Clerky: Pay per document

Deal Highlights

What is Clerky?

Clerky is an online legal service that automates the paperwork startups need — Delaware C-Corp incorporation, founder agreements, equity issuance, SAFE notes, employee offer letters, and contractor agreements. Used by thousands of Y Combinator companies, Clerky produces lawyer-quality legal documents at a fraction of the cost of traditional legal counsel.

For first-time founders, the legal requirements of starting a company are intimidating and expensive. A startup lawyer charges $5,000-15,000 for incorporation, founder agreements, and initial equity setup. Clerky handles the same documents for a few hundred dollars — with templates vetted by top Silicon Valley law firms.

Key Features for Startups

Delaware C-Corp incorporation handles the standard startup structure that investors expect. Clerky files your certificate of incorporation, obtains your EIN, sets up your bylaws, and provides initial board consents — the complete incorporation package that lawyers typically charge $2,000-5,000 for.

83(b) election filing — one of the most commonly missed startup documents — is handled with proper IRS formatting and mailing instructions. Filing an 83(b) within 30 days of stock issuance can save founders hundreds of thousands in taxes. Miss the deadline and the opportunity is lost forever. Clerky ensures this critical filing is done correctly.

Founder agreements with vesting terms define equity splits, vesting schedules, cliff periods, and acceleration provisions. The standard 4-year vesting with 1-year cliff that VCs expect is pre-configured. Customize for your specific situation.

Equity issuance generates stock purchase agreements, stock certificates, and cap table entries for common stock grants to founders. Proper legal documentation prevents future disputes and satisfies investor due diligence.

SAFE notes (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) use the standard Y Combinator SAFE templates with proper legal formatting. Configure valuation cap, discount, and MFN provisions. Generate individual SAFEs for each investor.

Employee offer letters and contractor agreements provide employment documentation with equity grant provisions, IP assignment clauses, and confidentiality agreements. The documents investors and acquirers expect during due diligence.

Who Should Use Clerky?

First-time founders incorporating a startup. YC applicants and participants (Clerky is the standard in the YC ecosystem). Startups raising pre-seed or seed funding with SAFE notes. Any founder who needs standard startup legal documents without $10,000+ in legal fees.

Clerky vs Stripe Atlas

Stripe Atlas bundles incorporation with a Stripe payments account and business banking. Clerky provides more document types and ongoing legal support for the full startup lifecycle. Stripe Atlas for one-click incorporation with immediate payment processing. Clerky for comprehensive legal document management beyond incorporation.

Clerky vs LegalZoom

LegalZoom serves general small businesses with LLCs, trademarks, and basic legal services. Clerky is built specifically for venture-backed startups with documents optimized for the VC fundraising process. LegalZoom for general business formation. Clerky for startup-specific legal documents.

Clerky vs Hiring a Startup Lawyer

A lawyer provides personalized legal advice and handles complex negotiations. Clerky handles standard documents at 10-20% of the cost. For standard incorporation, equity, and SAFE documents, Clerky is sufficient. For complex negotiations, unique terms, and disputes, you need a lawyer. Most startups use Clerky for standard documents and a lawyer for the 20% that requires human judgment.

How to Claim This Deal

1. Sign up through SaaSOffers
2. Choose the documents you need (incorporation, equity, SAFEs, etc.)
3. Answer questions about your company and preferences
4. Receive completed, ready-to-sign legal documents

Pricing Overview

Pay per document bundle — no monthly subscription. Incorporation packages start around $500-800. Individual documents (SAFE notes, offer letters, contractor agreements) priced separately. Significantly cheaper than lawyer fees for the same documents.

Who Is This Deal For?

Frequently Asked Questions

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