Clerky vs Bizee: Which Is Better for Delaware Companies?
Choosing between Clerky and Bizee depends heavily on what you mean by a “Delaware company.” A Delaware corporation preparing for venture capital, employee equity, and multiple financing rounds has very different needs from a small business that simply wants to form a Delaware LLC, obtain an EIN, maintain a registered agent, and stay on top of state filings.
Clerky is the stronger choice for startup-oriented Delaware C corporations. Bizee is the more broadly useful option for entrepreneurs who want lower-cost formation, registered-agent service, compliance support, and general business administration.
That distinction matters because Delaware formation is only the beginning. A company still has annual obligations, corporate governance requirements, and—in the case of corporations—Delaware franchise tax and annual-report responsibilities. Delaware corporations must generally file their annual report and pay franchise tax by March 1 each year, while Delaware LLCs pay a $300 annual tax by June 1 and do not file an annual report.
Clerky vs Bizee at a Glance
| Feature | Clerky | Bizee |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware C corporation | Excellent | Yes |
| Delaware LLC | Not its core focus | Yes |
| Founder equity | Excellent | Basic |
| 83(b) election | Yes | Not a core feature |
| Stock options | Yes | Not a core feature |
| Board consents | Yes | Limited |
| Fundraising documents | Yes | Limited |
| Registered agent | Yes | Yes |
| Annual compliance reminders | Yes | Yes |
| EIN assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Business banking assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Small-business services | Limited | Broad |
| Best for | Venture-backed startups | Small businesses and entrepreneurs |
What Is Clerky?
Clerky is a legal-document platform built specifically around the needs of startups. Its Delaware incorporation package currently costs $427 on a pay-per-use basis. Its Company Lifetime Package costs $819 and includes Delaware incorporation, expedited filing fees, the first year of Delaware registered-agent service, and annual report and franchise-tax reminders. But the formation filing is only part of Clerky's appeal. After incorporation, Clerky can help founders:
- Elect directors and appoint officers
- Adopt bylaws
- Issue founder stock
- Set customized vesting
- Prepare restricted stock purchase agreements
- Prepare 83(b) election materials
- Execute intellectual-property assignment agreements
- Adopt stock plans
- Issue employee stock options
- Prepare fundraising documents
- Handle certain board consents and corporate actions
Its post-incorporation package is currently listed at $299 when purchased separately, while stock-plan adoption is listed at $199. That makes Clerky fundamentally different from a conventional incorporation service.
Why startup founders choose Clerky
Consider a Delaware C corporation with two founders planning to raise a seed round. They may need to establish founder ownership, create vesting arrangements, appoint directors, protect intellectual property, issue stock, grant options to early employees, and later prepare board documentation for a financing. Those are not peripheral tasks. They are part of the company's legal infrastructure. Clerky is designed around that exact workflow.
What Is Bizee?
Bizee, formerly known as Incfile, takes a broader approach to company formation. It supports LLCs, corporations, and other business structures and provides formation services across U.S. states, including Delaware.
Its Delaware offering includes registered-agent services, business formation, compliance support, EIN services, business-document resources, banking-related offers, and other small-business tools. Bizee currently advertises formation starting at $0 plus state fees, although the precise package and included services depend on the entity and plan selected.
For Delaware corporations, Bizee provides a registered agent and notes that every Delaware corporation must continuously maintain one with a physical Delaware address. Its broader model makes Bizee appealing to entrepreneurs who don't necessarily need startup-specific legal infrastructure. For example, a founder creating:
- A consulting company
- A small agency
- An ecommerce business
- A family-owned company
- A local service business
- A bootstrapped software company. May get more value from Bizee's wider business-formation and compliance offering than from Clerky's specialized startup documentation.
Clerky vs Bizee for Delaware C Corporations
This is where Clerky has the clearest advantage. Delaware C corporations are common among venture-backed startups because their corporate structure is well suited to issuing shares, creating employee equity plans, and bringing in outside investors.
Clerky's platform is built specifically for this environment. Its formation workflow includes founder-stock issuance, vesting, 83(b) election materials, board documentation, bylaws, and intellectual-property assignment agreements. Its broader product line also covers fundraising, hiring, stock options, and other corporate actions.
Bizee can absolutely help form the Delaware corporation. But its value proposition is broader and more formation-oriented. So if your question is: “Which service can help me establish a Delaware corporation?” Both can. If the question is: “Which platform is better equipped for the legal paperwork a venture-backed startup will need after incorporation?” Clerky is the stronger choice.
What If You're Forming a Delaware LLC?
The answer changes considerably. Bizee has a dedicated Delaware LLC formation service, while Clerky's core product is centered on Delaware C corporations for high-growth startups. Bizee notes that a Delaware LLC requires a registered agent with a physical Delaware address. The current Delaware state filing fee for an LLC Certificate of Formation is $90, and Delaware LLCs generally owe a $300 annual franchise tax due June 1. (Bizee)
For an entrepreneur forming a Delaware LLC, Bizee therefore offers a much more natural starting point. Clerky's specialized equity and startup-governance features may simply be unnecessary.mIf you're forming a Delaware LLC rather than a venture-backed C corporation, Bizee is generally the more practical option.
Pricing: Which One Offers Better Value?
The headline prices can be misleading because the platforms bundle different things. Clerky's current pay-per-use Delaware incorporation package is $427, while its Company Lifetime Package is $819. The latter includes expedited Delaware filing fees and the first-year registered-agent fee.
Bizee advertises formation packages starting at $0 plus state fees, with registered-agent service, EIN assistance, corporate documents, compliance alerts, and other features varying by package. That makes Bizee particularly attractive when your objective is simply to get the company formed at a low upfront cost. Clerky's higher price can make more sense when you actually need its startup-specific legal infrastructure.
