Foundlie vs Clerky
An honest comparison for founders forming a US LLC from Egypt, the Gulf, or anywhere outside the US: what each service includes, what it costs after year one, and who each one is right for.
Clerky pricing and package details checked September 2026 on clerky.com. Confirm current pricing on the provider's site before you buy.
The short version
Clerky is the legal-paperwork platform used by many Y Combinator companies. It incorporates Delaware C Corporations with investor-standard documents, handles founder stock and SAFEs, and does not offer LLCs at all.
Foundlie forms a US LLC in 5 states (New Mexico, Wyoming, Delaware, Florida, California) for one all-in price from $225, which already covers the state filing fee, the registered agent for year one, the EIN, the operating agreement, and Arabic-language guidance through the bank and Stripe applications. The registered agent renews at $100 a year.
Choose Clerky if this fits: founders raising from US venture investors who need investor-standard corporate documents. Choose Foundlie if you want one price, Arabic support on WhatsApp, and a team that has walked founders from Egypt and the Gulf through the same bank and payment-provider reviews you are about to face.
At a glance
| Feature | Foundlie | Clerky |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $225, state fee included | Lifetime formation package priced in the high hundreds of dollars plus the state fee |
| After year one | Registered agent $100/year; annual report filing $75 plus the state fee | Registered agent renews annually; post-incorporation documents priced per use |
| Entities and states | US LLC in New Mexico, Wyoming, Delaware, Florida, California | Delaware C Corporation for venture-backed startups |
| Best for | Freelancers, agencies, and online businesses outside the US that want Arabic support and one clear price | Founders raising from US venture investors who need investor-standard corporate documents |
Feature by feature
Eight things that decide the real cost and effort for a founder outside the US.
| Feature | Foundlie | Clerky |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic-language onboarding and support | Yes | No |
| Pay in EGP or USD | Yes | No |
| Built for founders outside the US | Yes | Add-on or partner |
| State filing fee included in the price | Yes | No |
| EIN included, no SSN needed | Yes | Add-on or partner |
| Registered agent for year one included | Yes | Yes |
| Bank and Stripe application guidance | Yes | No |
| Annual report filing and renewal reminders | Yes | Add-on or partner |
"Add-on or partner" means the provider offers it for an extra fee, on a higher tier, or through a third-party referral.
Where Clerky is the better fit
- Documents that US venture lawyers and investors already recognise.
- Founder stock, vesting, and SAFE paperwork handled inside one system.
- Fixed, transparent pricing without subscription pressure.
Where Foundlie is the better fit
- One all-in price from $225 that already includes the state fee, registered agent, EIN, and operating agreement. No add-on checkout.
- Arabic-first onboarding and support on WhatsApp, with guidance written for founders in Egypt and the Gulf.
- Pay in USD by card or in EGP, so you are not blocked by international card limits.
- Step-by-step help with the bank and Stripe applications after formation. Approval always stays with the provider, but you will not be filling in the forms alone.
- Annual report filing and registered-agent renewal handled from your Foundlie portal, with reminders before deadlines.
- Clerky: No LLC option, so it does not fit freelancers or small businesses.
- Clerky: Delaware C Corporation means annual franchise tax and a separate corporate tax return.
- Clerky: English-only, no banking or Stripe guidance, and no Arabic support.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Clerky if
Founders raising from US venture investors who need investor-standard corporate documents. You are comfortable working in English, you can pay by international card, and you do not need help with the bank or payment-provider applications afterwards.
Pick Foundlie if
You are forming from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or elsewhere in the region, you want the full cost known before you pay, and you want someone to answer in Arabic when the bank or Stripe asks a question you have not seen before.
See Foundlie pricingFoundlie vs Clerky: common questions
Is Clerky cheaper than Foundlie?
Compare the total, not the headline. Clerky's published starting price is: Lifetime formation package priced in the high hundreds of dollars plus the state fee. Foundlie's price from $225 already includes the state filing fee, the registered agent for year one, the EIN, and the operating agreement. Add those items to Clerky's base price before you compare.
Can a non-US resident use Clerky?
Usually yes, but the process assumes a US context. Non-resident EIN filing, bank applications, and support in Arabic are where Foundlie is built specifically for founders outside the US.
Does Foundlie guarantee a bank account or a Stripe account?
No provider can. Formation, the EIN, the bank review, and the payment-provider review are four separate steps, and each bank or provider decides on its own criteria. Foundlie prepares your documents and guides you through each application; the decision remains with the provider.
I already formed my company with Clerky. Can Foundlie take over the renewal?
Yes. Foundlie offers registered-agent renewal for companies formed elsewhere at $120 a year and annual report filing at $90 plus the state fee. Contact us on WhatsApp with your state and company name to start the transfer.
Which states does Foundlie form in?
New Mexico, Wyoming, Delaware, Florida, California. Every state has one all-in price on the pricing page, and the page also shows each state's recurring government fee so you can compare year-two cost, not just year one.
Does Foundlie support Arabic?
Yes. The site, the checkout, the customer portal, and support on WhatsApp are all available in Arabic, with English available as well.
Compare Foundlie with other providers
Foundlie vs Stripe Atlas
Venture-track startups that want Delaware and a Stripe account in one flow
Foundlie vs doola
Non-US founders who want formation, bookkeeping, and tax filing under one subscription
Foundlie vs Firstbase
Remote startups that want a US address, mailroom, and banking partners with their entity
Foundlie vs Northwest Registered Agent
Founders comfortable in English who want a low-cost filing and a reliable registered agent
Foundlie vs Bizee (formerly Incfile)
Price-driven founders who can assemble the package themselves from add-ons
Foundlie vs ZenBusiness
US-based small businesses that want a guided dashboard and optional compliance subscriptions
How this comparison was made
Clerky is an independent company and is not affiliated with Foundlie. Everything stated about Clerky comes from its own public website and pricing pages as checked in September 2026; prices and packages change, so confirm them on the provider's site before you decide. Foundlie prices on this page are the live published prices. Nothing on this page is legal, tax, or financial advice.
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