# What does AI recommend for business formation services (startups)? Checked 2026-09-06

## In short

On 2026-09-06, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best business formation services for startups". It named 7 brands, in this order: Stripe Atlas, Clerky, Firstbase, LegalZoom, Northwest Registered Agent, Bizee.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best business formation services for startups |
| Asked on | 2026-09-06 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 7 |
| Sources cited | 9 |
| Audience | startups |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-06 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/business-formation-services/startups
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-09-06 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> The right answer depends on which kind of "startup" you are, so here's my ranked list with that split baked in.
> 
> ## If you're on the VC track (Delaware C-corp, plan to raise)
> 
> **1. Stripe Atlas** - my default recommendation. $500 flat, one-time, and it does the whole thing end to end: Delaware C-corp filing in 1-2 business days, EIN via automatic SS-4, founder stock purchase agreements, and it now files your **83(b) election with the IRS for you** - which is the single most expensive thing founders screw up (miss the 30-day window and you can owe tax on your own equity's appreciation). First year of registered agent is included, ~$100/yr after. You don't have to use Stripe payments to use it, and it's open to non-US founders. ([pricing detail](https://sparklaun.ch/compare/stripe-atlas), [review](https://startupowl.com/reviews/stripe-atlas))
> 
> **2. Clerky** - the pick if you're going to be doing real legal paperwork repeatedly: SAFEs, priced rounds, option grants, advisor agreements. The documents are what actual startup law firms use, at ~$799 instead of $5k-$15k. Important caveat: Clerky's incorporation product handles the docs, and it's the post-formation document machine that's t

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stripe Atlas | recommended |
| 2 | Clerky | mentioned |
| 3 | Firstbase | mentioned |
| 4 | LegalZoom | mentioned |
| 5 | Northwest Registered Agent | mentioned |
| 6 | Bizee | mentioned |
| 7 | ZenBusiness | mentioned |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://sparklaun.ch/compare/stripe-atlas (other)
- https://startupowl.com/reviews/stripe-atlas (other)
- https://www.rho.co/blog/stripe-atlas-vs-clerky (other)
- https://startupsavant.com/service-reviews/stripe-atlas-alternatives (other)
- https://registeredagentcost.com/northwest-registered-agent-review/ (other)
- https://registeredagentcost.com/northwest-vs-bizee/ (other)
- https://registeredagentcost.com/zenbusiness-vs-bizee/ (other)
- https://startupsavant.com/best-incorporation-services-for-startups (other)
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/best-llc-service/ (other)

Permanent address of this answer: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/business-formation-services-startups-2026-09-06

Answer Watch records what one AI answer engine said on one date, nothing more. Each page names the engine and the model, carries the date the question was asked, and lists the brands that appeared in the answer in the order the engine gave them, with the sources it cited. It is a measurement, not a ranking, not a recommendation and not a claim about the world. Brands that did not appear in an answer are not named on any public page. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.