What Atlas delivers
- Delaware C-Corp formation (or LLC; default is C-Corp)
- EIN application
- $500 in Stripe credit (toward fees)
- Bundled access to Mercury, Brex, and AWS credits
- Founder-friendly equity templates
- Tax filing guidance (not done for you)
- One year of registered agent (Atlas's own service)
Year-by-year cost (Stripe Atlas)
- Year 1: $500 setup + ~$89 state fee = $589
- Year 2: ~$300 franchise tax + ~$100 registered agent = $400
- Year 3: $400 same as year 2
- Year 4: $400
- Year 5: $400
- 5-year total: $2,189
Year-by-year cost ({BRAND} Wyoming)
- Year 1: $297 + $100 state fee = $397
- Year 2: $60 annual report + ~$100 registered agent = $160
- Year 3: $160
- Year 4: $160
- Year 5: $160
- 5-year total: $1,037
What the $1,163 premium buys you (with Atlas)
- $500 Stripe credit (you would spend this in fees anyway)
- Better legal documents for priced equity rounds (relevant only if you raise)
- Delaware Chancery Court precedent (relevant only in major litigation)
- QSBS treatment (Qualified Small Business Stock) for C-Corp founders (~5% of all founders use this)
- Easier conversion to C-Corp later (already C-Corp at Atlas; Wyoming LLC requires conversion)
When Atlas wins (real cases)
- You have a priced VC term sheet within 6 months.
- You are issuing C-Corp equity (options, RSUs, preferred).
- You want QSBS treatment if you sell your company.
- You are forming a US-based startup (founder in US).
- You specifically want Delaware Chancery Court protections.
When Wyoming wins
- You are bootstrapped or growing without priced equity.
- You sell to US customers as a non-resident founder.
- You want pass-through tax treatment (LLC, not C-Corp).
- You value Wyoming privacy provisions.
- You want to save the $1,163 over 5 years.