doola Pricing Breakdown: What You Actually Pay for LLC + Bookkeeping

If you've spent any time on doola's homepage, you've probably noticed the pricing page is a little... strategic. Plans are bundled, state fees live on a separate line, and the jump from "Starter" to "Total Compliance" is wide enough to drive a truck through. So before you click Get Started, let's break down what doola actually costs in 2026 — plan by plan, fee by fee — and where the real value sits.

Short answer up front: most solo founders end up paying between $297 and $2,999 per year, plus a one-time state filing fee ranging from $50 (Kentucky) to $500 (Massachusetts). Bookkeeping is bundled into the higher tiers — which is where doola either earns its keep or becomes overkill, depending on your situation.

doola's Three Core Plans at a Glance

Here's the pricing ladder as of 2026:

• Starter — $297/year + state fee. LLC/C-Corp formation, EIN, registered agent, operating agreement. No bookkeeping, no tax filing.
• Total Compliance — $1,999/year. Everything in Starter, plus BOI filing, annual state filing, and federal + state tax returns.
• Total Compliance Max — $2,999/year (or $329/month). Everything above, plus a dedicated bookkeeper doing monthly or quarterly closes.

Each tier is an annual commitment. There's no month-to-month option on the formation plans, which matters if you're the kind of founder who likes to test before committing.

What the Starter Plan Actually Gets You

The $297 Starter plan is doola's front door, and for a lot of non-US founders it's the right door. You're paying for the mechanical work of spinning up a US LLC: paperwork filed with the state, EIN secured from the IRS (no SSN required — this is the part worth paying for as a non-resident), a registered agent on US soil, and a boilerplate operating agreement.

What it does not include: BOI filing, annual state reports after year one, tax returns, or any bookkeeping at all. If you pick Starter, plan to either do your own books in FreshBooks or QuickBooks, or hire an accountant separately when April rolls around.

The State Fee Nobody Talks About

doola's $297 does not include your state's filing fee, which varies dramatically:

• Wyoming: $100
• Delaware: $110 (plus $300/year franchise tax)
• New Mexico: $50
• California: $70 (plus $800/year minimum franchise tax — brutal)
• Massachusetts: $500

Most non-resident founders end up in Wyoming or Delaware, which keeps total year-one cost around $400–$410 on the Starter plan. Factor this into any comparison against other LLC formation services — the cheapest sticker price is rarely the cheapest final bill.

When Total Compliance Starts Making Sense

The jump from $297 to $1,999 feels steep, but the math changes fast once you're actually running a business. A standalone CPA filing Form 1120 + Form 5472 (the combo most non-resident-owned LLCs need) runs $800–$1,500 on its own. BOI filing services charge $150–$300. Annual state reports vary. Add bookkeeping software and suddenly $1,999/year doesn't look unreasonable.

Total Compliance is the right call when:

• You're a non-US founder and federal tax filings terrify you (they should — Form 5472 penalties start at $25,000).
• You want one dashboard handling formation, compliance, and taxes.
• Your revenue is under ~$100K/year, so you don't need deep bookkeeping — just clean books and filed returns.

It's the wrong call when you're generating significant revenue, employing people, or have inventory. At that point you need a real CPA relationship, not a platform.

Total Compliance Max: When $2,999 Is Worth It

The Max tier adds a dedicated bookkeeper doing monthly or quarterly closes. This is the tier to consider if you're doing $250K+ in revenue, have multiple revenue streams, or just hate looking at spreadsheets. For context, a fractional bookkeeper typically bills $300–$800/month — Max at $249/month (effective) undercuts that while bundling formation and tax filings.

That said, if you already have a rhythm with QuickBooks or a part-time bookkeeper, Max is redundant. The real unlock here is for founders who've been avoiding bookkeeping entirely and want someone else to own it.

doola vs. The Alternatives

How does doola's pricing stack up against the big LLC formation services?

• ZenBusiness Starter: $0 + state fee (no EIN, no operating agreement)
• Northwest Registered Agent: $39 + state fee (EIN is extra)
• Bizee (formerly Incfile): $0 + state fee for basic formation
• Stripe Atlas: $500 flat (Delaware-only)

On pure formation, doola is more expensive than Bizee or Northwest. Where it pulls ahead is the non-resident EIN workflow — most competitors either don't handle it, charge extra, or take 8+ weeks. doola's process is cleaner, which is why the non-US founder crowd keeps choosing it despite the premium.

For a deeper comparison, see our guide to the best LLC formation services for non-US founders — doola is one of several good options depending on your priorities.

The Hidden Costs to Budget For

A few line items that aren't in doola's headline pricing but will hit you eventually:

1. State annual report fees — $20–$300 depending on state, every year forever.
2. Franchise taxes — Delaware ($300), California ($800), Texas (variable). Unavoidable.
3. Registered agent renewal — included in all plans, but if you downgrade to Starter and don't renew, you lose your agent.
4. Tax filing add-ons — if you're on Starter and want doola to file your taxes later, pricing is quoted case-by-case and isn't cheap.
5. Payment processor fees — unrelated to doola but worth planning for alongside invoicing and payments tools.

Is doola Worth It? A Straight Answer

For non-US founders who want a one-stop shop and hate dealing with US bureaucracy: yes, especially at the Total Compliance tier. You're paying a premium for predictability, and predictability is worth real money when Form 5472 penalties exist.

For US-based solo founders with a simple single-member LLC: probably not. You can form through Northwest for ~$40, keep books in FreshBooks or QuickBooks, and hire a local CPA for $400 at tax time. You'll save ~$1,500/year and get a real human who knows your state.

The middle ground — US founders who value their time more than their money — is where doola's Total Compliance tier becomes a reasonable splurge.

For more on building a lean startup stack, see our startup tools roundup and our comparison of bookkeeping software for small businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does doola's $297 Starter plan include the state filing fee?

No. State fees are billed separately and range from $50 (Kentucky, New Mexico) to $500 (Massachusetts). Budget another $100–$200 on top of doola's fee for most popular states like Wyoming or Delaware.

Can non-US residents use doola to get an EIN?

Yes — this is doola's strongest use case. They handle EIN applications for founders without an SSN or ITIN, which most competitors either don't do or charge extra for. Turnaround is typically 2–8 weeks depending on IRS backlog.

What's the difference between Total Compliance and Total Compliance Max?

Both include formation, BOI, state filings, and federal tax returns. Max adds a dedicated bookkeeper doing monthly or quarterly closes — essentially outsourced bookkeeping. If you're comfortable doing your own books in QuickBooks, you don't need Max.

Does doola handle California LLCs and the $800 franchise tax?

doola can form a California LLC, but the $800 annual franchise tax is paid directly to the California Franchise Tax Board — it's not bundled. Most non-residents skip California entirely for this reason and form in Wyoming or Delaware.

Can I switch from Starter to Total Compliance later?

Yes. doola lets you upgrade mid-year, typically prorating the difference. Downgrading is harder — you'll usually wait until renewal. If you're unsure, start with Total Compliance for year one and evaluate at renewal.

Is doola Books a full bookkeeping solution or just a ledger?

It's closer to a ledger with reporting on top. You get bank feed connections, transaction categorization, P&L, and balance sheets — enough for a simple LLC. For inventory, class tracking, or multi-entity accounting, you'll outgrow it and need something like QuickBooks or FreshBooks.

Does doola offer refunds if I change my mind?

Refund policy is case-by-case and generally restrictive once filing has started — which happens fast. Make sure you've picked your state and entity type before clicking purchase, because once doola submits to the state, fees are non-recoverable.