
Atlas charges $100 a year to keep its agent; we charge $99. Neither price covers Delaware's own LLC tax, which is $400 for 2026.
Is the Atlas fee really refundable?
According to Stripe, yes: the $500 is refunded once you deposit $5,000 into Stripe Treasury. That can make Atlas the least expensive way to form in Delaware, if the deposit suits you.
Does Atlas get an EIN for founders without an SSN?
An EIN is part of Atlas, but the Atlas page doesn't describe how applicants with no SSN are handled or how long it takes. Ours uses a faxed SS-4 that we prepare, with the IRS usually taking two to eight weeks.
Can I form a C-corp with your package?
No, the package forms Delaware LLCs. If you need a C-corp for fundraising, Atlas offers one along with 83(b) filing, equity issuance, and SAFEs.
An LLC, an EIN, and a bank application
$399 plus Delaware's $110 fee, then $99/yr for the registered agent. Your total is shown before you pay.