Using Stripe’s products

Stripe Atlas users open a U.S.-based Stripe account, and can use the full functionality of the Stripe API, including Connect, Radar, and Subscriptions. There are a couple of special considerations when using Stripe through Atlas, however.

Using Connect

Stripe Connect provides a mechanism to process payments on behalf of others. You might use Connect if you are building a platform that enables e-commerce, or if you need to facilitate payments between customers and contractors. You can even create Stripe accounts for your users, so that users interact with Stripe only through your platform.

If you plan to facilitate payments between customers and sellers, we’ll need to collect some additional information about your business during the Stripe Atlas application:

• The location of your sellers (or contractors, drivers, renters, etc.)
• Your process for onboarding sellers and verifying their identities
• How you’ll facilitate payments between your customers and sellers (you don’t have to use Connect, but we hope you will!)

We generally can’t support platforms that handle the movement of money directly.

Accepting multiple currencies

U.S. Stripe accounts can charge customers around the world in 135+ currencies so you can likely charge your customers in their local currency.

All charges will be settled in USD in your U.S. Stripe account, at an additional foreign exchange (FX) fee.

Additional benefits

Stripe Atlas provides additional benefits to its users beyond helping them create a U.S. corporation, open a U.S. Stripe account, and (optionally) open a business bank account.

Amazon Web Services

Designed to help startups scale their infrastructure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides special access to technical labs, web-based training, and specialized support.

After your company representatives have electronically signed the documents, we’ll email you a code to sign up for AWS credits on your AWS account. (You can create an AWS account if you don’t already have one.)

You can receive up to $5,000 (USD) in credits over a two-year period. The credits take up to 4 weeks to apply to your AWS account.

Google Cloud Platform

Google Cloud Platform is a suite of cloud computing services that runs on the same infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products, such as Google Search and YouTube.

Google is offering Stripe Atlas members up to $100,000 in Google Cloud Platform credits with special offers from GSuite, Hire, Qwiklabs, and Maps, as part of the Google Cloud for Startups Spark program. After you sign the Stripe Atlas formation documents, you will receive a link where you can apply for $20,000 (USD) in credits, valid over a 12-month period. If you qualify, you can extend your credits to $100,000.

Legal

Stripe Atlas users have access to a legal guide prepared by Orrick and free annotated legal templates that can be customized for their company’s next steps after incorporation.

Stripe Atlas users also have access to a network of startup attorneys who can provide a short free consultation and flat-rate legal packages for Atlas users (including as little as $349 to customize templates for a new company to issue founder’s stock). If you’re interested in these options, please contact us at atlas@stripe.com. These attorneys will not provide tailored advice unless you engage them to represent you directly as a client.

Tax and accounting

Stripe Atlas users have access to a range of tax accounting services. Depending on the scale and complexity of your company’s operations, Stripe can connect you with accounting partners whose annual filing packages start at $250, $900, or $3,000, respectively.

Next steps

Now that you know more about Stripe Atlas in detail, you may want to read:

• Account Progress
• What's Next
• Payments Overview
• Guides to Starting an Internet Business