Stripe Atlas vs doola vs Firstbase: which suits your situation

If you are comparing Stripe Atlas vs doola vs Firstbase, the useful answer is that each one is shaped around a different founder. Atlas is built around a Delaware company that is ready to raise money and take payments. doola sells annual plans that add bookkeeping and tax filing to formation. Firstbase pairs a low formation price with separately priced compliance and tax services. The right choice depends on your entity, your owners and what you want help with after day one.

This comparison is neutral. Greatweek is a US market-entry agency, not a formation service, law firm or tax advisor, and it has no affiliate relationship with any of the three. Prices were read on each vendor's own page in October 2026.

How each service charges

Stripe Atlas lists a one-time setup fee of $500 as of October 2026, which Stripe says includes government fees and the first year of registered agent service. After year one, the registered agent renews at $100 a year and can be cancelled at any time. Stripe also refunds the $500 fee if the company deposits $5,000 into Stripe Treasury within 90 days.

doola's Starter plan is $297 per year plus state fees as of October 2026. It covers LLC or C corporation formation, the EIN and a US business address. Higher tiers add services. Pulse adds automated bookkeeping at $300 per year. Tax and Compliance is $1,999 per year plus state fees and adds federal and state tax filing. Business-in-a-Box is $2,999 per year plus state fees and adds monthly financial statements, bookkeeping and estimated quarterly taxes. State fees are not listed on the pricing page.

Firstbase lists its Start formation bundle at $99 one-time as of October 2026, with a $399 figure shown beside it. Its homepage currently promotes "Formation is on us. Pay only your state fee."

Side by side, as stated on each vendor's own pages in October 2026:

The pricing models differ: a one-time fee, an annual plan, and a low entry price with separately priced services. Compare the cost over your first two years, not the number on the landing page.

If you are building a venture-backed C corporation

A founder planning to raise from US investors usually wants a Delaware C corporation. Stripe's Atlas documentation describes C corporations as "Preferred by institutional investors who might be unable to invest in LLCs". The reasoning is covered in Greatweek's guide to Delaware C corp vs LLC for non-US founders.

Atlas is designed around this case. As of October 2026 it includes Delaware incorporation, the EIN filing, founder equity issuance, automatic 83(b) filing for C corporation founders, legal documents made with Cooley, Y Combinator post-money SAFE templates and $2,500 in Stripe credits for the first year. Atlas does not sell tax or compliance services itself. It refers founders to tax and accounting partners.

doola and Firstbase can both form a C corporation. Their strength here is the ongoing layer: doola's tax tiers, and Firstbase's C corporation tax filing, which includes Form 1120, Form 5472 and state returns. If you choose either for a fundraising company, ask which equity documents, 83(b) support and SAFE templates are included, because that is where Atlas is most specific.

If you are a bootstrapped founder considering an LLC

A founder without outside investors may prefer an LLC. For a non-US owner, this brings a specific filing duty. The IRS requires a domestic disregarded entity wholly owned by a foreign person to file a pro forma Form 1120 with Form 5472 attached, and the penalty for not filing is $25,000. Stripe notes that with a non-US founder, LLC "tax filings can become complex."

doola is set up with this founder in mind. It states "No U.S. residency or SSN required", forms LLCs, integrates directly with Mercury for banking and offers annual tiers that add bookkeeping and tax filing. A full list of doola's formation states is not on the pricing page.

Firstbase also fits here. It forms in Delaware or Wyoming and has a dedicated tax package for non-US-owned single-member LLCs, covering the pro forma Form 1120 with Form 5472.

Atlas can form a Delaware LLC too, but it leaves tax filing to partners.

One running cost to plan for in Delaware: the state's own franchise tax page lists an annual LLC tax of $400, due June 1. Some vendor pages still show an older, lower figure, so use Delaware's number.

If you are an established company opening a US subsidiary

Here the parent company, not individual founders, will own the shares. Stripe Atlas offers a C corporation subsidiary of an existing company as a named option. It asks for the parent's legal name, country and tax ID, and issues the shares to the parent after incorporation. The doola and Firstbase pages read for this comparison did not describe a subsidiary option, so ask each directly whether a corporate shareholder is supported before you start.

Board approvals and intercompany agreements may also involve your own lawyers and auditors. Greatweek's article on US subsidiary vs Delaware flip explains when a law firm is the better route.

Questions that matter more than the headline price

1. 1Ask how long formation and the EIN take for a founder without an SSN or ITIN. doola publishes an LLC filing time of one to two business days. Firstbase's timelines could not be verified for this comparison.
2. 2Ask what year two costs, including registered agent, Delaware franchise tax or LLC tax, and tax filing.
3. 3Ask which bank you can use and how long opening the account takes for a non-US founder.
4. 4Confirm who files your annual report and who reminds you of deadlines.

None of these vendors will tell you whether the US company should exist yet. That is the commercial question behind Greatweek's US Market Entry work: whether the US opportunity is real at your stage or a year too early, which buyers to target first and which route to market fits your economics.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheapest: Stripe Atlas, doola or Firstbase?

As of October 2026, Firstbase has the lowest formation price at $99 plus state fees, but its registered agent is $299 a year. Atlas costs $500 including state fees and the first year of registered agent, then $100 a year. doola Starter is $297 a year plus state fees. Add the services you will need in year two before you decide.

Which formation service is best for non-US founders?

None is best for everyone. All three serve non-US founders. Atlas is most specific about fundraising C corporations and parent-owned subsidiaries. doola and Firstbase offer more built-in tax and bookkeeping options for LLCs and smaller companies.

Can I form a Wyoming company with Stripe Atlas?

No. As of October 2026 Atlas forms Delaware companies only. Firstbase offers Delaware or Wyoming, and doola names Wyoming as a common choice.

Do these services give tax advice?

Stripe states that Atlas is not a law firm and does not give legal, tax or accounting advice. Treat any provider's tax filing service as a filing service, and get structure advice from your own advisor.

The formation service is a smaller decision than whether, when and why you need a US entity at all. Start with the benefits of incorporating in the US, and if you want an outside view on timing, book a 20-minute US Entry Review. Confirm entity and tax choices with a qualified US tax advisor or corporate lawyer before you act.