In Short: BusinessAnywhere vs Stripe Atlas
Stripe Atlas forms Delaware companies for startups that plan to raise venture capital. BusinessAnywhere forms LLCs and corporations in any state for non-US founders who want low running costs and a US address. The right choice depends on your entity, your state and whether investors are part of the plan.
- Choose Stripe Atlas if you want a Delaware C corporation, founder equity paperwork, an 83(b) election filed for you and SAFE templates for fundraising.
- Choose BusinessAnywhere if you want an LLC in Wyoming, New Mexico or any other state, a registered agent who scans your mail, a virtual mailbox and annual report filing.
- Setup price: Atlas charges $500, which covers the Delaware filing fee, the first year of registered agent service and the EIN. BusinessAnywhere charges $0 plus the state fee, with the EIN at $97.
- Running cost: a Delaware LLC on Atlas costs $500 a year from year two ($100 agent plus the $400 Delaware tax). A Wyoming LLC with BusinessAnywhere costs $207 a year ($147 agent plus the $60 Wyoming fee).
- Speed: Atlas incorporates in about two business days. BusinessAnywhere files in 10 to 14 working days, or 2 to 5 days with expedited filing.
Stripe Atlas and BusinessAnywhere both let a founder outside the United States form a US company online, without a visit and without a Social Security number. They are built for different founders. Atlas is a startup incorporation tool from the payments company Stripe, centered on Delaware and on the paperwork investors expect. BusinessAnywhere is a formation and compliance service for non-resident founders, digital nomads and online sellers who want a lean US company that stays in good standing.
This comparison uses Stripe’s own Atlas pages and BusinessAnywhere’s published pricing as of October 2026, and state figures from the state filing offices. It covers price over the first two years, entity and state choice, EIN timing for founders without an SSN, banking, ongoing compliance and who each service fits best.
BusinessAnywhere vs Stripe Atlas at a Glance
| Feature | BusinessAnywhere | Stripe Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Setup price | $0 plus the state filing fee | $500, Delaware filing fee included |
| Entity types | LLC and corporation | Delaware LLC, Delaware C corporation, C corporation subsidiary |
| States | All 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico | Delaware only |
| Registered agent | Free for year one, then $147 a year, with mail scanning | Included for year one, then $100 a year |
| EIN | $97, with or without an SSN | Included; 10 to 35 business days without an SSN |
| Filing speed | 10 to 14 working days; 5-day ($57) and 2-day ($77) expedited | About 2 business days, next-day filing |
| Startup documents | Operating agreement and bylaws templates, $97 each | Cooley templates, founder equity, 83(b) filing, SAFEs |
| Bank and payments | Bank account opening referral at $0 | Stripe payments account and Stripe Treasury account |
| US mailing address | Virtual mailbox from $20 a month | Not included; Stripe points to partner services |
| Annual reports | Filed for you for $50 a year plus the state fee | Not filed; partner discounts offered |
What Stripe Atlas Is
Stripe Atlas is Stripe’s company formation product. According to Stripe’s Atlas pages, the $500 fee covers the Delaware state filing fee, next-day expedited filing, the first year of registered agent service, the EIN application, founder equity issuance, the 83(b) election for C corporation founders and a set of legal templates developed with the law firm Cooley. After the first year, the registered agent renews at $100 a year and charges the card on file on the company’s formation date.
Atlas forms three kinds of company: a Delaware C corporation, a Delaware LLC and a C corporation subsidiary of an existing company. It does not form companies in other states. Stripe describes the C corporation as the structure institutional investors prefer, and Atlas includes post-money SAFE templates for raising money. Stripe also states that it does not give legal, tax or accounting advice and does not file the company’s ongoing taxes or annual reports. It offers discounts with partner firms for that work.
What BusinessAnywhere Is
BusinessAnywhere forms US LLCs and corporations for founders who live outside the United States, with no citizenship, residency, US visit or SSN required. Formation is $0 plus the state’s filing fee in all 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. The first year of registered agent service is free and renews at $147 a year, with legal mail scanned to your dashboard. The EIN application service costs $97 and covers applicants with or without a Social Security number.
