1. Host it
Shared hosting for first sites, managed WordPress for business-critical, cloud VPS for developers. We've run each in production.
- Bluehost · SiteGround · Hostinger
- DigitalOcean · Vultr · Linode
- Kinsta · Cloudways · WP Engine
For founders · Hosting + Company + Banking
The stack for people building online.
Everything we recommend for the first 90 days of an online business — where to host it, how to incorporate it, and how to get a bank account that actually answers the phone.
Three chapters
What to pick, in the order most people pick it.
You're rarely buying hosting, formation, and banking on the same day. But when you do tackle each, we've tested the shortlist.
2. Incorporate it
Delaware C-Corp vs Wyoming LLC. Stripe Atlas vs Firstbase vs doola. Or the cheap, quiet option: Northwest Registered Agent.
- Northwest Registered Agent (our top pick)
- Stripe Atlas · Firstbase · doola
- Harvard Business Services · LegalZoom
3. Bank it
Mercury for US banking, Wise for multi-currency, Brex if you're venture-backed. Here's when each one actually makes sense.
- Mercury · Relay · Brex
- Wise Business · Payoneer
- US bank accounts for non-residents
Hosting & VPS
Our hosting shortlist.
From $1.99 shared plans to premium managed WordPress — ten brands we've run sites on.
Bluehost
WordPress.org recommended · first-time WordPress users · $2.95/mo intro
The official WordPress.org-recommended host for first-time WordPress users. Polished onboarding and real phone support at introductory pricing.
SiteGround
Fast shared hosting · Google Cloud infra · top-tier support
Consistently the fastest and most reliable shared host at its price point. Resource limits apply — but for most WordPress sites, GrowBig is the sweet spot.
Hostinger
$1.99/mo · LiteSpeed server · surprisingly competent
Dollar-store pricing with real performance. Not the right pick for enterprise but excellent for personal sites, side projects, and small commerce.
DreamHost
Independent · 97-day money-back · WordPress.org recommended
Independently-owned veteran host (since 1997). Longest refund window in the industry and a genuine commitment to open source.
A2 Hosting
Turbo plans genuinely faster · LiteSpeed + dedicated CPU · cPanel
The rare case where 'Turbo' branding matches reality. Turbo plans measurably outperform standard shared hosting.
DigitalOcean
Developer-friendly cloud VPS · best tutorial library · $200 free credit
The VPS that made cloud approachable for developers. Droplets, simple pricing, and the best technical documentation in hosting.
Vultr
30+ global regions · high-frequency compute · DO alternative
The close-second cloud VPS. Broader data-center footprint than DigitalOcean and competitive high-frequency compute instances.
Linode (Akamai Cloud)
Oldest developer VPS (since 2003) · best support in the VPS space
Predates DigitalOcean by nearly a decade. Now Akamai Cloud Computing. Support quality is the industry benchmark.
Kinsta
Premium managed WordPress · Google Cloud infra · $30/mo starter
One of the best managed-WordPress hosts money can buy. Google Cloud infrastructure, Cloudflare Enterprise included, support under 2 minutes.
Cloudways
Managed on top of DO/Vultr/Linode · $14+/mo · WordPress + PHP apps
Managed hosting overlay on raw cloud. The price economics of VPS with the simplicity of managed.
The official WordPress.org-recommended host for first-time WordPress users. Polished onboarding and real phone support at introductory pricing.
SiteGround
Fast shared hosting · Google Cloud infra · top-tier support
Consistently the fastest and most reliable shared host at its price point. Resource limits apply — but for most WordPress sites, GrowBig is the sweet spot.
Hostinger
$1.99/mo · LiteSpeed server · surprisingly competent
Dollar-store pricing with real performance. Not the right pick for enterprise but excellent for personal sites, side projects, and small commerce.
DreamHost
Independent · 97-day money-back · WordPress.org recommended
Independently-owned veteran host (since 1997). Longest refund window in the industry and a genuine commitment to open source.
A2 Hosting
Turbo plans genuinely faster · LiteSpeed + dedicated CPU · cPanel
The rare case where 'Turbo' branding matches reality. Turbo plans measurably outperform standard shared hosting.
DigitalOcean
Developer-friendly cloud VPS · best tutorial library · $200 free credit
The VPS that made cloud approachable for developers. Droplets, simple pricing, and the best technical documentation in hosting.
