Team, Co-founders & Legal

How do I incorporate a Delaware C-corp as a non-US or first-time founder?

A starting point

Use Stripe Atlas or Clerky, they handle the Delaware filing, EIN, founder stock, and templates for a flat fee, and you don't need to be in the US. Atlas is faster and bundles credits; Clerky is the attorney favourite for clean, fundable paperwork. Whichever you pick, file your 83(b) election within 30 days of receiving stock or you'll regret it at tax time.

Go deeper

Use

🛠️ Tool
Paid Intermediate

Stripe Atlas: Incorporate your startup (Delaware C-corp)

From stripe.com/atlas by Stripe Guided incorporation service

Why we picked it

The most popular guided path to a Delaware C-corp for global and first-time founders, with Cooley-drafted templates, EIN, founder stock, and 83(b) handling in one flow. It removes almost all the guesswork.

  • Sets up a Delaware C-corp, EIN, founder stock, and 83(b) filing for a flat fee
  • You don't need to be in the US, and can add up to four co-founders
  • File your 83(b) election within 30 days of receiving stock
Open stripe.com →
🛠️ Tool
Paid Intermediate

Clerky: Startup Legal Paperwork & Delaware Incorporation

From clerky.com by Clerky Legal paperwork platform + founder handbooks

Why we picked it

The attorney-favourite platform for clean, fundable startup paperwork, run by startup lawyers obsessed with avoiding due-diligence problems. Its free founder handbooks are excellent even if you incorporate elsewhere.

  • Delaware C-corp incorporation, founder stock with vesting, SAFEs, and hiring docs in one place
  • Built to produce paperwork that survives investor due diligence
  • Free legal-concepts handbooks explain the 'why' behind each document
Open clerky.com →

People also ask

When should I actually incorporate my startup? Incorporate once you have co-founders splitting equity, you're taking money (from customers or investors), or you're signing contracts and hiring, ... Beginner 3 resources → Should I incorporate as a Delaware C-corp or an Indian Pvt Ltd? If you're raising from US/global VCs or building for a US market, default to a Delaware C-corp, it's the format investors expect and understand. If... Intermediate 3 resources → How do I register a Private Limited Company in India? File the SPICe+ form on the MCA21 portal, which bundles name reservation, incorporation, PAN, TAN, and more into one integrated application, most f... Intermediate 2 resources → What is DPIIT / Startup India recognition and is it worth getting? DPIIT recognition under Startup India is a free government registration that unlocks tax benefits, self-certification on labour laws, faster IP pro... Beginner 2 resources → What legal setup do I need beyond incorporation (IP, contracts, compliance)? Assign all IP to the company from every founder and contractor in writing, use clean contractor and employment agreements, and stay on top of statu... Advanced 3 resources →