Stripe Atlas
Stripe's startup program — US LLC, EIN, and banking setup for non-US founders.
Mon experience
Stripe Atlas is the gold standard for non-US founders setting up a US company. For $500, you get a Delaware LLC, EIN, a Stripe account, and an introduction to Mercury for business banking. The whole process takes 1-2 weeks.
What makes Atlas worth the premium over DIY is the reliability. Stripe has processed thousands of these and knows exactly how to handle edge cases. When you form an LLC yourself, one wrong form can delay your EIN by months.
The main trade-off is cost and flexibility. You're locked into Delaware, and you'll need to budget separately for a registered agent ($50-200/year) and ongoing compliance. But if you want a US LLC and Stripe account without the headache, Atlas is the way to go.
Avantages
- +Most streamlined path to a US LLC for international founders
- +$500 covers LLC formation + EIN + Stripe account + Mercury intro
- +Processing time of 1-2 weeks, much faster than going solo
- +Access to Stripe Atlas community and partner deals
Inconvenients
- −$500 is more expensive than DIY LLC formation (~$100-200)
- −Delaware LLC only — no choice of state
- −EIN processing can sometimes take longer than expected
- −Doesn't include registered agent or compliance services (extra cost)
Ideal pour
Non-US founders who want the fastest, most reliable path to a US LLC and Stripe account.
