Spoiler: there's no universal "best" — but for 90% of non-resident founders, LLCora wins on total 3-year cost. Here's the breakdown.
3-year total cost comparison
| Provider | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Total 3y |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLCora Pro (Wyoming) | $299 | $159 | $159 | $617 |
| Doola Total Compliance | $297 + $1,999 | $1,999 | $1,999 | $6,294 |
| Firstbase + Tax Filing | $399 + $899 | $899 + $99 | $899 + $99 | $3,294 |
| Stripe Atlas + external CPA | $500 | $300 (DE) + $1,200 | $300 + $1,200 | $3,500 |
LLCora = state filing + EIN + RA year 1, then $99/yr RA + $60/yr WY = $159/year. Form 5472 filing optional add-on.
What each provider does best
- Stripe Atlas: best brand recognition, instant Mercury integration (when not rejecting non-residents)
- Doola: best for "hands-off" customers who want bookkeeping bundled
- Firstbase: best UX, most polished dashboard
- LLCora: best price, best multi-language support, best for cost-conscious founders
Where each falls short
- Stripe Atlas: Delaware-only ($300/yr franchise tax), Mercury rejecting non-residents in 2025-2026
- Doola: aggressive upsells, "Total Compliance" plan locks you in
- Firstbase: Wyoming-only, no New Mexico cheap option, English-only support
- LLCora: smaller team, no in-app dashboard yet (everything via email)
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Who should pick which
- Sub-$500 budget, want it done fast: LLCora Basic ($149) or Pro ($299)
- Bookkeeping + tax filing all-in-one, $$$ no problem: Doola Total Compliance
- Pretty dashboard matters, you're an established business: Firstbase
- Planning to raise from US VCs in 12 months: Stripe Atlas (Delaware)
- You want multilingual support (ES/PT/etc.): LLCora
Honest disclosure
Yes, this article is published on LLCora's blog. We tried to be fair. If you find inaccuracies, email us at hello@llcora.com — we'll update.