Step 5 of 13
Form Your LLC with Stripe Atlas
By From Zero to LLC ·
This is where it gets real. You've picked your name, registered a domain, set up a business email, and — if you followed Step 4 — you've got a Freelance Stack discount code waiting. Time to put it to work.
Stripe Atlas is the formation service this guide recommends for international founders. One application, under 10 minutes, and it handles your Delaware LLC filing, EIN application, registered agent, and Stripe account setup all at once. No US address, no Social Security Number, no visa needed.
Stripe Atlas — Quick Facts (2026)
| Formation type | Delaware LLC or C Corporation |
| Standard price | $500 (with Freelance Stack discount: $250) |
| Formation timeline | 1–2 business days |
| EIN timeline (non-US residents) | 4–6 weeks via IRS standard fax processing |
| Registered agent included | Year 1 included; $100/year after |
| US address required? | No — registered agent address satisfies state requirement |
| US SSN required? | No |
| Stripe credits included | $2,500 in Stripe product credits |
What is Stripe Atlas?
Stripe Atlas is Stripe's own formation service — yes, the same Stripe you use to accept payments. They built it originally for C corps (think Y Combinator-style startups), but later added LLC support for founders who want the simpler option: pass-through taxation, less paperwork, no VC pressure required.
Here's why it works well for international founders specifically: without Atlas, you'd need to piece things together yourself. Find a formation service that accepts foreign applicants. Find a registered agent. Find someone to fax your EIN application to the IRS. Then set up Stripe separately. Atlas collapses all of that into one form. Most people finish it in under 10 minutes.
What's Included in Stripe Atlas ($500 base / $250 with discount)
Ongoing costs after year one
| Item | Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Registered agent renewal (via Atlas) | $100 | Per year (Stripe Atlas pricing) |
| Delaware franchise tax | $300 | Per year (Delaware Division of Corporations) |
| Delaware annual report fee | $50 | Per year, due June 1 (Delaware requirement) |
Total ongoing: ~$450/year. See Step 9: LLC Compliance for the full calendar and what happens if you miss a deadline.
LLC vs. C Corp: Which One Should You Choose?
Stripe Atlas gives you two choices: LLC or C Corporation. If you're a freelancer, consultant, SaaS builder, or e-commerce seller running your own operation — pick the LLC. That's what this guide is built around, and it's the right structure for most international founders.
Here's the short version on why: LLCs use pass-through taxation. Business profits go straight to you as the member, and you pay tax once — at your personal rate. C Corps get taxed at the corporate level first (21% federal), then taxed again when you take distributions. If you're pulling most of your revenue out as income, that double taxation adds up fast.
Stripe Atlas LLC — who it's for
- Freelancers and consultants
- SaaS and software founders
- E-commerce sellers
- Non-US residents
- Bootstrapped businesses
- Founders who want Stripe payments set up from day one
- VC-funded startups (use C Corp instead)
- Founders who already have an LLC and EIN
- Multi-member LLCs with complex equity arrangements
There's another thing nobody mentions upfront: LLCs have much simpler compliance requirements. No stock ledgers. No board meeting minutes. No quarterly payroll filings. When you're running a business solo from another country, less paperwork isn't a nice-to-have — it's kind of the whole point.
How to Get the $250 Stripe Atlas Discount
The standard Stripe Atlas price is $500. The Freelance Stack discount cuts that in half — $250 instead. Same service, same formation, same everything. You just need a promo code that's only available to Freelance Stack members.
Freelance Stack costs €45/year to join. The $250 you save on Stripe Atlas pays for the membership immediately, with change to spare. The other deals in your dashboard (free Bolt.new PRO year, AWS credits, Notion, Deel) are a bonus. But the Stripe Atlas code is the reason most founders join.
How to unlock the discount — step by step
Sign up at the link below. Membership is €45/year. This is required — the discount code is only accessible to members.
After joining, go to your deals section and find the Stripe Atlas offer. Click to reveal your unique code.
Go to stripe.com/atlas, start your application, and enter the promo code at checkout. The price drops from $500 to $250.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you join through this link, at no extra cost to you.
What You Need Before You Apply
The application itself takes under 10 minutes. Before you open the Stripe Atlas form, grab these:
- Your LLC name — confirmed available in Delaware (you did this in Step 1). Atlas will check again in real time, but you want to know going in.
- Your passport — used to verify your identity as the LLC member.
- Your permanent home address — your address outside the US, used for IRS records.
- Your Freelance Stack discount code — from your dashboard in Step 4.
- Your business email — the one you set up in Step 3 ([email protected]).
The Stripe Atlas Application Process
Here's what the process actually looks like:
Pick LLC. Not C Corp — unless you've read the section above and have a specific reason otherwise.
Atlas checks Delaware name availability in real time. If your name is taken, you'll be prompted to try alternatives before continuing.
Provide your name, passport details, and home address. If you have co-founders, you can add up to four members and define ownership percentages here.
Atlas generates your Certificate of Formation and Operating Agreement. Sign electronically — no notary, no printing, nothing to mail.
This is where the Freelance Stack code goes. Enter it at checkout and the price drops to $250. Pay by card.
Atlas files with Delaware directly. Your LLC is usually formed within 1–2 business days. You'll get an email with your Certificate of Formation when it's done.
What Happens After You Apply
Once your LLC is formed, Atlas files your EIN application with the IRS automatically. Here's what to expect:
| Milestone | Typical Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware LLC formed | 1–2 business days | You receive your Certificate of Formation by email |
| Stripe account activated | Same week | You can accept payments immediately, even before your EIN arrives |
| EIN issued (non-US residents) | 4–6 weeks | IRS standard fax processing timeline (IRS.gov, 2026); Atlas submits on your behalf |
| EIN confirmation letter (CP-575) | 4–8 weeks from EIN issue | Physical letter mailed to your registered agent or virtual address |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a US address to use Stripe Atlas?
No. The registered agent included with Atlas satisfies Delaware's address requirement — that's their address on file, not yours. Your personal address can be anywhere in the world. For your EIN letter and IRS mail, set up a virtual US address in Step 7. That's specifically what it's for.
Can I use Stripe Atlas if I already have an EIN?
If you already have an LLC and EIN, you don't need Atlas — just open a Stripe account directly and connect your existing entity details. Atlas is for people starting from zero, which is most of the people reading this.
Is the Freelance Stack discount available to everyone?
The discount is for new Stripe Atlas customers who are Freelance Stack members. It can't be combined with other Stripe Atlas promo offers. Freelance Stack costs €45/year — that's the entry point. Once you're in, the Stripe Atlas deal alone pays for the membership and then some.
What if I need to change my LLC name after formation?
You'd file an amendment with the Delaware Division of Corporations — minimum $50 fee. Not catastrophic, but annoying. This is exactly why Step 1 exists: confirm the LLC name and the matching domain before you submit. Changing it later is possible, just not something you want to deal with mid-launch.