Independent · Source-checked · Updated Oct 28, 2026
Form a US LLC from anywhere — with numbers you can trust.
Guides, reviews and three-year cost comparisons for founders outside the United States. Every fee is checked against the IRS, the state or the provider’s own pricing, and dated — so you know what you will pay after year one, not just on day one.
The path
Five steps from idea to a working US company
Formation takes days. The steps after it — EIN, banking, Form 5472 — are where non-residents lose weeks or money. Each guide covers one.
- 01 Choose a state Wyoming suits most non-residents. Delaware is for venture capital.
- 02 Form the LLC File the articles with a registered agent — directly or through a service.
- 03 Get an EIN Free from the IRS, without an SSN, by phone or fax.
- 04 Open a bank account Online banks accept non-residents — if the application makes sense.
- 05 Stay compliant Annual state report and Form 5472, every year.
Our picks
The best LLC services for non-residents
Ranked on what non-residents need: EIN without an SSN, a usable address, banking help, Form 5472 and the three-year cost.
doola
Subscription bundle built specifically for founders outside the US.
$297/yr · Starter plan, billed annually, plus state fees.
Northwest Registered Agent
Low-cost, privacy-first formation from a long-established registered agent.
$39 + state fee · Formation service fee; first year of registered agent included.
Firstbase
Startup-style formation in Delaware or Wyoming with à-la-carte add-ons.
$399 one-time · List price for "Start" (formation + expedited EIN), plus state fees. A $99 promotional price was shown in October 2026.
Cost, honestly
What a Wyoming LLC really costs over three years
Headline prices hide renewals. This is formation, state fees, registered agent, subscriptions and EIN — for an owner with no SSN.
| Provider | Year 1 | 3 years | 3 years incl. Form 5472 |
|---|---|---|---|
| doola | $397 | $1,111 | $6,217 |
| Firstbase | $798 | $1,516 | $3,314 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $339 | $709 | $1,709 |
| Stripe Atlas (Delaware only) | $500 | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| Bizee | $100 | $518 | $1,518 |
| DIY (file it yourself) | $200 | $520 | $1,520 |
Wyoming LLC, owner with no SSN, provider handles the EIN where it offers to. “Incl. Form 5472” uses the provider’s own filing service where one exists, otherwise an independent preparer estimate of $500/yr. Model your own case in the cost calculator.
Reviews
Provider reviews
- dooladoola is built around the problems non-residents actually have. The question is not whether it works — it does — but whether you need a subscription to solve them.
- FirstbaseFirstbase sells formation as a one-time fee and everything else à la carte. That makes year one look cheap and year two the number to check before you buy.
- Stripe AtlasStripe Atlas is the cleanest way to create a Delaware C-corporation that investors will recognise. For a non-resident who simply needs an LLC to sell online, it is often the most expensive option to keep running.
- NorthwestNorthwest is cheap, private and refreshingly free of upsells. It is also built for people who know what they are doing — non-residents included, as long as they handle the IRS side themselves.
- BizeeBizee really will form your LLC for $0 plus the state fee. Whether it stays cheap depends on what you add at checkout and whether you notice the registered agent renewal.
Comparisons
Head to head
- doola vs Firstbasedoola vs Firstbase for non-US founders — subscription vs one-time pricing, agent and address costs, Form 5472 filing, states, and a clear verdict.
- doola vs Stripe Atlasdoola vs Stripe Atlas for founders outside the US — any-state LLC subscription vs $500 Delaware package, ongoing costs, taxes, banking, and who should pick which.
- Firstbase vs AtlasFirstbase vs Stripe Atlas for non-US startup founders — Delaware or Wyoming, formation and agent costs, tax filing and a verdict by scenario.
- Stripe Atlas alternativesNot building a venture-backed C-corp? These cost less to run.
Primary sources, dated
Fees come from the IRS, state filing offices and providers’ own pricing pages. Every figure carries the date we last checked it.
Total cost, not headline price
We model three years of formation, renewals and compliance, because that is what you will actually pay.
Independent of providers
We earn commissions from some providers, never for placement. Stripe Atlas pays us nothing and is ranked on merit.