Both services help non-residents form a US LLC with no SSN. The real difference is the pricing model — a one-time fee versus an annual subscription — and what each bundles in. Here is the honest, like-for-like breakdown.
OpenEntity charges a one-time $499 that bundles state filing, an expedited EIN, a year of registered agent, a US business address, an operating agreement, and a banking introduction. Doola uses a recurring subscription from $297/year (state filing fee billed separately) and, on its higher tiers, folds in ongoing tax and compliance work such as Form 5472. Choose OpenEntity if you want a single up-front price, a faster EIN, and a banking introduction. Choose Doola if you would rather pay annually and have your ongoing tax and compliance bundled into the same subscription.
OpenEntity is our own service, so treat our recommendation as informed but not neutral — we have tried to describe Doola accurately and to credit its genuine strengths. All Doola figures below are accurate to the best of our knowledge as of June 2026; pricing and tier contents change, so please verify current pricing on doola.com before deciding. Nothing here is legal or tax advice.
| Feature | OpenEntity | Doola |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | $499 one-time, all-inclusive | From $297/year — recurring subscription |
| What's included (base) | Filing, EIN, registered agent (1 yr), US address, operating agreement, banking intro, compliance calendar, lifetime support | Filing service, EIN, registered agent (~1 yr), US address, operating agreement, banking guidance |
| EIN speed | Expedited: 3–5 business days (typical) | Standard speed on base tier; faster EIN on higher tiers. Their blog cites 8–11 weeks for no-SSN cases |
| Registered agent | 1 year included; ~$149/yr after | ~1 year, renews with the annual subscription |
| State filing fee | Included in the $499 | Extra — passed through at cost on top of the subscription |
| Banking | Active introduction (Mercury / Relay / Wise); 95%+ approval, subject to provider criteria | Introduction & guidance (Mercury, Relay named) |
| Compliance / tax (Form 5472) | Compliance calendar + reminders included; filing handled via support | On the Tax & Compliance tier ($1,999/yr) — genuinely thorough at that level |
| Non-resident / no SSN | Core focus — no SSN required | Strong no-SSN focus; serves 175+ countries |
| Support | Lifetime support + money-back guarantee | Support included with active subscription |
Doola data as of June 2026 — verify current pricing and tier contents on doola.com.
Almost everything else flows from one question: do you want to pay once, or every year? OpenEntity is structured as a single $499 payment that covers formation and your first year of agent and address. Doola is structured as a subscription — from $297/year — where the same recurring fee keeps your registered agent and address active and, on higher tiers, pays for ongoing tax and compliance work. Neither model is wrong; they suit different founders.
Your $499 is a one-time charge. From Year 2 onward you pay only the unavoidable upkeep — roughly $209/year (Wyoming state fee around $60 plus the registered agent around $149). There is no platform subscription layered on top. The appeal is predictability: a known up-front number and a low, mostly pass-through annual cost thereafter.
Doola's $297/year keeps your entity serviced and your agent and address renewed. The state filing fee is billed separately as a pass-through. If you move up to the Tax & Compliance tier at $1,999/year, the subscription also covers bookkeeping and the foreign-owned-LLC filings (including Form 5472) that many non-residents need. For founders who value having tax and compliance handled inside one annual relationship, that bundling is a real advantage — the trade-off is that the headline price recurs and the tier jump is steep.
| OpenEntity | Doola (base $297/yr) | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $499 (all-inclusive) | $297 + state fee |
| Year 2 | ~$209 (state fee + agent) | $297 + state fee |
| Year 3 | ~$209 (state fee + agent) | $297 + state fee |
| 3-year total (approx, ex-state fee) | ~$917 | ~$891 |
Illustrative only and excludes the state filing fee (which both pass through) and any third-party tax-preparer fees. Figures as of June 2026 — verify on each provider's site.
Over three years on Doola's base tier the totals land close together — this was never really about saving money on the base plan. The divergence shows up at the extremes: OpenEntity is cheapest if you want one up-front price and minimal ongoing spend, while Doola can be better value if you genuinely need its $1,999 Tax & Compliance tier, because you would otherwise pay a separate accountant for the same Form 5472 work.
For a non-resident, the EIN and the bank account are the two steps that actually unblock your business — without them you cannot invoice, accept Stripe, or open an account. This is where the two services feel most different in practice.
OpenEntity targets an expedited EIN in 3–5 business days in typical cases, obtained from the IRS without an SSN. Once the EIN is issued, you get an active introduction to non-resident-friendly banking — Mercury, Relay, or Wise — with a 95%+ approval rate, subject to each provider's own criteria (we cannot guarantee any bank's decision). The goal is to get you from signup to a working account with as little waiting as possible.
Doola's core strength is real: it handles the EIN directly with the IRS for founders with no SSN, across 175+ countries, and its compliance tiers are built for exactly the foreign-owned-LLC obligations non-residents face. On the base tier the EIN runs at standard speed — Doola's own blog cites 8–11 weeks for no-SSN cases — with faster processing available on higher tiers. For banking, Doola provides an introduction and guidance (Mercury and Relay are named) rather than a guaranteed account, which is the honest reality for every formation service. Some reviews mention EIN delays and upselling, so set expectations on timeline if you start on the base plan.
There is no universal winner. Match the service to how you want to pay and how much ongoing tax help you need.
Bottom line: OpenEntity is the stronger pick if you want one transparent price, a fast EIN, and a banking introduction. Doola earns its place if you value a subscription that grows with you and bundles serious ongoing tax and compliance. Both are legitimate, no-SSN, non-resident-friendly options.
Doola is a recurring subscription, starting at $297/year, and the state filing fee is billed separately as a pass-through. OpenEntity, by contrast, is a one-time $499 that includes the state filing fee. (Doola pricing as of June 2026 — verify on doola.com.)
OpenEntity targets an expedited EIN in 3–5 business days in typical cases. Doola obtains the EIN without an SSN too, but at standard speed on its base tier — its own blog cites 8–11 weeks for no-SSN cases — with faster processing on higher tiers. If timeline matters, OpenEntity is generally quicker.
Both offer a banking introduction rather than a guaranteed account, which is the honest reality for any formation service. OpenEntity provides an active introduction to Mercury, Relay, or Wise with a 95%+ approval rate subject to provider criteria. Doola provides an introduction and guidance (Mercury and Relay are named). No service can guarantee a bank's decision.
Yes — credit where it's due. Doola's Tax & Compliance tier ($1,999/year) is built for the obligations foreign-owned LLCs face, including Form 5472, and bundles bookkeeping into one annual relationship. If you need that hands-off, it can be good value versus a separate accountant. OpenEntity includes a compliance calendar and handles filings via support without a high-tier subscription. (Tier as of June 2026 — verify on doola.com.)
One transparent price, an expedited EIN, and a banking introduction — built for non-resident founders with no SSN. Backed by a money-back guarantee.
Start My US LLC — $499