TL;DR
Stripe Atlas ($500) is best for Delaware C-Corp formation with banking. Clerky for post-incorporation documents. LegalZoom for LLC formation. Terms.law for affordable startup legal advice. Rocket Lawyer for ongoing legal needs.
Quick Comparison
| Service | Price | Best For | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe Atlas | $500 | Delaware C-Corp | Formation + banking |
| Clerky | $427+ | Post-incorporation | Stock docs, board consents |
| LegalZoom | $0-299+ | LLC formation | State filing |
| Terms.law | $200-500 | Legal advice | Attorney consultations |
| Rocket Lawyer | $40/mo | Ongoing needs | Unlimited documents |
1. Stripe Atlas
Form a Delaware C-Corp, get a tax ID, open a Mercury bank account, and receive $5,000 in AWS credits — all for $500. Best for startups planning to raise venture capital.
2. Clerky
Post-incorporation legal documents for startups: stock option plans, board consents, 409A valuations, and fundraising documents. Used by YC companies. Pairs with any formation service.
3. LegalZoom
Consumer-friendly business formation for LLCs and corporations. State filing handled for you. Upsells can be aggressive, but the base service works. Good for simple LLC formation.
4. Terms.law
Affordable startup legal advice from attorneys who understand tech. Flat-fee consultations ($200-500) for contract review, terms of service, and founder agreements. No hourly billing surprises.
5. Rocket Lawyer
Subscription legal service ($40/month) with unlimited document templates, attorney consultations, and document review. Good for ongoing legal needs at a predictable cost.
How We Chose These Tools
We evaluated legal services on cost, startup-specific expertise, document quality, ease of use, and whether they handle formation vs ongoing needs.
Key Takeaways
- Raising VC? Use Stripe Atlas for Delaware C-Corp.
- Bootstrapped LLC? LegalZoom or file directly with your state.
- Need legal advice? Terms.law for affordable startup-savvy attorneys.