Around formation, BusinessAnywhere adds the pieces a remote owner needs to run the company: a virtual mailbox from $20 a month, annual report filing for $50 a year plus the state fee from year two, an S corporation election filing for $97, a beneficial ownership report filing for $37, and company dissolution from $197.
Price Comparison: Year One and Year Two
Atlas’s $500 looks higher than BusinessAnywhere’s $0, but the setup fee is only part of the bill. The fair comparison is the total for the same company over two years, including the state’s own annual charge. The table uses the state figures from our breakdowns of Delaware LLC costs and Wyoming LLC costs.
| Company | Year one | Each year after |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware LLC with Stripe Atlas | $500 (filing, agent and EIN included) | $500: $100 agent plus the $400 Delaware LLC tax |
| Delaware LLC with BusinessAnywhere | $207: $110 state fee plus $97 EIN | $547: $147 agent plus the $400 Delaware LLC tax |
| Wyoming LLC with BusinessAnywhere | $197: $100 state fee plus $97 EIN | $207: $147 agent plus the $60 Wyoming annual report fee |
Three points stand out. For a Delaware LLC, BusinessAnywhere is $293 cheaper in year one and $47 more each year after, because its registered agent costs more than Atlas’s. For a non-resident with no reason to be in Delaware, a Wyoming LLC costs less than half as much to keep each year as any Delaware LLC, because Delaware’s $400 LLC tax is the largest single cost on the bill. And Stripe states that the Atlas fee is refunded if you fund a Stripe Treasury account with $5,000 within 90 days, which brings the Atlas year-one cost down for founders who use Stripe’s account.
Delaware C corporations add a cost neither LLC row shows: the annual franchise tax and annual report, due March 1, calculated from authorized shares or assumed par value capital. Our guide to Delaware franchise tax explains both methods. The $400 Delaware LLC tax is set by statute and paid to the Delaware Division of Corporations by June 1; see our Delaware LLC annual tax guide for the deadline and penalties.
Entity Type and State Choice
This is the deciding difference for most founders. Atlas forms only in Delaware. That suits a startup that will raise from US investors, since venture funds expect a Delaware C corporation. It is an expensive choice for a one-person consultancy, an Amazon store or a software business that will never take outside money.
BusinessAnywhere forms in any state. Non-resident founders who do business online and own no US property have the freedom to pick a state for its cost and privacy. Wyoming charges $100 to form and $60 a year, with no state income tax. Our comparison of Wyoming vs Delaware LLCs walks through the trade-offs. BusinessAnywhere also forms corporations in any state for founders who want one outside Delaware.
EIN for Founders Without an SSN
Both services get the EIN for you. Stripe’s Atlas documentation gives 1 to 2 business days for a founder with an SSN, a US address and a US phone number, and 10 to 35 business days for a founder without an SSN. Stripe also states that card payments can be activated on Stripe before the EIN arrives.
BusinessAnywhere’s EIN service is $97 and covers founders with or without an SSN. The EIN is what US banks, payment processors and marketplaces ask for, so the timing matters to anyone who wants to start selling soon after formation. Our guide to the EIN confirmation letter explains the IRS document you receive.
Formation Speed
Atlas is the faster formation. Stripe states that companies are incorporated within about two business days, with next-day expedited filing included in the $500. BusinessAnywhere’s standard filing time is 10 to 14 working days, with a 5-day expedited filing for $57 and a 2-day filing for $77. Speed matters most when a founder needs the company before a contract signing or an accelerator deadline.
Banking and Payments
Atlas is built around Stripe’s own products. Atlas companies apply for a Stripe payments account and, where eligible, a Stripe Treasury business account, which Stripe states is provided by Fifth Third Bank. Atlas also includes $2,500 in Stripe product credits for the first year and a list of partner perks. Stripe states that Atlas does not guarantee approval for Stripe payments.
BusinessAnywhere does not tie you to one payment processor. Its bank account opening referral costs $0, and the company it forms works with any US bank or fintech account that accepts non-resident owners. No formation service can guarantee a bank or payment account approval, because the bank or processor makes that decision.
Ongoing Compliance and US Address
After formation, the two services diverge again. Stripe states that Atlas does not file annual reports, franchise tax or income tax returns, and that its registered agent address is not a mailing address for the company. For a business address, Stripe points founders to home addresses or partner virtual mail services.
