Firstbase or Stripe Atlas: which should I choose?

Both are legitimate and both deliver a real EIN and formation, so this is about fit, not trust. Firstbase is $399 one-time and lets you form a Delaware or Wyoming LLC or C-Corp, with an expedited EIN, essential documents, and hands-on help opening a US bank account. Stripe Atlas is $500 one-time, Delaware only, and is built around the standard VC-track C-Corp setup.

Stripe Atlas shines for founders raising venture money. It includes the 83(b) election filing, the first year of registered agent (then $100 per year), and perks like $2,500 in Stripe credits plus partner discounts. If your plan is to raise a seed round and issue equity, that C-Corp-first packaging saves you steps.

Firstbase shines when you want flexibility and banking support without committing to the C-Corp path. You can form an LLC (great for bootstrapped or lifestyle businesses) or a C-Corp, in Wyoming or Delaware, and Firstbase actively routes you to fintech banking like Mercury. This is our pick for non-residents, who often find the banking and EIN steps hardest to do alone.

One thing neither covers is ongoing taxes: Stripe Atlas does not handle your annual filings, and Firstbase's base package is formation, not accounting. If you want tax handled, look at Firstbase One or a service like Doola. Treat the $399 and $500 as 2026 figures and confirm at checkout.

Our full breakdown, including the C-Corp versus LLC decision, is at /firstbase-vs-stripe-atlas. If you are still deciding on entity type, /firstbase-llc-or-ccorp explains which structure fits raising money versus keeping it simple.