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If you're a non-resident forming a US company, the service you choose mostly determines one thing: how much of the EIN-and-banking friction it removes for you. Short answer: doola is the most hands-off all-in-one, Firstbase is best if you want an ongoing back office, Globalfy is the easiest for founders from Brazil and Latin America, and Stripe Atlas is best only if you're a startup headed for US venture funding.
How I picked
For a non-resident, the state filing is the easy part — every service does it. What separates them is whether they get you an EIN without an SSN, introduce you to banking that accepts non-residents, and handle the annual Form 5472 compliance. That's where the real friction (and the real value) lives.
doola — best all-in-one for non-residents
doola is built specifically for non-US founders. It forms the LLC, gets the EIN (no SSN needed), sets up a banking introduction, and offers ongoing bookkeeping and compliance. If you want to hand off the whole thing and just get an operating company, this is the pick.
Firstbase — best for an ongoing back office
Firstbase covers formation and then leans into being your company's back office — agent, mail, tax, and compliance tooling over time. Good if you want a platform you grow with, not just a one-time filing.
Globalfy — easiest for Brazil / LATAM founders
Globalfy specializes in international founders and accepts a W-8BEN, which smooths the process for founders from Brazil and Latin America specifically. It bundles formation, banking, and a US address. If you're in that region, it's the lowest-friction door.
Stripe Atlas — best only for VC-track startups
Stripe Atlas forms a Delaware C-corp and is excellent if you're building a startup headed for US investors. For a solo founder who wants an LLC to run a lean business, it's the wrong shape — you'd be set up for equity you're not issuing.
Side by side
| Service | Best for | EIN without SSN | Ongoing compliance |
|---|---|---|---|
| doola | Hands-off all-in-one | Yes | Yes |
| Firstbase | Ongoing back office | Yes | Yes |
| Globalfy | Brazil / LATAM founders | Yes | Yes |
| Stripe Atlas | VC-track C-corp | Yes | Limited |
When the cheaper DIY route is enough
If you're comfortable filing Form SS-4 for the EIN yourself and arranging your own banking, a US-based budget filer like Bizee or ZenBusiness will form the LLC for less — you just take on the EIN and banking legwork. That's a real, legitimate way to save money if you have the time. The specialist services charge more because they remove exactly that legwork.
The bottom line
Most non-residents should start with doola for the hands-off path, or Globalfy if you're in Brazil or Latin America. Then follow the full sequence in the non-resident LLC playbook.