Vultr
30+ global regions · high-frequency compute · DO alternative
The close-second cloud VPS. Broader data-center footprint than DigitalOcean and competitive high-frequency compute instances.
Linode (Akamai Cloud)
Oldest developer VPS (since 2003) · best support in the VPS space
Predates DigitalOcean by nearly a decade. Now Akamai Cloud Computing. Support quality is the industry benchmark.
Kinsta
Premium managed WordPress · Google Cloud infra · $30/mo starter
One of the best managed-WordPress hosts money can buy. Google Cloud infrastructure, Cloudflare Enterprise included, support under 2 minutes.
Cloudways
Managed on top of DO/Vultr/Linode · $14+/mo · WordPress + PHP apps
Managed hosting overlay on raw cloud. The price economics of VPS with the simplicity of managed.
| Provider | Intro price | Renewal | Type | Support | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SiteGround Google Cloud | $3.99/mo | $24.99/mo | Shared / managed | Excellent | ★ 4.6 | Review |
Kinsta Premium WP | $30/mo | $30/mo | Managed WP | Elite | ★ 4.8 | Review |
DigitalOcean Droplets | $4/mo | $4/mo | Cloud VPS | Docs-first | ★ 4.7 | Review |
Bluehost WordPress.org rec | $2.95/mo | $11.99/mo | Shared | Phone 24/7 | ★ 4.0 | Review |
Cloudways Managed on cloud | $14/mo | $14/mo | Managed VPS | Chat | ★ 4.5 | Review |
Vultr 30+ regions | $2.50/mo | $2.50/mo | Cloud VPS | Ticket | ★ 4.5 | Review |
Linode / Akamai Since 2003 | $5/mo | $5/mo | Cloud VPS | Phone | ★ 4.6 | Review |
Hostinger LiteSpeed | $1.99/mo | $7.99/mo | Shared | Chat | ★ 4.2 | Review |
A2 Hosting Turbo plans | $2.99/mo | $12.99/mo | Shared+ | Chat | ★ 4.2 | Review |
DreamHost Independent | $2.59/mo | $8.99/mo | Shared / VPS | Chat | ★ 4.1 | Review |
Company formation
Form your company.
Ten formation providers + banks, reviewed honestly. If we had to pick one for most readers, it's Northwest Registered Agent.
Northwest Registered Agent
Our top pick for US company formation · $39 filing · privacy-first
The quietest success story in US company formation. Low-priced, no-upsell, privacy-focused, with real humans on the phone — for 25+ years.
Stripe Atlas
$500 bundled · Delaware C-Corp or LLC · Mercury bank intro
The default bundled option for first-time global founders. $500 covers formation, EIN, registered agent year-1, and Mercury bank introduction.
doola
Global founder focus · $297 starter · Wyoming or Delaware LLC
Global-founder-focused US formation with optional ongoing compliance bundle. Direct competitor to Firstbase and a lighter alternative to Stripe Atlas.
Firstbase
$399 · polished product · global founder · Wyoming default
Feature-comparable to doola with a slightly more polished product experience. Solid alternative to Stripe Atlas at a lower price point.
Harvard Business Services
Delaware specialist since 1981 · $109 formation · deep Delaware expertise
The Delaware formation specialist. Running since 1981, not VC-backed, and priced well below the marketing-heavy alternatives.
LegalZoom
Brand-name legal services · bundled attorney consultation · premium pricing
The most-recognized brand in online legal services. Premium priced, with bundled attorney consultations and trademark services attractive for multi-product users.
Mercury
Founder-favorite US banking · remote onboarding · $0 monthly
The de facto banking platform for US startups and global founders. Remote onboarding with high approval rates for US LLCs with non-US members.
Wise Business
Multi-currency business banking · 40+ currencies · mid-market FX
The best multi-currency business account on the market. Get local account details in USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, AUD, and more.
Sleek
Singapore / Hong Kong / UK / Australia formation · compliance included
Multi-jurisdiction formation specialist. Strongest in Singapore Pte Ltd, with compliance and accounting bundled for ongoing management.
Osome
Singapore / Hong Kong / UK · AI-assisted accounting · 24/7 support
Sleek's close competitor in multi-jurisdiction formation, with AI-assisted accounting workflows that are meaningfully faster for monthly bookkeeping.
