The Best LLC Formation Services for Non-US Residents in 2026

Why non-US residents need a different shortlist

Forming a US LLC without a Social Security number is legal and common, but it breaks almost every assumption the big-name formation sites are built around. You cannot use the IRS's instant online EIN tool, since that path is reserved for applicants who already have an SSN or ITIN. You generally cannot show up to a US bank branch in person. And several services that market heavily to American freelancers quietly route non-resident EIN requests into a slower phone, fax, or mail process with the IRS, sometimes without saying so up front.

We built this list around four things that actually matter if you are forming from outside the US: whether the provider has a real, named process for getting you an EIN without an SSN, whether a registered agent is bundled or billed separately, whether there is any help (or an honest "there isn't") with opening a US bank account, and what the full first-year cost looks like once you add the pieces together, not just the teaser price on the homepage.

doola

Doola is built specifically around international founders, and it is the most explicit of the four about serving customers with no SSN. The $297-per-year Starter plan bundles LLC formation filings, an EIN, an operating agreement, a registered agent, and a virtual business address, which means the quoted price is close to your real first-year cost before state filing fees. Doola also partners with Mercury for a US business bank account, though you will need a passport or government ID for any owner with 25 percent or more of the company, and it's worth remembering Mercury is a fintech partner rather than a bank itself.

The tradeoff is that doola's cheapest tier does not include tax filing, and the jump to a plan that does is steep: Tax and Compliance runs $1,999 a year, and the full Business-in-a-Box bookkeeping and tax bundle is $2,999 a year (or $329 a month). If you only need the entity formed and an EIN, Starter is reasonable. If you also want someone to file your foreign-owned LLC's federal return (Form 5472 and a pro forma 1120), budget for the jump.

Firstbase

Firstbase currently markets Start, its Delaware or Wyoming formation package, at $99 (discounted from a $399 list price), covering formation and "expedited" EIN setup with no separate filing fees for the required formation documents. That headline number is misleading on its own, though, because Firstbase requires its own registered agent service for the incorporation to go through, and that is billed separately at $299 per state per year. Add a mailroom plan, since you will need somewhere for US mail and IRS correspondence to land, and the Basic tier is $35 a month ($315 a year).

Where Firstbase stands out is the tax side for exactly this audience: its federal filing package for a foreign-owned single-member LLC is a flat $899 a year and explicitly covers Form 5472, the pro forma Form 1120 the IRS requires alongside it, unlimited 1099 filings, and an extension if you need one. That is one of the few line-item prices in this category that directly names the paperwork non-resident owners are legally required to file every year, which is a real trust signal. Realistic first-year cost once you add registered agent and mailroom lands closer to $650 to $750 before any tax filing package, not the $99 headline.

Stripe Atlas

Stripe Atlas now lets you form either a Delaware C-Corp or a Delaware LLC for the same flat $500, which includes government filing fees and your first year of registered agent service; renewal after that is $100 a year. Atlas also bundles a Stripe Treasury business bank account (checking services are provided by Fifth Third Bank, N.A., with Stripe acting as a technology partner rather than the bank), and it refunds your setup fee if you deposit $5,000 into that account within 90 days, which meaningfully softens the entry cost for a funded startup.

Atlas is the right tool for a narrower slice of non-resident founders than the other three: it is the standard pick if you expect to raise money from US investors, since the C-Corp structure is what most US venture funds want to see, and it bundles fundraising paperwork (SAFE templates, board consents, an 83(b) election filing) that the others don't touch. It is a weaker fit if you just want a simple LLC for consulting or e-commerce income, since Atlas's EIN timeline for an applicant with no SSN still follows the same IRS phone/fax/mail route as everyone else, and Stripe's own eligibility rules vary by country and can change, so confirm your country is supported before you pay.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest is the cheapest entry point on this list at $39 plus your state's filing fee, and that price includes a free first year of registered agent service (renewing at $125 a year after that), plus extras like mail scanning and a free business address for official filings. Northwest's own help pages confirm it will assist non-citizens with the EIN application when you have no SSN or ITIN, which matters because several review sites quote a specific add-on fee for that service that we could not verify directly on Northwest's current site. Treat any EIN add-on price you see elsewhere as unconfirmed and get a written quote before you order.

Northwest is a strong fit if you already understand the non-resident EIN process (or are willing to work through it via the IRS's international phone line) and mainly want a reliable, inexpensive registered agent and filer. It is a weaker fit if you want a single company to hold your hand through EIN, banking, and tax filing as one bundle, since Northwest's site does not describe any bank-account assistance; you'll be applying to a bank like Mercury, Relay, or Wise on your own with the documents Northwest helps you generate.

Comparison table

Service	Starting price	Non-resident EIN help (no SSN)	Registered agent included?	Bank account help
doola	$297/yr (Starter)	Yes, included in all plans	Yes, included	Mercury partnership
Firstbase	$99 one-time formation + $299/yr agent	Yes, "expedited" EIN setup included	No, sold separately ($299/yr)	Introduction to banking partners
Stripe Atlas	$500 one-time (LLC or C-Corp)	Standard IRS process for non-residents	Yes, first year included	Stripe Treasury via Fifth Third Bank
Northwest Registered Agent	$39 + state fee	Yes, confirmed on their site, price not independently verified	Yes, free first year	None described; you apply directly

How to choose, and the red flags to watch for

Ask any provider you're considering three questions before you pay: exactly how will you get my EIN if I have no SSN or ITIN, will someone actually file my annual federal return (Form 5472 for a foreign-owned single-member LLC), and is your registered agent fee included in the price I'm looking at or added later. A real non-resident specialist should answer all three without hesitating.

Watch for three common traps. First, a headline formation price that excludes the registered agent, which every state legally requires and which can add $100 to $300 a year the moment your free first year ends. Second, vague language about "helping with your EIN" that doesn't actually name the IRS process (phone, fax, or mail for applicants with no SSN), since that's often a sign the provider is going to forward you to generic instructions rather than handle it. Third, no mention anywhere of Form 5472, which non-resident-owned single-member LLCs must file annually with a $25,000 penalty for late or missing filings; a provider that never brings this up either assumes you already have an accountant or hasn't thought about your situation at all.

The verdict

If you want the most complete, non-resident-specific package with the fewest surprises, doola's $297 Starter plan gives you formation, EIN, and a registered agent in one price, and you can add tax filing later if you need it. If you're already planning to raise money from US investors, Stripe Atlas's $500 flat fee and C-Corp structure are worth the premium. If you want the cheapest possible entity and are comfortable handling your own EIN application and tax filing (or hiring an accountant separately), Northwest's $39 formation fee is hard to beat. Firstbase earns a look specifically for its $899 flat-fee Form 5472 filing package, which is the most concrete non-resident tax offer on this list, but add up the registered agent and mailroom costs before you compare its headline price to the others.

This article is general information for comparing services, not personalized legal or tax advice; confirm current pricing and your own filing obligations with each provider and, for anything tax-related, a qualified accountant before you commit.