BizFilings vs Stripe Atlas: pricing and features compared
Data last updated: Apr 21, 2026BizFilings starts at $99 plus state fees. Stripe Atlas starts at $500 plus state fees. Sticker-price differences between LLC formation services rarely tell the full story, since the cheapest tier usually excludes the EIN filing and operating agreement most filers need.
The registered agent renewal is the line item that actually matters over time: Stripe Atlas is $100 per year, BizFilings is $220. Over five years that delta adds up to $480, which is typically a larger swing than the formation-tier sticker price.
For most filers, the decision between two services is decided by three things: whether you need a $0 tier or can absorb a mid-tier to get the EIN and operating agreement bundled, how much the registered agent will cost you in year two and onward, and whether the support quality matters to you (it matters more if you're paying $200+ for the service in the first place).
Key differences at a glance
- BizFilings is $401 cheaper at the starting tier (both charge upfront).
- Stripe Atlas has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($100/yr vs $220/yr). Over five years that is a $480 difference.
- Stripe Atlas includes a free operating agreement; BizFilings charges for it as an add-on. For a single-member LLC that can use a template, this matters less. For anything with multiple members, a proper operating agreement is not optional.
- Stripe Atlas includes EIN filing in its default price; BizFilings sells it as a paid add-on. You can always get an EIN directly from the IRS in five minutes for free.
- Stripe Atlas supports non-US founders without a US SSN. The other is primarily US-resident oriented.
Where each service fits
Pick BizFilings when
Pick BizFilings when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price.
Pick Stripe Atlas when
Pick Stripe Atlas when you're optimizing for lower long-term cost (RA renewal is cheaper); you want the operating agreement bundled at no extra cost; you're a non-US founder.
What each service offers that the other does not
Only BizFilings
- Phone support
Only Stripe Atlas
- EIN included free
- Operating agreement included free
- Banking partner integration
- Non-US founder support
Both services
- Compliance dashboard
What it costs under your specific situation
Running the same LLC through three common scenarios. Year-1 and 5-year totals exclude state fees, which are identical for both services.
| Scenario | BizFilings Year 1 | Stripe Atlas Year 1 | BizFilings 5-year | Stripe Atlas 5-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just the basics: state filing, RA year 1, nothing else You file the EIN yourself at irs.gov and skip a written operating agreement. | $99 | $500 | $979 | $900 |
| You want EIN and operating agreement handled too Most new LLCs end up here. Assumes $70 EIN and $99 OA add-ons where the service charges for them. | $268 | $500 | $1,148 | $900 |
| Standalone registered agent only (no formation) You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA. | $220 | $0 | $1,100 | $0 |
Full feature comparison
| Dimension | BizFilings | Stripe Atlas |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price Cheapest tier, excludes state fees | $99 | $500 |
| Registered agent year 1 | Not included | Included |
| Registered agent renewal Year 2 onward, annual | $220/yr | $100/yr |
| Free $0 tier | No | No |
| EIN application | Paid add-on | Included free |
| Operating agreement | Paid add-on | Included free |
| Compliance dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Mail scanning | No | No |
| International founders | No | Yes |
| Banking partner | None | Mercury |
| Phone support | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central Time | No |
| Live chat | No | No |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.5/5 (170 reviews) | Not published |
Pricing tiers side by side
BizFilings
- Basic — $99
- Standard — $229
- Complete — $359
Stripe Atlas
- Atlas — $500
Includes RA year 1 · renews $100/yr
Support and ratings, interpreted
BizFilings offers phone, email. Stripe Atlas offers email.
BizFilings
Phone: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central Time.
Email: yes.
No live chat.
Trustpilot: 4.5/5 from 170 reviews.
Stripe Atlas
No phone support.
Email: yes.
No live chat.
Before you pick either service
A few things apply no matter which one you choose. These catch enough first-time filers to be worth stating plainly.
The state fee is identical. Whether you use BizFilings, Stripe Atlas, or neither, your state charges the same formation fee. Nothing a service does lowers that number. The fee ranges from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts depending on where you form. See the state-by-state guide for exact numbers.
You can get an EIN for free at irs.gov in five minutes. Both BizFilings and Stripe Atlas either bundle EIN filing or sell it as a paid add-on. You're never required to pay for EIN filing; the IRS charges nothing and the online form takes about five minutes. If a service is pitching "we'll handle your EIN" as a headline feature, that's convenience pricing, not necessity.
The registered agent renewal is what matters long-term. The formation fee is a one-time cost. The registered agent is what recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC open. Over five years, the RA renewal cost usually exceeds the formation fee. Compare on that number, not just the day-one sticker.
Operating agreements are separately priced at most services. Any LLC with more than one member, and any LLC relying on its liability shield, should have a written operating agreement. It governs ownership percentages, profit splits, management structure, and dissolution. California, Maine, Missouri, and New York require it by statute; every other state treats it as strongly recommended. Don't skip it to save $99.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Which is cheaper, BizFilings or Stripe Atlas?
