You need three things: the state filing done correctly, a registered agent, and an EIN. Everything else is upsell. Here's how the major services stack up for founders outside the US.
| Service | Formation price | Registered agent | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 + state fees | First year included, then ~$125/yr | Most non-residents: strong privacy stance, real human support, no aggressive upsells | EIN is a paid add-on (~$50) - you can do it free yourself |
| Bizee (formerly Incfile) | $0 + state fees | Free first year, then ~$119/yr | Budget-focused founders; 20+ years and 200,000+ entities formed | The free tier funnels toward paid add-ons; read each checkout step |
| BusinessAnywhere | Bundled plans | Included in plans | Digital nomads: formation, registered agent and virtual mailbox managed in one online dashboard | Smaller brand than the incumbents; compare bundle vs buying pieces separately |
| Zenind | Tiered packages | Per package | Founders worldwide; formation, compliance and registered agent aimed at international customers | Newer platform with a shorter track record |
| ZenBusiness | $0 + state fees (Starter) | Add-on, ~$199/yr | US-based founders wanting an all-in-one dashboard | "$0" converts to recurring add-ons quickly; less tailored to non-residents |
| doola | Bundles from ~$297/yr | Included in bundles | Non-residents who want formation + EIN + tax filings handled as one package | Most expensive route; you pay for convenience you may not need |
Northwest Registered Agent → Bizee → BusinessAnywhere → Zenind →
Every state lets you file the formation documents yourself online for just the state fee. What you genuinely cannot skip as a non-resident is the registered agent - you need a physical address in the state. If you're comfortable with forms, a perfectly rational setup is: file yourself, hire only the agent (~$100-125/yr), and get your EIN free from the IRS. Our guides walk through exactly that.