Doola vs Northwest Registered Agent: which is better value?
Quick answer
Northwest is the cheaper sticker price at $39 plus state fees, but you handle the EIN and banking yourself, which is genuinely hard as a non-resident. Doola costs more because it bundles the EIN, US address, registered agent, and optional tax filing, and it specializes in founders with no SSN. For a non-resident, Doola is usually the better real-world value.
On paper Northwest wins on price: about $39 plus state fees to form, with the first year of registered agent free and then about $125 per year. It is a reputable, long-standing provider. The catch for non-residents is what is not included: getting an EIN without an SSN and opening US banking are left to you. Those are exactly the steps that trip up founders outside the US, and doing them alone can cost you weeks.
Doola is a yearly subscription (Starter about $297 per year plus state fees, as of 2026, confirm at checkout) that bundles formation, the EIN, a US address, and registered agent, and is built specifically for people with no SSN, no US address, and no US credit history. So the fairer comparison is not $39 versus $297, it is $39-plus-your-own-time-and-risk versus a done-for-you package aimed at your exact situation.
Northwest is the better value if you already have a US SSN or ITIN, are comfortable filing for the EIN yourself, and have a banking path sorted. In that case you are paying for a registered agent and formation and not much else, and cheaper is smarter.
Doola is the better value if you are a non-resident who wants the EIN handled, wants the US address and registered agent bundled, and especially if you also want bookkeeping and tax filing in the same place via the higher tiers. The premium buys away the two hardest steps and the ongoing compliance most people get wrong.
Practical move: be honest about whether you can realistically get your own EIN and banking. If yes, Northwest is a fine budget pick. If the no-SSN EIN process sounds daunting, Doola is worth the difference because it removes that risk and keeps you compliant year-round. Note that banking approval is never guaranteed by any provider and depends on your country, business, and documents.
Ready to form your US company with Doola?
Doola handles formation, your EIN, a US address, and the year-round bookkeeping and tax filing that non-residents most often get wrong, all in one place. The company is yours to keep.