BusinessAnywhere keeps the company current from year two: it files the state annual report for $50 a year plus the state’s own fee, its registered agent scans legal mail into your dashboard, and its virtual mailbox gives the company a US street address for banks, customers and marketplaces. For a founder who lives abroad, missed state mail is a common reason a company falls out of good standing, and that is the gap this service closes.
Startup and Legal Documents
Atlas includes the documents a venture-backed startup needs on day one: a certificate of incorporation, bylaws or an operating agreement, board consents, founder stock or unit issuance with vesting terms, an IP assignment, the 83(b) election filed for every C corporation founder, and post-money SAFE templates. Stripe notes that founders with complex situations, such as significant IP from a prior employer, still need a lawyer.
BusinessAnywhere offers operating agreement, bylaws, shareholder agreement and organizational minutes templates for $97 each, and a banking resolution template for $27. It does not file 83(b) elections or prepare fundraising documents.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Stripe Atlas if
- You plan to raise money from US venture investors and need a Delaware C corporation.
- You want founder equity, vesting and the 83(b) election handled at formation.
- You will run payments through Stripe and want a Stripe Treasury account.
- You need the company formed within a few business days.
Choose BusinessAnywhere if
- You want an LLC and do not need Delaware, such as a Wyoming or New Mexico LLC for an online business.
- You want the lowest running cost each year.
- You live outside the US and need a registered agent who scans mail, a US mailing address and annual reports filed for you.
- You sell on Amazon, run a service business or freelance, and investors are not part of the plan.
Founders still weighing whether to use any formation service can read our comparison of Stripe Atlas vs forming your own LLC.
Already Have a Stripe Atlas Company?
An Atlas company keeps working if you switch providers for the ongoing work. BusinessAnywhere can take over as registered agent for an existing company for $147 a year, file the change of registered agent for $37, and file annual reports for $50 a year plus the state fee. See our existing company maintenance service for the details. Stripe states that cancelling the Atlas registered agent without appointing a new one leaves the company without a Delaware agent, so appoint the new agent first.
Start Your US Company With BusinessAnywhere
BusinessAnywhere forms your US LLC or corporation for $0 plus the state filing fee, includes a free first year of registered agent service so state notices reach you, and gets the EIN for non-residents without a Social Security number for $97.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BusinessAnywhere cheaper than Stripe Atlas?
For setup, yes: BusinessAnywhere charges $0 plus the state fee, while Atlas charges $500. For a Delaware LLC, BusinessAnywhere costs $293 less in year one and $47 more each year after, because its registered agent is $147 a year against Atlas’s $100. A Wyoming LLC with BusinessAnywhere costs $207 a year to keep, against $500 a year for a Delaware LLC on Atlas.
Can Stripe Atlas form a Wyoming LLC?
No. Stripe Atlas forms companies in Delaware only: a Delaware LLC, a Delaware C corporation or a C corporation subsidiary. BusinessAnywhere forms LLCs in Wyoming and every other state.
Does Stripe Atlas file annual reports?
No. Stripe states that Atlas does not file annual reports, franchise tax or income tax returns, and offers partner discounts for that work instead. BusinessAnywhere files state annual reports for $50 a year plus the state fee.
How long does Stripe Atlas take to get an EIN without an SSN?
Stripe’s Atlas documentation gives 10 to 35 business days for a founder without an SSN, and 1 to 2 business days for a founder with an SSN, a US address and a US phone number.
Which is better for venture capital, BusinessAnywhere or Stripe Atlas?
Stripe Atlas. It forms the Delaware C corporation investors expect and includes founder equity documents, the 83(b) election and SAFE templates. BusinessAnywhere fits founders who want a lean LLC and do not plan to raise venture money.
Can I move my Stripe Atlas company to BusinessAnywhere?
Yes. You keep the company and change providers for the ongoing work. BusinessAnywhere becomes your registered agent for $147 a year, files the change of agent for $37 and can file your annual reports. Appoint the new agent before cancelling the Atlas one.
This comparison uses Stripe’s published Atlas pages, BusinessAnywhere’s published prices and state filing office figures as of October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm current terms with each provider before you sign up. It is general information, not legal or tax advice.
