Stripe Atlas in India: incorporating a US startup from India

What you get

• Incorporation for a $500 one-time fee. This includes Delaware state filing fees, next-day expedited processing and the first year of registered agent
• Your Atlas fee back if you fund a Stripe Treasury bank account with $5,000 within 90 days
• $2,500 in Stripe product credits for your first year after incorporation
• Over $50,000 in partner discounts (e.g. Google, Xero, AWS), Cooley-drafted legal templates, and YC post-money SAFE templates with tracking

Eligibility

• Founders anywhere in the world. Stripe says startups in over 175 countries have used Atlas
• Forms Delaware C corporations, LLCs and C corporation subsidiaries
• The business must not be in Stripe Atlas's restricted categories. Stripe refunds the fee if it can't support your business
• Partner perks are subject to each partner's terms

How Stripe Atlas works for founders in India

Credit types and validity

• $500 one-time incorporation fee (Delaware filing, expedited processing, first year of registered agent)
• Atlas fee back if you fund a Stripe Treasury account with $5,000 within 90 days
• $2,500 Stripe product credits for the first year after incorporation
• Over $50,000 in partner discounts (e.g., Google, Xero, AWS)
• $100/year registered agent after year one

How the credits are applied and when they expire

Pay the $500 fee when you file. Stripe product credits apply to Stripe fees during your first year after incorporation, and partner perks are claimed through Atlas under each partner's terms. The fee refund needs a $5,000 deposit to a Stripe Treasury account (a US bank product via Fifth Third Bank) within 90 days. Registered agent service renews at $100/year unless cancelled.

Approval time

Not an approval programme; Atlas says you're incorporated within two business days of filing

For founders in India

Per Stripe's Indian founder guide: FEMA-resident founders raising VC typically form an Indian LLP per founder, open accounts with the same Authorized Dealer bank, choose 'Subsidiary' in Atlas, get a UIN, and report the LLP's stock purchase through the AD bank under ODI rules. You can pay the Atlas fee with a personal Indian debit or credit card without prior permission. Founders not raising outside capital can form a US LLC without extra steps if they transfer less than US$250K of personal funds a year.

How to apply, step by step

1. Create an account at dashboard.stripe.com/register/atlas ("Start your company" on stripe.com/atlas)
2. Choose the entity type and a company name. Atlas checks name availability in Delaware
3. Enter company, founder, ownership and officer details, then sign the documents
4. Delaware incorporates the company, usually within two business days. Atlas then requests your EIN and files 83(b) elections
5. Optionally fund a Stripe Treasury account with $5,000 within 90 days to get the Atlas fee back

Documents and details to keep ready

• Company name, a short description, and a website or social profile (LinkedIn, X)
• Company address (home or virtual is fine) and a US phone number (personal or virtual is fine)
• For each founder: legal name as on government ID, email and home address. The submitting founder also gives a date of birth
• SSN or ITIN, which Stripe uses for the EIN application and 83(b) election
• Ownership split (and equity pool for a C corp), roles and officers

Tips before you apply

• Read Stripe's Indian founder guide before filing; picking 'Subsidiary' (LLP-owned) matters for ODI compliance
• Allow about 2 weeks to form the Indian LLP before starting Atlas
• Share the draft incorporation documents with your AD bank early so the UIN process can start
• Only aim for the $500 refund if you can actually park $5,000 in Stripe Treasury within 90 days

Terms to know

• Registered agent costs $100 per year after the first year and renews automatically
• Atlas isn't a law firm, and Stripe payments approval isn't guaranteed