BizFilings is cheaper at the starting tier ($99 vs $500). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $79.
-
Does BizFilings or Stripe Atlas have better support?
BizFilings offers phone, email. Stripe Atlas offers email.
-
Can a non-US founder use BizFilings or Stripe Atlas?
Stripe Atlas supports non-US founders without a US Social Security Number. The other service is primarily US-resident oriented and may require additional workarounds for the EIN application, since non-US applicants need to file paper Form SS-4 rather than use the instant online path. For heavy non-US founder needs, services like Doola, Firstbase, or Stripe Atlas are purpose-built for that market.
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Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using BizFilings or Stripe Atlas?
You can. The state fee is identical whether you use a service or not. What these services sell is convenience: a handled registered agent (which you can also buy standalone), a bundled operating agreement, compliance reminders, and in some cases banking and tax integrations. If your time is worth more than $50 an hour and you would rather not research your state's specific filing quirks, a service pays for itself. If you like DIY administrative work, file directly at your state's Secretary of State portal.
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How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?
BizFilings renews at $220/yr. Stripe Atlas renews at $100/yr. This number matters because it recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC. Over a five-year window, the registered agent renewal cost typically exceeds the formation fee, so it's worth more attention than most reviews give it.
Full reviews
Sources
- Pricing: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings · verified April 21, 2026
BizFilings markets LLC formation starting at $99 plus state fees on the Wolters Kluwer solutions landing page. Package tiers (Basic $99, Standard $229, Complete $359) are shown on the PackageSelect ordering screen at secure.bizfilings.com/PackageSelect.aspx. Prices vary by state. - Registered agent renewal usd: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings/registered-agent-service… · verified April 21, 2026
Registered Agent Services page quotes $220 for 1 year, $370 for 2 years, and $489 for 3 years. All formation packages include 3 months free registered agent, then auto-renew at standard rates. - Registered agent only: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings/registered-agent-service… · verified April 21, 2026
Registered agent available as a standalone product independent of formation package. - Features: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings · verified April 21, 2026
BizComply online compliance monitoring tool bundled with registered agent. EIN only included at Complete tier. Operating agreement template included at Standard and up. No mail scanning, no international founder product, no named banking partner. - Support: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings/contact · verified April 21, 2026
Contact page lists phone 608-827-5300 with office hours 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central Time Monday to Friday. Email via web form. No live chat advertised on the contact page. - Headquarters: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings/contact · verified April 21, 2026
Contact page lists 525 Junction Road Suite 5000, Madison, WI 53717. Area code 608 matches Madison, WI. - Founded: www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings · verified April 21, 2026
BizFilings was founded in 1996 and acquired by Wolters Kluwer (CT Corporation) in 2002. Now operated under the Wolters Kluwer solutions portfolio. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/bizfilings · verified April 21, 2026
Trustpilot profile for BizFilings (Wolters Kluwer) shows approximately 4.5/5 across roughly 170 reviews as of April 2026. Review volume is modest relative to consumer-facing competitors. - Pricing: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Pricing page: $500 one-time fee that includes government filing fees and first year of registered agent. Registered agent renews automatically at $100/yr after year one. - Registered agent renewal usd: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas page states: 'US$100 annually after your first year (renews automatically).' - Features: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas supports three entity types on its signup flow: C corporation, LLC, and Subsidiary. C-corp is listed first and historically the primary product; LLC is offered but commonly steered to Delaware or Wyoming. Only Delaware is named on the pricing page as the incorporation state for C-corps. - E in cluded: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
EIN acquisition is included in the flat $500. - Operating agreement: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas includes bylaws for C-corps and operating agreement templates for LLCs, produced in collaboration with Cooley LLP. - International: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas states startups in over 140 countries have used the service. Explicitly designed for non-US founders who want a US entity and US payments access. - Annual report filing: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas does not file Delaware annual franchise tax reports on the customer's behalf; compliance reminders are surfaced in the dashboard but the filing itself is not a bundled service. - Banking partner: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas partners with Mercury for bank account opening. Account is provisioned after the Delaware filing completes. - Founded: stripe.com/atlas · verified April 21, 2026
Stripe Atlas launched in 2016 as a Stripe product. Parent company Stripe was founded in 2010. - Headquarters: stripe.com/about · verified April 21, 2026
Stripe (parent) has dual HQ in South San Francisco, CA and Dublin, Ireland. Atlas is a product line, not a separately incorporated company. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/stripe.com · verified April 21, 2026
The only Trustpilot profile for Stripe covers the entire Stripe payments business, not Atlas specifically. Setting rating to null because the profile is unrepresentative of Atlas. - Support: support.stripe.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Atlas customers receive support through the Stripe dashboard and email. Stripe does not publish a phone support channel for Atlas; live chat is via the general Stripe support product.