Incorporation services handle the legal paperwork of forming a company — entity filing, registered agent, EIN and founding documents — so you can launch a legitimate business without a lawyer for every step. The right pick depends heavily on your path: VC-bound startups need a Delaware C-Corp with investor-ready documents, bootstrapped founders want a cheap, reliable LLC, and non-US founders need ongoing compliance support. Crucially, the formation fee is the smallest cost — registered agent renewals, state fees and mandatory tax filings drive the real three-year total.
This guide compares five of the most widely used incorporation services in 2026 across formation fee, ideal use case and standout strengths, each linking directly to the provider so you can check current terms.
Incorporation service comparison at a glance
| Service | Formation Fee | Best For | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerky | From ~$399 (Delaware C-Corp) | VC-bound startups | Visit → |
| Stripe Atlas | $500 one-time | Fast C-Corp + banking | Visit → |
| doola | From ~$197–297 + state fee | Non-US founders | Visit → |
| Firstbase | From ~$399 | US business + banking onboarding | Visit → |
| LegalZoom | ~$99–349 + state fee | Bootstrapped founders | Visit → |
Pricing reflects publicly available US information as of June 2026 and excludes Delaware state filing fees (~$90) and registered agent renewals (~$50–150/year after year one). Three-year totals vary widely by compliance level. Always verify current pricing and what each package includes.
The best incorporation services in 2026, compared
Clerky
Best for VC-backed startups
Best for: High-growth startups planning venture capital fundraising who need investor-ready legal documents.
| Fee short | From ~$399 (Delaware C-Corp) |
| Best for short | VC-bound startups |
| Strength | VC-optimized document stack |
| Pedigree | Co-developed with Y Combinator |
| Trust | 10,000+ companies |
| Coverage | SAFEs, options, Series A docs |
- VC-optimized founding documents trusted by 10,000+ startups
- Co-developed with Y Combinator; handles SAFEs and options
- Comprehensive post-incorporation legal workflow
Stripe Atlas
Best for speed + banking
Best for: Founders wanting fast Delaware C-Corp formation bundled with Stripe and Mercury banking setup.
| Fee short | $500 one-time |
| Best for short | Fast C-Corp + banking |
| Speed | 1–2 day processing |
| Included | Registered agent (1 yr), banking setup |
| Ecosystem | Stripe + Mercury integration |
| Note | Higher fee than LLC-focused rivals |
- Delaware C-Corp formation in days with banking setup
- Includes registered agent for the first year
- Tight Stripe and Mercury ecosystem integration
doola
Best for non-US founders
Best for: Non-US residents forming a US LLC or C-Corp who need ongoing compliance and CPA support.
| Fee short | From ~$197–297 + state fee |
| Best for short | Non-US founders |
| Strength | LLC, C-Corp, DAO LLC + compliance |
| Included | EIN, operating agreement, RA |
| Add-ons | Bookkeeping, CPA, banking access |
| Note | Total Compliance plan raises 3-yr cost |
- Built for non-US founders forming in any US state
- Includes EIN, operating agreement and registered agent
- Ongoing compliance, bookkeeping and CPA support available
Firstbase
Best bundled onboarding
Best for: Founders forming a US business who want incorporation bundled with US bank account onboarding.
| Fee short | From ~$399 |
| Best for short | US business + banking onboarding |
| Strength | Formation + bank account support |
| Coverage | LLC and C-Corp |
| Add-ons | Tax filing, compliance |
| Note | Compare service reviews carefully |
- Formation bundled with US business bank account onboarding
- Supports both LLC and C-Corp structures
- Add-on tax filing and compliance support
LegalZoom
Best known for bootstrappers
Best for: Bootstrapped founders wanting affordable, familiar incorporation without VC-specific workflows.
| Fee short | ~$99–349 + state fee |
| Best for short | Bootstrapped founders |
| Strength | Brand recognition, broad legal services |
| Coverage | LLC, corporation, more |
| Add-ons | Legal plans, trademarks |
| Note | Higher cost; no VC document stack |
- Familiar brand with broad legal-services catalog
- Affordable LLC and corporation formation
- Lacks the VC-optimized workflows of Clerky
How to choose the right incorporation service
Start with your funding path. If you plan to raise venture capital, Clerky’s VC-optimized document stack — co-developed with Y Combinator — is the safest choice for clean Series A paperwork, and Stripe Atlas is the fastest route to a Delaware C-Corp with bundled Stripe and Mercury banking. If you’re bootstrapping a legitimate business and don’t need stock issuance, an LLC via LegalZoom, Bizee or doola is far cheaper. Non-US founders should weigh doola or Firstbase, which are built for cross-border formation with registered agent, EIN and ongoing compliance. Above all, model the three-year total cost — formation fee plus registered agent renewals, state fees and tax filings — rather than comparing headline formation prices, since year-two compliance catches many founders by surprise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best incorporation service in 2026?
It depends on your path. Clerky is the standard for VC-backed startups needing investor-ready documents, Stripe Atlas is fastest for a Delaware C-Corp with banking, doola leads for non-US founders, Firstbase bundles US banking onboarding, and LegalZoom suits bootstrapped founders.
LLC or C-Corp — which should I form?
If you plan to raise venture capital and issue stock, a Delaware C-Corp (via Clerky or Stripe Atlas) is the standard. If you’re running a legitimate business without VC plans, an LLC is simpler and cheaper to form and maintain. Consult a qualified attorney or accountant for your specific situation.
How much does it cost to incorporate?
Formation fees range from $0–500 plus state fees (Delaware ~$90): Bizee from $0, doola ~$197–297, Firstbase ~$399, Clerky ~$399, Stripe Atlas $500. But three-year totals reach $2,000–6,400 once you add registered agent renewals, state fees and mandatory tax filings.
Can non-US residents form a US company?
Yes. Services like doola, Firstbase and Stripe Atlas are built for non-US founders forming a US LLC or C-Corp, handling EIN registration, registered agent and compliance. Non-resident-owned LLCs have extra filing requirements (such as Form 5472), so ongoing compliance support is valuable.
Which service is fastest?
Stripe Atlas processes Delaware C-Corp formation in roughly 1–2 days, and some AI-driven services complete formation in 1–3 business days. Speed varies by state and entity type, so confirm current processing times with the provider before relying on a specific timeline.
Discover more from Kurums | Business Intelligence
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
