Article · 12 min read

Stripe Atlas vs. Clerky: 2026 Incorporation Guide for Startup Founders

Rho editorial team · Rho Free Beginner

This is the honest side-by-side you want before spending a rupee on a Delaware C-corp: Atlas at $500 one-time (files your 83(b) automatically, next-day incorporation, banking plus $2,500 in Stripe credits) versus Clerky at $819 lifetime (unlimited SAFEs, convertible notes, and hiring paperwork for the whole VC track). It states the load-bearing caveat plainly: neither is a law firm, no attorney reviews your docs, so if anything is unusual, talk to a lawyer first.

  • Atlas wins for speed plus banking; Clerky wins if you will issue SAFEs and option grants and want the full YC document stack for life
  • Real numbers: Atlas $500 + ~$100/yr registered agent; Clerky $819 lifetime + ~$125/yr, both incorporating in 1 to 3 business days
  • Both are automation tools, not counsel: they get the boilerplate right but no lawyer reads your specific situation
Open on rho.co ↗

The question it answers

  1. Should I use an incorporation service like Clerky, Stripe Atlas, or an Indian filing platform, or hire a lawyer directly?

Read with it

  1. The India-specific counterpart to the Delaware question, from Razorpay's own founder-incorporation arm. It confirms a Pvt Ltd... Razorpay Rize Article · 9 min read Do You Need a CA to Register a Company in India? Razorpay Rize
  2. Jose Ancer is a working startup lawyer, and this is his clear line between what a filing tool handles and what needs actual... Silicon Hills Lawyer Article · 15 min read Startup Founders Using ChatGPT and Gemini for Legal (and where a real lawyer is non-negotiable) Jose Ancer
eChai Partner Brands The partnership →