The better way to compare cost
Don't ask only: “Which company has the cheaper formation package?” Ask: “How much will I spend to get everything my company actually needs during its first year?”
A venture-backed startup that later needs founder stock, employee options, board consents, and financing documentation could find Clerky's specialized products more valuable. A small Delaware LLC may have no reason to pay for those capabilities.
Registered Agent and Compliance
Both platforms address the basic need for a registered agent. That's important because Delaware requires corporations and LLCs to maintain registered-agent coverage. Bizee provides Delaware registered-agent services and currently offers the first year free when forming certain Delaware entities through its platform, with its Delaware corporation page listing $149 per year afterward.
Clerky includes the first-year Delaware registered-agent fee in its formation packages. It also provides annual-report and franchise-tax reminders. The underlying state obligations remain the founder's responsibility. For a Delaware corporation, annual reports and franchise taxes are generally due by March 1. Delaware states that failure to file the annual report and pay required taxes can result in a $200 penalty plus interest.
For Delaware LLCs, the $300 annual tax is generally due June 1, with no annual report requirement. This is an important distinction for anyone comparing formation services: a registered agent does not eliminate your company's underlying legal and tax obligations.
Delaware Companies Need More Than Formation
A common mistake among new founders is treating incorporation as the finish line. It isn't. For a Delaware C corporation, the early corporate setup can influence future fundraising and due diligence. Founder stock, vesting, intellectual-property ownership, board approvals, and capitalization records all become relevant as the company grows.
For an LLC, the priorities may be different: maintaining the registered agent, paying the annual Delaware tax, maintaining the operating agreement, and addressing any additional state or federal obligations that apply to the business. That's why Clerky and Bizee can both be “good” choices while serving very different companies.
What About International Founders?
The choice becomes even more important when the founder lives outside the United States. A non-U.S. entrepreneur may need to think about EIN acquisition, U.S. banking, payment processing, federal information returns, state obligations, and potential tax consequences in both the United States and the founder's home country.
Neither Clerky nor Bizee should be treated as a substitute for professional tax or legal advice when the structure is complicated. International founders looking for a broader U.S. company formation and management experience may also consider Foundeck, an AI-powered U.S. company formation and management platform designed for global founders. Its broader model covers areas such as formation, compliance support, official mail management, banking guidance, payment infrastructure, legal resources, and founder support. For a foreign entrepreneur, therefore, the right comparison isn't merely “Who files the Delaware paperwork?” It is “Who can help me manage the problems that come after incorporation?”
Which Platform Should You Choose?
Choose Clerky if you are:
- Building a venture-backed startup
- Forming a Delaware C corporation
- Raising money from angel or institutional investors
- Managing founder equity
- Using equity vesting
- Planning employee stock options
- Expecting multiple corporate actions
- Working with startup attorneys
- Preparing for fundraising or due diligence
Choose Bizee if you are:
- Forming a Delaware LLC
- Starting a small business
- Building a bootstrapped company
- Looking for inexpensive formation
- Prioritizing registered-agent service
- Wanting general compliance reminders
- Looking for broader small-business services
- Forming a company without complex equity requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clerky better than Bizee for a Delaware startup?
Generally, yes—if “startup” means a venture-backed Delaware C corporation. Clerky specializes in founder equity, corporate governance, fundraising, hiring, stock options, and related startup legal paperwork.
Is Bizee good for Delaware LLC formation?
Yes. Bizee has a dedicated Delaware LLC formation offering and provides registered-agent services and other business-formation features.
Which is cheaper, Clerky or Bizee?
Bizee has the lower advertised entry price, starting at $0 plus state fees for certain formation packages. Clerky's current Delaware incorporation price starts at $427. However, the two services provide substantially different levels and types of support.
Does Clerky provide 83(b) election support?
Yes. Clerky includes pre-filled 83(b) election materials and filing instructions as part of its post-incorporation setup.
Does Bizee provide a registered agent in Delaware?
Yes. Bizee provides Delaware registered-agent services, including a first-year offer for businesses formed through its service.
Do Delaware corporations have to pay franchise tax?
Yes. Delaware corporations are subject to annual franchise tax, with the annual report and tax generally due March 1. The minimum franchise tax is currently $175 under the Authorized Shares Method and $400 under the Assumed Par Value Capital Method.
Do Delaware LLCs have to file an annual report?
No. Delaware LLCs generally do not file an annual report, but they must pay the $300 annual franchise tax by June 1.
Can I use Bizee to form a Delaware C corporation?
Yes. Bizee offers corporation formation, including Delaware corporations. Its platform is broader than Clerky's startup-specific legal-document model.
Final Verdict: Clerky for Startups, Bizee for Broader Business Formation
Clerky is the better choice for a Delaware C corporation built to raise capital and grow into a venture-backed startup. Its advantage isn't simply incorporation. It's the surrounding legal infrastructure: founder stock, vesting, 83(b) elections, board actions, fundraising documents, stock plans, hiring paperwork, and corporate maintenance.
Bizee is the better fit for entrepreneurs who want affordable Delaware formation and broader small-business support, particularly when forming an LLC or a straightforward corporation without complex startup-equity requirements.
The simplest way to decide is to look at what happens after formation. If the next three years involve investors, employees, stock options, fundraising, and corporate governance, Clerky is the more specialized tool. If they involve customers, revenue, compliance deadlines, a registered agent, and straightforward business administration, Bizee may provide better overall value.
And whichever platform you choose, remember that Delaware incorporation does not remove the underlying obligations of owning a Delaware company. The formation service handles paperwork; the company's compliance, tax, governance, and reporting responsibilities continue long after the certificate of formation or incorporation arrives.