doola Review 2026: US LLC Incorporation & Bundled IRS Tax Compliance for Non-US Founders
What is doola?
doola (doola.com) is a Y Combinator-backed "Business-in-a-Box" platform that helps international and US entrepreneurs form a Wyoming or Delaware LLC (or C-Corporation), obtain an IRS EIN without a US Social Security Number, maintain a Registered Agent, and handle annual IRS tax compliance (Form 5472, Form 1120, Form 1065) and bookkeeping in a single subscription. Starter plans begin at $297/year (plus state filing fees), while the flagship Total Compliance package costs $1,999/year (or $300/month).
Why do international founders choose doola over basic formation agents?
Incorporating a Wyoming LLC takes 48 hours and costs $100 in state fees. Incorporation is not the hard part for non-US founders—annual IRS compliance is.
Under US tax law, a single-member US LLC owned by a non-US resident with no physical US office or employees is generally treated as a "foreign-owned US disregarded entity." Even if the LLC owes $0 in US federal income tax, the foreign owner is legally required to file IRS Form 5472 attached to a pro-forma Form 1120 every single year, plus FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting. Missing Form 5472 triggers an automatic $25,000 IRS penalty.
doola built its reputation around bundling formation with dedicated CPA tax filings on its Total Compliance tier so foreign founders don't get blindsided at tax time.
doola Pricing Tiers (2026)
| Plan | Price | Included Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $297 / year (+ state fees) | US LLC or C-Corp formation, Operating Agreement, EIN, 1 year Registered Agent, virtual mail address | Founders who already have their own US CPA for annual tax filings |
| Total Compliance | $1,999 / year (or $300/mo) | Everything in Starter + Annual IRS tax filing (Form 5472/1120/1065), bookkeeping software, CPA consultation, expedited EIN | Non-US founders wanting hands-off annual IRS Form 5472/1120 filings |
doola vs Firstbase: Which US formation service is better?
- Choose Firstbase ($399 one-time + $149/yr Agent) if you want lower recurring fixed costs during your first 6–12 months while validating your SaaS or agency, and prefer to pay for tax filings only at year-end.
- Choose doola Total Compliance ($1,999/yr) if your business is already generating revenue and you want formation, registered agent, bookkeeping, and your annual IRS CPA filing covered under one annual invoice.
Once your LLC or C-Corp is formed through either platform, pair it with Mercury ($0/mo USD business banking) and Revolut Business or Wise Business for European EUR/GBP payouts.
FAQ
Does doola open a US bank account for me?
doola prepares all required formation documents, Operating Agreement, and IRS EIN confirmation letter, and guides you through applying to partner platforms like Mercury. Final account approval is always decided by the banking platform's KYB team.
Do I still pay taxes in Germany or Europe if I use doola?
Yes. A US Disregarded LLC passes its income through to the owner. If you live in Germany or the EU, you must report and pay taxes in your country of tax residence; always consult a local Steuerberater before forming a foreign entity.
Miguel Santos leads software evaluations and founder operations research at Quota Engine. With 8+ years of hands-on experience auditing B2B sales stacks, CRM architectures, European business banking, and cross-border company setups across DACH and US markets, he tests tools against real operator workflows and verified vendor pricing.