Stripe Atlas gives entrepreneurs access to the basic building blocks for starting a global internet business. Specifically, Atlas helps you:

• Incorporate a Delaware C Corporation
• Issue stock to founders
• Obtain a U.S. Employer Identification Number (EIN) for tax purposes
• Open a U.S. business bank account at Silicon Valley Bank
• Create a U.S. Stripe account to accept payments from around the world
• Connect to legal and tax experts
• Receive up to $5,000 in promotional credits from Amazon Web Services
• Join the Stripe Atlas Forum of other founders and advisors

With your new Stripe account, you’ll be able to use the full functionality of the Stripe API, including Connect, Radar, and Subscriptions.

Read on to decide if you should and are able to use Stripe Atlas, how much it costs, and how to join this community of worldwide startup founders.

Who should use Stripe Atlas

We designed Stripe Atlas for ambitious founders building high-growth startups. Thousands of entrepreneurs from more than 120 countries already use Atlas. We’ve found it to be particularly suited to:

• U.S. startups
• Startups outside of the U.S. building global companies
• Startups outside of the U.S. raising money from professional investors
• International companies expanding their operations to the U.S.

We’re constantly expanding and improving Stripe Atlas to make it the right choice for more businesses. If Atlas isn’t right for you today, feel free to check back in with us in the future.

Who cannot use Stripe Atlas

You cannot use Stripe—and therefore Stripe Atlas—for specific prohibited businesses. Stripe Atlas additionally cannot support hosting companies, affiliate marketing schemes, or companies that publish hate-related material.

Businesses located outside the U.S. who want to use Atlas should primarily serve global—not just local—customers. For example, if you have a Canadian business serving solely Canadian customers, you cannot use Atlas to accept payments with a U.S. Stripe account.

Due to government and financial partner restrictions, Atlas is currently unavailable to businesses with operations in:

• Afghanistan
• Central African Republic
• DR Congo
• Cuba
• Eritrea
• Iran
• Iraq
• Libya
• Myanmar
• North Korea
• Pakistan
• Russia
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Syria
• Ukraine
• Venezuela
• Yemen
• Zimbabwe

We’ll continue working to expand the reach of Stripe Atlas over time.

What Stripe Atlas costs

Establishing and running any business has both initial and ongoing costs. Stripe Atlas has a one-time fee of $500 (all prices are in USD) that covers:

• Incorporating your company in Delaware
• Opening your business bank account at Silicon Valley Bank
• Registering your company with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• Your first year of Delaware registered agent services

After getting set up, you pay ongoing fees associated with the Stripe Atlas services including: standard U.S. Stripe fees for payments accepted through Stripe, maintenance fees for your business bank account at Silicon Valley Bank, and yearly fees to maintain your registered agent services.

Running a business in the U.S. comes with significant obligations, including:

• Complying with applicable laws
• Paying U.S. state and federal taxes each calendar year your company is incorporated
• Maintaining a Delaware registered agent (currently available to Atlas users at a cost of $100 per year)
• Filing annual reports with the State of Delaware (currently available to Atlas users at a cost of $50 per year)

We strongly recommend that you talk with your legal and tax advisors to decide whether and how to set up your business with Stripe Atlas. To help, Atlas users get direct access to resources and guidance from Orrick and PwC, and access to the Stripe Atlas network of partners who can help with these obligations.

Joining Stripe Atlas

Stripe Atlas is currently invite-only; there are three ways to get access:

• Apply directly
• Be invited by a current Atlas user
• Be invited by a Stripe Atlas network partner

Apply directly

You can apply directly and we’ll respond within two weeks.

Be invited by a current Stripe Atlas user

If you know a current Atlas user, they can invite you to join. They can also tell you more about their experience with Atlas.

Be invited by a Stripe Atlas network partner

Stripe works with a network of incubators, accelerators, investors and companies any of which can invite you to Atlas. If you already have a relationship with a member of the network, we encourage you to ask for an Atlas invite from them.

The application and onboarding process

Once you’re invited to Stripe Atlas, you’ll get access to an online application:

1. We’ll collect all necessary initial information through a series of prompts and uploaded files.
2. After reviewing your application, we’ll generate and send documents for your company representatives to review and electronically sign (to incorporate your company and open your bank account).
3. Once your company representatives sign and submit those documents to Stripe, we’ll submit the signed documents to incorporate your company and open your bank account.

We’ll take it from there, sending you emails as steps are completed and letting you know when we need more information. You can also track the progress in the Dashboard.

Next steps

Now that you’re familiar with Stripe Atlas, you may want to read more about:

• Application
• Account Progress
• Details
• What's Next
• Guides to Starting an Internet Business