Comparing your options
Looking at LLC formation services? Compare them properly.
Most comparisons stop at the advertised price, which is the one number that tells you least. What matters is the total once the registered agent, the business tax number, the operating agreement and a year of compliance are in it, and whether any of it works when you do not live in the US.
5,000+ companies formed • founders in 150+ countries • 100% money-back guarantee
What $399 actually includes
One price, all state and government fees inside it, the same in every state.
Formation, one flat price
$399 one time, with all state and government fees included. The number you see is the number you pay, in every state.
Registered agent, first year free
A US address for legal mail, so your home address stays off the public record.
Business tax number
We file the application for you. No SSN and no US address needed.
US business banking
Account setup with partners who accept founders living outside the US. Approval stays with the provider.
Operating agreement
Drafted for your state and your ownership split, not a blank template.
Compliance that keeps running
Annual filings, BOI and federal tax, a la carte from $99/year or fully managed at $149/month.
Why founders move here
The price does not move at checkout
The common complaint about the big formation brands is not the headline price, it is what happens after it. A $0 plan that needs four paid add-ons before you have a working company is not a $0 plan. Ours is $399, and the state and government fees are inside it.
Built for founders outside the US
Most formation services are built for Americans first and treat everyone else as an edge case. That shows up exactly when it hurts: no SSN, no US address, no US phone, a bank that will not open an account remotely. We started from that case rather than bolting it on.
One company for the whole lifecycle
Forming the company is the easy part. Staying compliant, filing federal tax as a foreign-owned single-member LLC, keeping a registered agent and an address, and filing BOI is the part that quietly goes wrong. That all lives in one dashboard here.
People who answer
Human support with a 24 hour response, not a ticket queue that closes itself. Founders in 150+ countries have formed over 5,000 companies with us.
Side by side with the services people actually compare
Each of these sets out what the other service does well, where it costs more than it looks, and who it genuinely suits better than we do.
StartGlobal vs LegalZoom
The household name with hidden costs
StartGlobal vs ZenBusiness
Budget-friendly with hidden catches
StartGlobal vs Doola
Non-resident focused, but pricey
StartGlobal vs Firstbase
Premium pricing, problematic support
StartGlobal vs Stripe Atlas
VC-focused with complex tax implications
StartGlobal vs Northwest Registered Agent
Reputable but add-ons pile up
StartGlobal vs Bizee
Budget option with aggressive upselling
StartGlobal vs Swyft Filings
Low prices, deceptive billing practices
StartGlobal vs Tailor Brands
Branding company, not formation specialists
Loved by founders in 150+ countries
Real customers, on camera, talking about their U.S. business journey
Questions people ask before switching
What is the best alternative to StartGlobal?
It depends on where you live. If you are a US resident who only needs a filing and nothing else, a low cost filer may be enough. If you are outside the US and need a company, a business tax number, US banking and ongoing compliance to actually work together, that is the case StartGlobal was built for, and it is the case most alternatives handle worst. The honest comparisons against each of the main services are linked below.
How much does StartGlobal cost compared to other services?
Formation is $399 one time with all state and government fees included. After that, compliance is a la carte from $99/year, or $149/month fully managed. Competitors often advertise a lower or zero base price and charge separately for the registered agent, the tax number, the operating agreement and compliance, which is where the real total comes from.
Can I switch to StartGlobal if my LLC already exists?
Yes. If another service formed your company, we can take over as registered agent and run your ongoing compliance from there. You do not need to form anything again.
Do I need to be a US citizen or resident?
No. You do not need US citizenship, US residency, an SSN, a US address or a US visa. The whole process is online from wherever you are.
Which state should I form in?
If you operate from outside the US, Wyoming and Delaware are the usual choices, for different reasons: Wyoming for privacy and a light annual filing burden, Delaware where you expect to raise from US investors. If you live and work in a US state, forming in that state is normally the simpler answer.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes, a 100% money-back guarantee. If we cannot deliver what you paid for, you get your money back.
Form your US LLC today
$399 one time, all state and government fees included, from anywhere in the world. No SSN and no US address required.