The quietest success story in US company formation. Low-priced, no-upsell, privacy-focused, with real humans on the phone — for 25+ years.
Stripe Atlas
$500 bundled · Delaware C-Corp or LLC · Mercury bank intro
The default bundled option for first-time global founders. $500 covers formation, EIN, registered agent year-1, and Mercury bank introduction.
doola
Global founder focus · $297 starter · Wyoming or Delaware LLC
Global-founder-focused US formation with optional ongoing compliance bundle. Direct competitor to Firstbase and a lighter alternative to Stripe Atlas.
Firstbase
$399 · polished product · global founder · Wyoming default
Feature-comparable to doola with a slightly more polished product experience. Solid alternative to Stripe Atlas at a lower price point.
Harvard Business Services
Delaware specialist since 1981 · $109 formation · deep Delaware expertise
The Delaware formation specialist. Running since 1981, not VC-backed, and priced well below the marketing-heavy alternatives.
LegalZoom
Brand-name legal services · bundled attorney consultation · premium pricing
The most-recognized brand in online legal services. Premium priced, with bundled attorney consultations and trademark services attractive for multi-product users.
Mercury
Founder-favorite US banking · remote onboarding · $0 monthly
The de facto banking platform for US startups and global founders. Remote onboarding with high approval rates for US LLCs with non-US members.
Wise Business
Multi-currency business banking · 40+ currencies · mid-market FX
The best multi-currency business account on the market. Get local account details in USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, AUD, and more.
Sleek
Singapore / Hong Kong / UK / Australia formation · compliance included
Multi-jurisdiction formation specialist. Strongest in Singapore Pte Ltd, with compliance and accounting bundled for ongoing management.
Osome
Singapore / Hong Kong / UK · AI-assisted accounting · 24/7 support
Sleek's close competitor in multi-jurisdiction formation, with AI-assisted accounting workflows that are meaningfully faster for monthly bookkeeping.
| Service | Starts at | Jurisdictions | Bank intro | Best for | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northwest Registered Agent Our top pick | $39 | All 50 US states | Self-serve | Honest formation | ★ 4.9 | Review |
Stripe Atlas Bundled | $500 | Delaware (C-Corp/LLC) | Mercury | First-time global | ★ 4.6 | Review |
doola Global focus | $297 | Wyoming / Delaware | Mercury intro | Tax compliance bundle | ★ 4.4 | Review |
Firstbase Polished UX | $399 | Wyoming / Delaware | Mercury | Clean dashboard | ★ 4.4 | Review |
Harvard Business Services Since 1981 | $109 | Delaware only | — | Delaware specialist | ★ 4.5 | Review |
LegalZoom Brand name | $79+ | All 50 states | — | Bundled legal | ★ 3.8 | Review |
Mercury Top banking pick | $0/mo | US (incl. non-residents) | N/A (is the bank) | Founder default | ★ 4.8 | Review |
Wise Business Multi-currency | $0/mo | Global (40+ currencies) | N/A | International payments | ★ 4.7 | Review |
Sleek SG · HK · UK · AU | $400/yr | Singapore Pte Ltd, HK, UK | Local intros | Asia formation | ★ 4.5 | Review |
Osome AI accounting | $450/yr | Singapore, HK, UK | Local intros | Monthly bookkeeping | ★ 4.4 | Review |
Deep guides
The long reads for each decision.
Shared vs VPS vs Dedicated
The three hosting tiers in plain English with real thresholds for when to upgrade. And why cloud VPS is often the right answer from day one.
Wyoming LLC vs Delaware LLC
For most non-resident founders, Wyoming is the better pick. Here's why — and the edge cases where Delaware still wins.
VPS Setup: The First 30 Minutes
The exact commands we run on every fresh VPS before installing anything else. Basic security hardening, start-to-finish.
US Bank Account for Non-Residents: 2025 Options
Traditional banks have largely closed the door. Mercury, Relay, Wise, and the handful of banks still accepting non-residents.
EIN for Non-Residents: The Right Way
The IRS online form doesn't work without an SSN/ITIN. Use Form SS-4 by fax — here's exactly how to fill it.
How to Pick Your First VPS
The framework we give every first-time buyer. Don't overspec, pick a region near your users, and run backups from day one.