Forming a US LLC as a non-resident requires filing Articles of Organization with a state, appointing a registered agent in that state, and obtaining an EIN from the IRS. Several services offer to handle this for you. This page compares the main ones used by non-resident founders, based on data from their own websites checked in August 2026.
What these services actually do
Formation services file your paperwork. They do not give you legal advice, they do not guarantee approval (there is nothing to approve — LLC formation is a ministerial filing), and they are not law firms unless they explicitly say so. The registered agent they provide is a person or company in your chosen state who receives official mail on your behalf.
The meaningful differences between providers are: price, what is included in the base price versus charged separately, whether they offer ITIN assistance, and whether they have a track record with non-resident founders specifically.
Provider comparison
| Provider | Formation price | State fee included | Registered agent (yr 1) | ITIN service | EIN service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| doola | $297 (Starter) | No | $0 yr 1, $297/yr after | Bundled in higher plans | Bundled |
| Firstbase | $399 (Start) | Yes (most states) | Included | Separate | Included |
| Clemta | $240 (Basic, billed annually) | Not confirmed | Included | Separate ($275) | Included |
| StartGlobal | $399 (Formation) | Not confirmed | $99/yr separate | No ITIN service | Included |
| Globalfy | Bundled in plans | Not confirmed | Included in plans | $275 | Included |
All prices as published on provider websites, August 2026. State filing fees vary by state and change periodically — verify before purchasing.
Provider notes
doola
doola's Starter plan is $297 and does not include the state filing fee. The Total Compliance plan ($2,000/yr) includes formation, registered agent, EIN, operating agreement, and annual compliance. ITIN assistance is available in higher-tier plans via a CAA partner.
doola is one of the few formation services that explicitly targets non-resident founders and publishes country-specific guidance. It does not claim to be a law firm.
Country restrictions: doola states it cannot serve residents of certain sanctioned jurisdictions. The specific list is not published on the main site.
Firstbase
Firstbase charges $399 for its Start plan, which includes the state filing fee for most states. The registered agent service is included in year one. The help article detailing exactly what is included in the Start fee returned a 403 during our August 2026 check — verify the current inclusions directly before purchasing.
Firstbase's Agent Autopilot add-on ($299/yr) covers compliance reminders and annual report filings. Tax filing is a separate product.
Firstbase does not claim to be a law firm. It is a formation and compliance platform.
Clemta
Clemta's Basic plan is $240 billed annually. The pricing page is JavaScript-rendered and the full plan breakdown could not be confirmed from raw HTML in August 2026 — verify current pricing directly.
Clemta offers ITIN assistance as a separate service and claims Certified Acceptance Agent status in its page schema. See the ITIN providers comparison for the full CAA verification note on Clemta.
Clemta operates under Turkish jurisdiction (Clemta Yazılım ve Danışmanlık A.Ş.) and is registered in Turkey. Its US operations are conducted through US-registered entities.
StartGlobal
StartGlobal charges $399 for formation. Registered agent is a separate $99/yr. StartGlobal does not offer an ITIN service — no ITIN product page or price exists on the site as of August 2026. If you need an ITIN alongside formation, you will need to arrange it separately.
StartGlobal's pricing page lists: Formation $399, Registered Agent $99/yr, State Annual Report $299/yr, Managed LLC $149/mo.
Globalfy
Globalfy bundles formation into its subscription plans. The ITIN service is $275 per application and is handled via unnamed "trusted partner professionals." Globalfy does not claim CAA status and does not appear on the IRS Acceptance Agent list — consistent with its "partner" framing.
Globalfy's service is ordered inside its app (account required). The platform is aimed at non-resident founders and includes banking introductions as part of higher-tier plans.
What to check before choosing
State filing fee. Some providers include it, some do not. Wyoming ($100) and Delaware ($90 + franchise tax) are the two most common states for non-resident founders. The state fee is the same regardless of which service you use — it goes to the state, not the provider.
Registered agent renewal. Year-one pricing is often discounted. Check what the renewal costs before committing.
ITIN. If you need an ITIN, check whether the provider offers it and whether their CAA status is verifiable on the IRS list. See the ITIN providers comparison.
What "included" means. Operating agreement, EIN, annual report filing, and compliance reminders are often sold separately. Read the plan comparison carefully.
The state question
Most non-resident founders form in Wyoming or Delaware. Wyoming has no state income tax, low annual fees ($60/yr), and strong privacy protections. Delaware has the most developed case law for corporate governance and is preferred if you plan to raise venture capital. For a single-member LLC with no US employees and no plans to raise, Wyoming is usually the better choice on cost.
See our best state for non-resident LLC guide for the full comparison.
All provider data sourced from provider websites, August 2026. Prices and inclusions change; verify directly before purchasing.
Independence note: Keystone Bridge Global has no affiliate relationship with any formation service mentioned here. All data is sourced from provider websites, verified August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does the state filing fee come out of the formation service price?+
It depends on the provider. Some include the state fee in their quoted price; others charge it separately. Wyoming is $100 and Delaware is $90 plus franchise tax. Always check whether the state fee is included before comparing prices.
Which formation service is best for non-resident founders?+
There is no single answer. It depends on whether you need ITIN assistance, how quickly you need to form, and whether you plan to raise capital. Doola and Firstbase are the most commonly used by non-resident founders.
Question not answered here? Email daniel@keystonebridgeglobal.com. We add answers to this page as they come in.
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