In Short: ZenBusiness vs Doola
These two are built for different customers and priced accordingly. ZenBusiness forms an LLC for $0 plus state fees and sells compliance tooling to US-based owners. Doola charges $297 a year on its entry plan and sells an ongoing package aimed at non-resident founders who want bookkeeping and tax filing bundled in. The choice depends on whether you need the ongoing accounting or just the entity.
- Formation price: ZenBusiness $0 plus state fees. Doola Starter $297 a year plus state fees.
- Doola’s higher tiers: Tax and Compliance $1,999 a year, Business-in-a-Box $2,999 a year, both plus state fees.
- Registered agent: ZenBusiness $99 the first year then $199 a year.
- Trustpilot: ZenBusiness 4.8 out of 5, Doola 4.5 out of 5.
- What the price difference buys: Doola bundles bookkeeping and tax filing into a subscription. ZenBusiness sells those separately.
- Both serve non-residents, but Doola is the one that markets to them directly.
Disclosure: BusinessAnywhere sells business formation and registered agent services, so ZenBusiness and Doola compete with us directly. Every figure below was taken from each company’s own published pages and public Trustpilot profiles on 14 September 2026, and each is linked to its source so you can check it. Prices change, so confirm before you buy.
The Pricing Models Are Not Comparable Line for Line
ZenBusiness sells a filing. Doola sells a subscription. Putting $0 next to $297 makes Doola look expensive, and that framing misses what each price covers.
| ZenBusiness | Doola | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | $0 plus state fees | Starter, $297 a year plus state fees |
| Mid tier | Published from $0 plus state fees | Tax and Compliance, $1,999 a year plus state fees |
| Top tier | Published from $0 plus state fees | Business-in-a-Box, $2,999 a year plus state fees |
| Registered agent | $99 the first year, $199 a year after | Included in the plan |
| Bookkeeping | Not included at the entry price | Included from the Tax and Compliance tier |
| Business tax filing | Not included at the entry price | Included from the Tax and Compliance tier |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.8 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 |
The honest way to read that table: if you want bookkeeping and a business tax return handled, Doola’s $1,999 tier is competing with an accountant, not with a formation service. If you only need the entity, you are paying $297 a year for something ZenBusiness does for the state fee alone.
Where Doola Fits
Doola markets to non-resident founders and e-commerce sellers, and its product reflects that. The subscription model means someone is responsible for the ongoing filings rather than leaving them to the owner. For a founder running an Amazon or Shopify business from outside the United States with no US accountant, bundling the bookkeeping has real value.
Where ZenBusiness Fits
ZenBusiness suits a US-based owner who has an accountant, or whose business is simple enough not to need one. Paying the state fee and nothing else in year one, then $199 a year for registered agent service, is the cheaper path when the accounting is already handled.
The Third Option for Non-Resident Founders
Doola and BusinessAnywhere chase the same customer, so compare them directly rather than through ZenBusiness. The difference is unbundling. Doola sells one subscription that covers formation, compliance and accounting. BusinessAnywhere sells the pieces separately, so you pay for the accounting only if you want it.
| Doola | BusinessAnywhere | |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | Starter, $297 a year plus state fees | $0 plus state fees |
| Registered agent | Included in the plan | Free the first year, $147 a year after |
| EIN without an SSN | Included in the plan | $97 |
| Virtual mailbox with international forwarding | Included in the plan | From $20 a month, $25 one-time signup |
| Bookkeeping and tax filing | From $1,999 a year | Not bundled |
| First-year cost, entity only | $297 plus state fees | State fees plus $97 if you need the EIN |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.8 out of 5 |
Neither model is better in the abstract. A bundle is worth paying for when you would otherwise buy each piece anyway. It costs you when you would not.
FAQ: ZenBusiness vs Doola
Is Doola more expensive than ZenBusiness?
On the entry plan, yes. Doola Starter is $297 a year plus state fees. ZenBusiness forms an LLC for $0 plus state fees. The prices cover different things: Doola includes registered agent service and ongoing support in the subscription, while ZenBusiness charges $99 for the first year of registered agent service and $199 a year after that.
What does Doola include that ZenBusiness does not?
Doola bundles ongoing compliance into the subscription, and from its Tax and Compliance tier at $1,999 a year it includes bookkeeping and business tax filing. ZenBusiness sells formation and compliance tooling rather than accounting.
Which is better for a non-US resident?
Doola markets directly to non-resident founders and bundles what they need. ZenBusiness is built around a US-based owner. If you want the same coverage without the subscription, compare the unbundled pricing before committing to an annual plan.
Does Doola charge state filing fees on top?
Yes. Doola lists its plans as a yearly price plus state fees. State filing fees are set by the state and are payable whichever service you use.
Which has better reviews?
On Trustpilot as of 14 September 2026, ZenBusiness holds 4.8 out of 5 and Doola holds 4.5 out of 5.
Forming a US LLC From Abroad
If you are outside the United States, the pieces that matter are the US business address, the EIN without a Social Security number, and a registered agent that stays affordable at renewal. BusinessAnywhere covers all three without an annual subscription: formation from $0 plus state fees, the registered agent service free the first year and $147 a year after, an EIN application for $97, and a virtual mailbox from $20 a month. The US LLC tax filing guide covers what a foreign-owned LLC files each year.
Compare the full pricing and start your formation.
Prices and ratings in this article were checked on 14 September 2026 against each company’s own published pages and public Trustpilot profiles. Both change over time, so confirm current figures before you buy. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.
