The short answer
- For a Delaware C-corp, both are strong; Atlas is simpler and its agent renewal is cheaper ($100 vs $299/yr).
- For an LLC, Firstbase’s Wyoming option avoids Delaware’s $400/yr tax — but its $299/yr agent cancels most of that saving.
- Firstbase sells a $899/yr Form 5472 package for non-US single-member LLCs; Atlas refers tax work to partners, and an independent preparer is usually cheaper.
- If low running cost is your priority for an LLC, neither is the cheapest option.
Founders who have already decided they want a startup-style provider — rather than a budget filer — usually end up choosing between these two. Here is how they differ where it matters.
Side by side
| Feature | Firstbase | Stripe Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront price | $399 one-time List price for "Start" (formation + expedited EIN), plus state fees. A $99 promotional price was shown in October 2026. | $500 one-time Includes Delaware state filing fees and the first year of registered agent service. |
| Ongoing cost | Registered agent $299/yr; Mailroom from $315/yr; non-US single-member LLC tax filing $899/yr. | Registered agent $100/yr from year two; Delaware annual tax/franchise tax is separate. |
| Entity types | LLC, C-corp | C-corp, LLC (Delaware only) |
| States | Delaware, Wyoming | Delaware only |
| EIN without SSN | Included (expedited EIN setup) | Included |
| Registered agent | $299/yr per state (required) | First year included, then $100/yr |
| US address | Mailroom Basic $315/yr; Premium $350/yr | Not included |
| Form 5472 / taxes | $899/yr for non-US-owned single-member LLCs (Form 5472 + pro forma 1120) | Not included — referred to partners |
| Banking help | Partner marketplace (Mercury, Brex, Ramp, Payoneer and others) | Built-in Stripe account; partner banks |
| Best for | Tech founders who want a polished dashboard, Delaware or Wyoming, and pay-as-you-need add-ons. | Founders planning to raise venture capital who want a Delaware C-corp with clean equity paperwork. |
| Skip it if | Budget founders: the registered agent and mailroom add-ons make year-two costs among the highest here. | Solo service businesses and e-commerce sellers: Delaware’s $400/yr LLC tax and the C-corp tilt add cost you may not need. |
| Visit Firstbase | Visit Stripe Atlas |
Prices checked Oct 28, 2026 against each provider’s published pricing. State fees are extra unless stated.
Scenario 1: Delaware C-corp for fundraising
Both produce an investor-ready company. Atlas is the simpler purchase: one $500 fee covering Delaware’s filing fees, the EIN, the 83(b) filing and a year of registered agent, then $100/yr for the agent. Firstbase gives you a richer back office (mailroom, accounting, tax) at higher recurring prices — its agent alone is $299/yr. If Stripe will be your payments stack, Atlas is the natural default.
Scenario 2: Non-resident LLC
You might expect Firstbase to win here because it can form in Wyoming, where upkeep is $60 a year instead of Delaware’s $400. In practice its $299/yr registered agent cancels most of that advantage:
| Firstbase (Wyoming LLC) | Stripe Atlas (Delaware LLC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $798 | $500 |
| 3-year total | $1,516 | $1,500 |
| 3-year total with Form 5472 filing | $3,314 | $2,500 |
Firstbase is priced at its $399 list price; a promotion lowers its year-one figure. The Atlas row with Form 5472 uses an independent preparer estimate, because Atlas does not offer filing itself — and that estimate is lower than Firstbase’s $899 package.
So for an LLC the decision is about features, not price. Firstbase gives you Wyoming, an optional mailroom and an in-house tax package in one dashboard; Atlas gives you the Stripe integration and a cheaper agent.
Our recommendation
Fundraising C-corp: Stripe Atlas, unless you specifically want Firstbase’s bundled back office.
Non-resident LLC: choose between these two on features. If running cost matters most, a Wyoming LLC with Northwest costs about $709 over three years, and doola about $1,111 with an address included — see the full ranking.
Frequently asked questions
Is Firstbase or Stripe Atlas better for a Delaware C-corp?
Both handle Delaware C-corps well. Atlas includes state fees and a year of agent service in $500 and renews the agent at $100/yr. Firstbase’s formation fee is lower when promoted, but its agent costs $299/yr.
Is Firstbase cheaper than Stripe Atlas for an LLC?
Not meaningfully. A Wyoming LLC with Firstbase and a Delaware LLC with Atlas cost about the same over three years, because Firstbase’s $299/yr agent offsets Wyoming’s lower state fees. Choose on features, or look at lower-cost providers.
Sources
Read next
Firstbase review (2026): polished, à la carte, and pricier than it looks
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Stripe Atlas is Delaware-only and built for C-corps. These alternatives form a non-resident LLC in cheaper states, with three-year costs compared.
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