Best way to incorporate a Delaware C-Corp in 2026
By Corply · Updated
For most startups the best way to incorporate a Delaware C-Corp is a formation service with standard venture documents, not a blank state form. The real choice is who does the work after the filing: you, a lawyer, an accounting team on a plan, or your AI agent.
The options compared
| Route | Price | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A startup lawyer | Varies by firm | Custom documents and advice | Unusual facts, disputed ownership, or a lawyer who will stay with the company |
| Stripe Atlas | $500, refunded with a $5,000 Stripe Treasury deposit | Company, EIN, founder stock, 83(b) and a year of registered agent | Founders who run payments on Stripe and handle yearly filings themselves |
| Clerky | $427, plus $299 for post-incorporation setup | Startup legal documents sold per use | Founders whose lawyer runs the process |
| Firstbase | $398 first year before state fees | Formation, then plans for annual filings, bookkeeping and tax | Founders who want one vendor for back-office work |
| doola | $297 a year plus state fees | Formation, EIN and registered agent; built around LLCs | Founders forming an LLC with taxes on a plan |
| Every | Free formation | Formation, then paid tax, bookkeeping and payroll | Founders who will run finance and HR on Every |
| Corply | $399 for one founder, plus $35 a month or $349 a year | Formation, documents, founder signatures, 83(b) filing and a human-reviewed Delaware filing | Founders who want an AI agent (Claude, Codex, Cursor) or the browser to do the work |
Competitor details come from stripe.com/atlas, clerky.com/pricing, firstbase.io/pricing, doola.com/pricing and every.io/pricing, checked . Prices change, so check before you buy. Corply prices come from the same quote our checkout charges.
What a good incorporation includes
The state filing is the smallest part. Whichever route you pick, check that it covers:
- A certificate of incorporation with the share count and par value investors expect, commonly 10,000,000 shares of common stock at $0.00001.
- Bylaws, the incorporator's action and an initial board consent appointing officers.
- Founder stock purchase agreements with vesting and an intellectual property assignment.
- The EIN application and each founder's 83(b) election within 30 days of the stock transfer.
- A registered agent, plus a plan for the annual report and franchise tax due every March 1.
The full sequence is in how to incorporate a Delaware C-Corp, and every fee is broken down in what a Delaware C-Corp costs.
How to choose
- You already have a startup lawyer: let them run it, often on Clerky's documents.
- You'll run payments on Stripe and do the yearly filings yourself: Stripe Atlas.
- You want bookkeeping and tax returns on one plan: Firstbase, doola or Every.
- You want your AI agent to do the work: Corply, from Claude, Codex or Claude Code, or in the browser.
Still deciding on the entity? Read C-Corp or LLC for a startup. Comparing providers in more depth? See Stripe Atlas alternatives and Clerky alternatives.
Start your Delaware C-Corp
Complete your application in the browser. Review your documents and price before you sign and pay.
Prefer your AI assistant? Connect Corply or share the https://corply.dev/skills.md raw guide.
FAQ
- What is the best way to incorporate a Delaware C-Corp?
- Use a formation service with standard venture documents unless your facts are unusual. Choose by who does the work after filing: you and a lawyer (Stripe Atlas or Clerky), an accounting team on a plan (Firstbase, doola or Every), or your AI agent (Corply). Use a startup lawyer for disputed ownership, existing IP questions or anything nonstandard.
- Can I incorporate a Delaware C-Corp myself?
- Yes. You can file a certificate of incorporation with the Delaware Division of Corporations through a registered agent, then adopt bylaws, approve founder stock, get an EIN and file 83(b) elections yourself. Services exist because the documents after the filing are where founders make mistakes.
- How long does incorporation take?
- Preparing the application takes under an hour with a service. Delaware's processing time depends on the filing method and the state's workload, and the EIN follows acceptance. Plan for days, not hours.
- Is Stripe Atlas or Clerky better?
- Stripe Atlas suits founders using Stripe who will handle yearly filings themselves; Clerky suits founders whose lawyer runs the documents. Both form Delaware C-Corps with standard documents. The full comparison is on the Stripe Atlas vs Clerky page.
This page is general education, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Corply is operated by 0Lumen Labs Corp., is not a law firm, and routes questions that need individualized judgment to licensed professionals. Rules and fees change, so verify current requirements with the relevant state, the IRS, or your counsel.