Our picks · 2027
Best LLC service for non-US residents
You don't need US residency or an SSN to form a US LLC, but you do need a registered agent, a US address and an EIN obtained without an SSN. Doola bundles all three; Northwest is cheaper if you can open a bank account yourself.
AWBy Austin Witherow · Updated Nov 12, 2026 · 6 min read · How we review
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Quick answer
- Best overall: Doola, non-us founders (from $297/yr)
- #2: Northwest Registered Agent, lowest real first-year cost (from $39)
- #3: LegalZoom, attorney or advisor support (from $0)
Compared
#1DoDoola
Non-US founders6.2/10FairDoola forms US LLCs for founders who live outside the US. Every plan is a yearly subscription starting at $297, and it includes the EIN, operating agreement, registered agent and a US address. US residents can get the same filing for less elsewhere.
$297/yr + state fee, renews yearly
Pros
- Built for non-US founders: no SSN or US residency needed
- Starter includes EIN, operating agreement, registered agent and a US business address
- Separate ITIN service ($499) and bank account applications through Mercury
Cons
- Every plan renews yearly; Starter is $297 every year, not once
- Payments are nonrefundable; the money-back guarantee pays credit or a gift card, only for Doola's own errors
- EIN for non-US founders takes 3 to 6 weeks
Northwest Registered Agent
Lowest real first-year cost9.0/10ExcellentNorthwest charges $39 plus the state fee and includes a year of registered agent service, an operating agreement and a business address to keep your home address off public filings. After year one the agent is $125 a year. It has one package, so there are no tiers to compare.
$39 + state fee
Pros
- $39 includes a year of registered agent, an operating agreement and a business address
- Registered agent renews at a flat $125/yr
- Cancel any service in the portal with no fee
Cons
- EIN is a $50 add-on ($200 without an SSN)
- Annual report filing is auto-enrolled at $100 + state fee unless you opt out
- Lower Trustpilot score (4.1, 318 reviews) than the big brands
LegalZoom
Attorney or advisor support5.3/10FairLegalZoom's $0 Basic package files your articles and nothing else. The EIN and operating agreement need the $249 tier (shown as Pro or as Managed Service), and its registered agent costs $249 a year with no free year. You pay more than at most rivals, and in return you get 30 days of attorney or advisor support and a large document library.
$0 + state fee
Pros
- $249 tier adds 30 days of attorney or advisor support
- 150+ legal documents and unlimited eSignatures in the $249 tier
- Free fix if LegalZoom makes a filing error (100% Accurate Filing Guarantee)
- Accepts non-US founders, with no SSN or US residency required
Cons
- Registered agent is $249/yr with no free first year
- Basic leaves out the EIN and operating agreement
- $249 tier support auto-renews at $49/mo after 30 days
MyCompanyWorks
Longest refund window7.7/10GoodMyCompanyWorks has filed LLCs since 2001. Every package includes an operating agreement, and it has the longest refund window here at 90 days. Its $79 Basic order form pre-checks an EIN, a registered agent and a $99 license package, so untick what you don't need.
$79 + state fee
Pros
- Operating agreement, minutes and banking resolution in every package
- 90-day refund or fix guarantee (minus government fees)
- Registered agent at $119/yr, among the cheaper renewals
Cons
- Basic checkout pre-checks EIN ($69), agent ($119/yr) and a $99 license package
- Agent forwards 3 lawsuit notices a year free, then $18 each
- Few independent reviews: 2.5/5 from only 5 on Trustpilot
How we picked
If you live outside the US, three costs decide the bill: the registered agent, a US address, and an EIN obtained without an SSN. Opening a US bank account is the fourth hurdle, so we also checked who helps with it. All prices here exclude the state filing fee.
| Service |
EIN without an SSN |
Year one with agent and EIN |
Year two |
Bank account help |
| Doola |
Included |
$297 |
$297 |
Applications through Mercury |
| Northwest |
$200 |
$239 |
$125 |
None listed |
| LegalZoom |
EIN in $249 tier |
$498 |
$249 |
Bank setup through partners (Pro version) |
| MyCompanyWorks |
+$50 |
$249 |
$119 |
Online US bank setup |
Doola
Doola is built for founders outside the US. Starter is $297 a year and includes the EIN, an operating agreement, a registered agent and a US business address (Doola pricing). It runs bank account applications through Mercury and sells an ITIN service for $499 (Doola ITIN). The EIN and bank account take 3 to 6 weeks.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest forms in any state for $39 for non-US founders (Northwest international), with a year of agent, an operating agreement and a business address included. Its EIN costs $200 without an SSN (Northwest EIN). That is $239 in year one and $125 a year after, the cheapest path if you can open a bank account yourself.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom requires no SSN or US residency (LegalZoom international). LegalZoom's $249 tier (shown as Pro or as Managed Service; its pricing page currently carries both versions) adds the EIN and operating agreement, plus 30 days of support that renews at $49 a month. In the Pro version that support is attorney consults; in the Managed Service version it is a business advisor, and attorney access moves to the $299 Expert Service, which renews at $99 a month (LegalZoom LLC pricing). The Pro version also lists US bank setup through partners. Its agent costs $249 a year with no free year, so this is the most expensive pick in year one.
MyCompanyWorks
MyCompanyWorks charges $50 extra for an EIN without an SSN or ITIN on top of the $199 Entrepreneur package (MyCompanyWorks order form). It offers online US bank setup but says it cannot help you get an ITIN (MyCompanyWorks international). The agent renews at $119.
What to watch for
Doola's $297 is a yearly bill, not a one-time fee. All its plans auto-renew at current rates (Doola terms). Payments are nonrefundable, and the money-back guarantee covers only Doola's own errors, must be claimed within 14 days, tops out at $297 and pays in credit or a gift card (Doola guarantee).
Doola's annual report filing sits in the $1,999-a-year Tax and Compliance plan. With Northwest, annual report filing is auto-enrolled at $100 plus the state fee unless you opt out (Northwest annual report).
Northwest lists no bank account help, so if you need one opened for you, Doola, LegalZoom and MyCompanyWorks each offer a route.