Best LLC formation services for non-US residents (2026 comparison)

How we compared LLC formation services for founders abroad

We compared seven services, including ours, on what decides whether a US LLC works for someone living outside the US. Prices are as of September 2026, from each company's own pricing pages, help centers and terms, all linked in the sources below. We apply the same criteria to every service, and we don't give scores or rankings.

• EIN without an SSN. Your EIN, the IRS's tax ID for businesses, is needed for a bank account and payment processors. Without a Social Security number it takes longer, so it matters whether the service files the application for you.
• Registered agent, included and at renewal. Every LLC needs one in its state. Some services include it; others add $149 to $299 a year.
• Year-one and renewal cost. Headline prices run from $0 to $500. Year two, when free periods end, shows the real yearly cost.
• Form 5472 help. A foreign-owned single-member LLC generally files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 each year, and the IRS penalty for not filing is $25,000.
• Bank and payment help. Banks and processors decide whom they accept, but help with applications and partner introductions saves time.
• States and entity types. Some services form only in Delaware, or only in two states, and some form only LLCs.

Services built for founders outside the US

Stripe Atlas, doola, Firstbase and Register Quick LLC all apply for your EIN without an SSN. They differ on states, on what the base price includes, and on who handles the yearly filings.

Stripe Atlas charges $500 once, including Delaware state fees and the first year of registered agent service, then $100 a year. It forms only in Delaware, and you pay Delaware's $400 yearly LLC tax yourself. Its extras, such as 83(b) election filing and SAFE templates, suit C-corps raising money. See Stripe Atlas alternative.

doola Starter is $297 a year plus state fees, in any state, with the EIN, a registered agent and a US business address. Annual state reports and tax filings, including Form 5472, come with Tax and Compliance at $1,999 a year. See doola alternative.

Firstbase forms in Delaware or Wyoming. Start shows $99 (list $399), but its $299-a-year Agent plan, which files your annual report, is required, and you need a US address: your own, or Mailroom from $35 a month. See Firstbase alternative.

Register Quick LLC Starter is $349 a year plus state fees, in any state, with the EIN, registered agent, US business address and annual report filing. Pro, at $999 a year, adds Form 5472 and bank and Stripe application support. We form LLCs only. See our plans.

US-focused services: Bizee, ZenBusiness and LegalZoom

Bizee, ZenBusiness and LegalZoom focus on US-based owners. All three start at $0 plus state fees, but for a founder abroad the registered agent, the EIN route and the yearly filings change the real cost.

Bizee, formerly Incfile, sells one-time packages: Standard at $199 includes the EIN and an operating agreement, with the registered agent free for the first year and $149 a year after. Its EIN page asks owners without an SSN for an ITIN. See Bizee alternative.

ZenBusiness Pro is $199 a year with the EIN, an operating agreement template and annual report filing, but the registered agent is $199 a year on top ($99 the first year). Its help center offers help preparing Form SS-4 for non-residents. See ZenBusiness alternative.

LegalZoom Pro is $249 with the EIN and 30 days of attorney consultations, and the registered agent is $249 a year. Its founder pages for the UK, Australia, Brazil and the Philippines include an EIN without an SSN for a Delaware LLC. See LegalZoom alternative.

What each service costs over the first two years

This is what a founder outside the US pays over the first two years for a single-member LLC: formation, two years of plan or registered agent fees, and one yearly state payment. We use the lowest plan that includes the EIN and a registered agent, in Wyoming where the service offers it. Stripe Atlas forms only in Delaware, so its row includes Delaware's yearly LLC tax.

Totals run from $511 (Bizee) to $1,000 (Stripe Atlas). Compare what each total includes, not only the number: whether the annual report is filed for you, and whether the service can get your EIN without an SSN. Wyoming's yearly fee is $60, against $400 in Delaware, which is most of Atlas's second-year cost. See Wyoming vs Delaware.

• Firstbase: add $35 a month for Mailroom if you don't have your own US address.
• ZenBusiness: the first-year agent price is a special offer; at the regular price, add $100.
• LegalZoom: assumes you cancel the attorney plan within 30 days; after that it's $49 a month.
• Bizee: the first year of registered agent service was free on its pricing page when we checked; confirm the free period at checkout.

Who helps with Form 5472 and US taxes?

A US single-member LLC owned by a non-US person generally files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 for each year it has reportable transactions with its owner. Money you put in or take out counts, including formation costs, so it can apply in a year with no income. The IRS penalty for not filing is $25,000. Source: IRS instructions for Form 5472.

We're not a CPA firm and don't give tax advice, so confirm your filing requirements with a US CPA. Our Form 5472 guide and US taxes for non-resident LLC owners explain the rules.

Bank accounts and Stripe: what help to expect

Banks and payment processors make their own approval decisions, so treat a formation service's banking help as help with the application, not a guarantee. Stripe Atlas stands out for Stripe sellers: you can open a Stripe financial account and take Stripe payments right after incorporation, before your EIN arrives. doola integrates with Mercury, Firstbase and LegalZoom's founder pages work with banking partners, and our Pro plan includes bank and Stripe application support.

Before you apply, read opening a US bank account as a non-resident and Stripe for a US LLC.

Which LLC formation service should you choose?

• Raising venture capital with a Delaware C-corp: Stripe Atlas or Firstbase. Read LLC vs C-corp first.
• A bootstrapped LLC from India or elsewhere, with the annual report handled: our Starter plan, or Firstbase Start with its Agent plan in Wyoming or Delaware.
• An LLC in any state with the EIN and agent included, filing reports yourself: doola Starter.
• Form 5472 prepared every year: our Pro plan, doola Tax and Compliance, or Firstbase's tax package.
• You live in the US and have an SSN: Bizee, ZenBusiness or LegalZoom, depending on whether you want one-time pricing, yearly compliance filings or attorney access.
• An accountant or CA/CS firm forming companies for clients: our white-label partner plans, or Firstbase for Partners.

Still choosing a state? Read the best state for an LLC as a non-resident and see the Wyoming state guide.

Frequently asked questions