Here's the problem with Atlas: --While a US bank account is key; there are major KYC issues here. --For $500 you get 1. a corporation 2. a bank account 3. a Stripe merchant account.

Since you might pay $500 for a corporation alone; this is a good bundle.

--You get "access" to PwC (Price Waterhouse Coopers) and Orrick, a local law firm.

If you have the telephone number of these two entities you already have "access." What "access" otherwise means isn't clear. If PwC are going to provide bespoke accounting and start-up legal service at a rate discounted through Stripe, you're not getting much of a bargain.

I'd be more confident if they laid out exactly what accounting and legal services Atlas is going to broker. After all, for start-ups none of this stuff is rocket science--it's all forms and software. But other than tax preparation, do you also get PwC's consulting services? And if so, how much? And will these services be discounted too? Who is the partner in charge? What are the lines of communication among start-up=>Atlas=>PwC? PwC will surely represent start-up's competitors--will they agree to Chinese Wall their services?

Finally, I won't address ethical issues here (attorneys referral service, conflicts of interest, etc.) because it seems that these haven't gotten Atlas' attention. There will be push-back, which they may or may not be able to resist.