LegalZoom vs Doola
Two very different LLC formation services built for two very different founders. Here’s exactly who each one is for, what it costs, and which one you should actually pick.
The Short Answer
These two services barely compete with each other — they’re built for different founders. Here’s the one-line version.
LegalZoom
A $0 Basic package, a huge legal-services ecosystem, and 20+ years of brand trust make it the safe default for anyone already living and working in the US.
Visit LegalZoom →Doola
Built specifically for founders without a US address or SSN — bundles an EIN, a US business address, and guidance no generic US service offers out of the box.
Visit Doola →LegalZoom vs Doola: Price & Features
State filing fees apply on top of either service unless noted below.
| Feature | LegalZoom | Doola |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0 + state fees | $297/yr |
| Pricing Model | One-time formation fee, tiered add-ons | Annual subscription, all-inclusive plan |
| Best Suited For | US residents & citizens | Non-US residents & international founders |
| SSN Required? | Not for formation, but assumed for most services | No — passport is enough |
| EIN Included? | Add-on ($79, separate purchase) | Included in Starter |
| US Business Address | Not included by default | Included in Starter |
| Registered Agent (Yr 1) | $249/yr (optional add-on) | Varies by plan |
| Formation Speed | Standard state processing times | 1–2 business days to file |
| Broader Legal Services | Extensive ecosystem | Formation-and-compliance focused |
| Upgrade Path | Legal plans, trademark, attorney access | Bookkeeping, tax filing, compliance |
The core difference in one sentence: LegalZoom is a general-purpose US legal services company that happens to form LLCs cheaply; Doola is an LLC-and-compliance company built from the ground up to solve the specific, awkward problems international founders run into when starting a US business.
LegalZoom vs Doola: A Closer Look
Both services will form a fully valid, legally identical LLC. The differences are in who they’re designed for and what comes bundled in.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom is the most recognized name in online legal services, having formed millions of businesses over the years. Its Basic LLC package costs $0 plus your state’s filing fee — you just need to be selective about add-ons at checkout, since registered agent service ($249/yr) and EIN filing ($79) are separate purchases.
What you get:
- $0 Basic package — name check, filing, welcome packet
- Pro ($249) and Premium ($299) tiers with extras bundled
- Access to a huge legal services ecosystem (trademarks, contracts, attorney consults)
- 7-day customer support
Where it falls short:
- Not built for founders without a US SSN or address
- Registered agent and EIN cost extra rather than being bundled
- Add-ons at checkout can push the total well past $0 quickly
Doola
Doola was built specifically for the problem generic US formation services don’t solve well: helping someone with no SSN and no US address legally launch and run a US LLC. The Starter plan bundles formation, an EIN, and a US business address into one annual price, filed in 1–2 business days.
What you get:
- US LLC or C-Corp formation, filed in 1–2 business days
- EIN and US business address included in Starter
- No US citizenship or residency required — passport only
- Upgrade path to bookkeeping, tax filing, and ongoing compliance
Where it falls short:
- No free entry tier — $297/yr from day one
- Less of a general legal-services ecosystem than LegalZoom
- Overkill for a US resident who just needs basic paperwork filed
Ready to Form Your LLC?
Pick the service built for your situation — a free US filing with LegalZoom, or an all-in-one international package with Doola.
Which One Is Right for You?
This decision really comes down to one question: do you already live in the US, or not?
Choose LegalZoom if…
You’re a US resident or citizen forming your first LLC and want the cheapest possible entry point from a name you already trust. You’re comfortable declining upsells at checkout and sourcing your EIN separately (it’s free from the IRS anyway). You might also want a future path to trademarks, contracts, or attorney access under one roof.
Choose Doola if…
You don’t have a US Social Security Number, don’t live in the US, and need a US business address and EIN to actually operate — not just a formation certificate. You’d rather pay one annual price that already includes the pieces that trip up international founders than assemble them yourself from separate services.
One important note: the LLC itself is legally identical either way — same liability protection, same tax treatment. You’re not paying for a “better” LLC with either service. You’re paying for the specific support each one is built to provide.
LegalZoom vs Doola: FAQs
Technically yes to both, but neither is the ideal fit outside its lane. A US resident using Doola would be paying $297/yr for problems (SSN, US address) they don’t have. A non-US founder using LegalZoom can still form an LLC, but will likely need to solve the EIN-without-SSN and US-address questions on their own or through extra services.
The formation service itself is genuinely $0 — you only pay your state’s filing fee, which every service passes through regardless. Where costs can creep in is at checkout, where registered agent service, EIN filing, and operating agreement templates are offered as paid add-ons. Decline what you don’t need and the total stays at just the state fee.
Doola’s $297/yr Starter plan already bundles pieces that would otherwise be separate purchases or genuinely hard to obtain without a US SSN — an EIN and a US business address. For an international founder, that bundled convenience is the point; a bare $0 formation elsewhere can end up costing more in time and mistakes trying to solve those pieces separately.
Yes — nearly every state requires an LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the formation state. LegalZoom offers this as a $249/yr add-on. Doola’s registered agent handling varies by plan, so confirm what’s included at the tier you choose before checkout.
Doola advertises filing within 1–2 business days. LegalZoom’s Basic package follows standard state processing timelines, which vary by state and can take longer unless you pay for expedited processing. If speed is the priority, compare current stated timelines on each provider’s site, since these can shift.
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