Head to head
Stripe Atlas vs Firstbase
These two overlap more than most pairs on this site. Both target startups, both handle non-resident founders, and both form Delaware entities. The differences are in how much they do after formation and how much of the product assumes you are raising money.
Disclosure: StartGlobal competes with both Stripe Atlas and Firstbase. We have kept the comparison below to checkable facts and confined our own pitch to a single marked section at the end, so you can ignore it if you only came for the comparison.
Stripe Atlas vs Firstbase at a glance
| Stripe Atlas | Firstbase | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Startups on a funding track | Startups and remote founders, including non-residents |
| Entity focus | Delaware, C-Corp as the default path | LLC and C-Corp, Delaware centric |
| After formation | Largely formation only | Ongoing compliance and admin services |
| Payments angle | Tight integration with Stripe | Platform agnostic |
| Non-resident support | Supported | Explicitly supported, with country-specific guidance |
| Pricing shape | One flat formation price | Formation price plus ongoing plans |
| Advertised formation price | $500 | $399 |
Advertised formation prices before add-ons, excluding state fees. Check each provider's current pricing before deciding.
Choose Stripe Atlas if
Founders already building on Stripe who want the fastest route to a standard Delaware startup structure.
Full Stripe Atlas comparisonChoose Firstbase if
Remote and non-resident founders who want formation plus continuing compliance support in one place.
Full Firstbase comparisonBottom line
Firstbase does more after the company exists, which is usually the part that catches people out. Stripe Atlas is the tighter product if formation is genuinely all you need and you are on the Stripe stack already. Compare what each covers in year two, not year one.
Where StartGlobal fits
We are built for founders outside the United States. Formation is $399 once, with all state and government fees included, covering the state filing, a business tax number obtained without a Social Security Number, registered agent, US bank account setup, and operating agreement. Ongoing compliance is a la carte from $99 a year, or $149 a month fully managed, which covers bookkeeping, state annual reports, and federal tax filing including Form 5472 for foreign-owned LLCs.
If you are a US resident with a Social Security Number, be honest about how much of that you actually need. Several of those steps you can do yourself.
Common questions
Is Firstbase better than Stripe Atlas for non-residents?+
Firstbase puts more weight on non-resident founders and publishes country-specific guidance, and it offers ongoing compliance services that foreign-owned LLCs need. Stripe Atlas accepts non-residents but is built around the funding path, so a larger share of what you pay for goes unused if you are not raising.
Do both Stripe Atlas and Firstbase form Delaware companies?+
Both are Delaware centric, which suits founders raising from US investors. If you are not raising, Delaware is often the wrong default, since it carries an annual franchise tax that states like Wyoming do not.
Which handles the business tax number for you?+
Both assist with obtaining a business tax number, which matters because non-residents cannot use the IRS online application without a Social Security Number and must file Form SS-4 by fax or phone instead. Confirm this is included rather than sold separately before you buy.