# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for business formation services (startups) on 2026-09-11

## In short

On 2026-09-11, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best business formation services for startups". It named 10 brands, in this order: Clerky, Stripe, Stripe Atlas, Firstbase, you're, Northwest Registered Agent.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best business formation services for startups |
| Asked on | 2026-09-11 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 10 |
| Sources cited | 12 |
| Audience | startups |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-11 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/business-formation-services-startups-2026-09-11
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-09-11 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> Which service fits depends on whether you plan to raise venture capital. If you do, form a Delaware C-corp through a startup-focused service. If you don't, a cheap LLC filer is all you need.
> 
> ## If you plan to raise money (Delaware C-corp)
> 
> 1. **Clerky**: my first pick for venture-backed startups. Startup attorneys built it, and law firms already use its documents. It covers formation plus post-incorporation paperwork like bylaws, stock purchase agreements and board consents. It starts around $399 including state fees, or about $726 with the full post-incorporation setup. Stripe announced it was acquiring Clerky in August 2026, and the team says it will keep running independently. Clerky companies account for 23% of Silicon Valley seed and pre-seed rounds.
> 2. **Stripe Atlas**: the fastest and simplest option. It's $500 for a Delaware C-corp or LLC, including the state filing fee and the first year of registered agent. It uses standard startup defaults, handles the 83(b) election, and connects easily to banking and Stripe payments. Pick it if speed matters more than having the most complete legal document set.
> 3. **Firstbase**: best if you want one vendor for formation plus a mailin

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clerky | mentioned |
| 2 | Stripe | mentioned |
| 3 | Stripe Atlas | mentioned |
| 4 | Firstbase | mentioned |
| 5 | you're | mentioned |
| 6 | Northwest Registered Agent | mentioned |
| 7 | ZenBusiness | mentioned |
| 8 | Bizee | mentioned |
| 9 | LegalZoom | mentioned |
| 10 | Rho | compared |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://www.quicksprout.com/best-business-formation-services/ (other)
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/best-llc-service/ (other)
- https://www.rho.co/blog/stripe-atlas-vs-clerky (vendor)
- https://www.rho.co/blog/stripe-atlas-alternatives (vendor)
- https://www.flowjam.com/blog/stripe-atlas-vs-clerky-which-is-better-for-your-startup (other)
- https://freenetlaw.com/llc/services/stripe-atlas/ (other)
- https://www.clerky.com/blog/clerky-is-joining-stripe (vendor)
- https://dealroom.co/news/147306-stripe-buys-clerky-the-legal-startup-behind-23-of-silicon-valley-seed-de/ (other)
- https://finovate.com/stripe-acquires-clerky-to-offer-legal-infrastructure-for-startups/ (other)
- https://venturesmarter.com/northwest-registered-agent-vs-zenbusiness/ (other)
- https://www.rho.co/blog/best-llc-formation-services (vendor)
- https://www.globalsolo.global/blog/northwest-vs-zenbusiness-vs-bizee-registered-agent-comparison-2026 (other)

The question page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/business-formation-services/startups

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.