Head to head
Stripe Atlas vs LegalZoom
This is less a comparison than a fork. Stripe Atlas is a narrow product for startups incorporating in Delaware. LegalZoom is a broad legal services business that happens to file company formations. Picking between them is mostly about whether you want depth on the startup path or breadth across legal needs.
Disclosure: StartGlobal competes with both Stripe Atlas and LegalZoom. 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 LegalZoom at a glance
| Stripe Atlas | LegalZoom | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Startups on a funding track | US small businesses and consumers |
| Entity focus | Delaware, C-Corp as the default path | LLC and corporation across all states |
| Legal services | None beyond formation documents | Attorney access and document library sold as subscriptions |
| Pricing shape | One flat formation price | Low entry tier with paid tiers above it |
| Non-resident support | Supported | Built primarily for US residents |
| Brand familiarity | Strong among startups and investors | Strong with the general public |
| Advertised formation price | $500 | $0-$299 |
Advertised formation prices before add-ons, excluding state fees. Check each provider's current pricing before deciding.
Choose Stripe Atlas if
Founders raising US venture capital who want the structure investors expect, with no interest in ongoing legal subscriptions.
Full Stripe Atlas comparisonChoose LegalZoom if
US-based small business owners who want formation alongside access to legal documents and attorney consultations.
Full LegalZoom comparisonBottom line
If you are outside the US, neither is an obvious fit: Stripe Atlas assumes a funding path many non-residents are not on, and LegalZoom is built around US residents with a Social Security Number. Check how each handles the business tax number before you buy, because that is where non-resident applications usually stall.
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 LegalZoom or Stripe Atlas better for a small business?+
For an ordinary US small business with no plans to raise investment, LegalZoom is the closer fit, and its legal document access is genuinely useful. Stripe Atlas is optimized for companies that intend to issue equity to investors, and most of that value is wasted on a business that never will.
Can a non-US resident use LegalZoom?+
The service is built primarily around US residents, and the parts that matter to a non-resident, particularly getting a business tax number without a Social Security Number, are where the process tends to stall. Confirm how any provider handles Form SS-4 for foreign applicants before paying.
Why is Stripe Atlas more expensive than LegalZoom's entry tier?+
They are priced on different models. LegalZoom leads with a low or free filing tier and sells services above it, while Stripe Atlas charges a single flat fee that covers the formation package. Compare the total first-year cost rather than the entry price.