We evaluated formation providers across the US, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, and Estonia. 20 made the cut for 2026. Ranking factors: transparency of pricing, included services, jurisdictional fit for non-residents, ongoing compliance support, and user experience. This is a framework list — your best pick depends on where you need to incorporate and whether you want bundled banking/compliance or a lean standalone formation.
The jurisdictions
Before picking a service, pick a jurisdiction. For most online founders, the decision is simpler than it looks:
| Jurisdiction | Best for | Corporate tax | Banking reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming LLC | Non-resident founders launching online businesses | Federal only (income tax at member level) | Mercury, Wise, Relay accept readily |
| Delaware LLC / C-Corp | VC-bound startups or founders wanting legal prestige | Federal + ~$300 annual Delaware franchise | Same as Wyoming for LLCs |
| UK Ltd | Europe-facing businesses, cheap + quick | 25% over £250k profit, 19% under £50k | Wise and Revolut accept; traditional banks resist non-residents |
| Singapore Pte Ltd | APAC-facing, prestige, treaty network | 17% headline, effective ~8% on first SGD 200k | Requires nominee director, local banking harder |
| Hong Kong Ltd | Territorial tax on HK-source income | 16.5% on HK-source profits | Banking significantly harder post-2020 |
| UAE Free Zone | Founders relocating to UAE for residency | 9% over AED 375k, free-zone exemptions possible | Emirates NBD + Wio / Mashreq NeoBiz |
| Estonia OÜ | EU-presence needs without physical presence | 20% on distributed profits only | Wise accepts; traditional Estonian banks don't |
The ranking
US-focused — the core seven
- Northwest Registered Agent ($39 formation + state fees). Our default recommendation for non-VC US formations. No upsell, privacy-first, phone answered by humans. Full review →
- Stripe Atlas ($500 flat). Bundled C-Corp or LLC formation with EIN, Mercury bank intro, and Stripe account pre-configured. Ideal first-time-founder path. Full review →
- Firstbase ($399 start). Polished product experience for global founders wanting US entities. Reliable Mercury intro. Full review →
- doola ($297 start). Direct Firstbase competitor with optional Total Compliance tax bundle. Full review →
- Harvard Business Services ($109 Delaware formation, $50/yr registered agent). Delaware specialist since 1981. Cheapest Delaware path that's also reliable. Full review →
- LegalZoom ($79+ intro). Brand-name legal services. Useful when bundled with trademark or attorney consultation. Full review →
- Incfile / Bizee ($0 formation, state fees only). Cheapest headline price but aggressive upsell flow. Be ready to click "no thanks" repeatedly.
UK-focused
- Companies House direct (£50 fee). You can incorporate a UK Ltd yourself in about an hour. No intermediary needed. The "services" above mostly just do this for you and charge markup.
- 1st Formations (£12.99 basic). UK's most-used formation agent. Bundled with registered office packages.
- Rapid Formations (£12.99 basic). Price-competitive alternative to 1st Formations.
- Inform Direct (various). UK formation plus ongoing compliance — useful if you want software-driven statutory filings handled.
Asia-focused
- Sleek. Cross-border specialist: Singapore Pte Ltd, Hong Kong Ltd, UK Ltd, Australia. Formation + ongoing compliance. Polished mobile app and dashboard. Full review →
- Osome. Singapore, Hong Kong, UK. AI-assisted accounting workflow is meaningfully faster than traditional agents. Full review →
- Rikvin. Singapore specialist, long operational track record, particularly useful for more complex corporate structures.
- Statrys. Hong Kong formation + banking alternative. Founded to address HK banking difficulty for non-residents.
UAE-focused
- DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre). Direct free-zone registration. Broad business activity licensing.
- IFZA (International Free Zone Authority). Cost-effective UAE free-zone option.
- Virtuzone / Jitty. UAE formation agents handling paperwork for multiple free zones.
Multi-jurisdiction + Estonia
- Sleek (also in Asia list). Increasingly cross-border.
- Xolo. Estonia e-Residency specialist. Handles formation and accounting for Estonian OÜs.
Decision tree — which should you use?
You're a non-resident launching an online business
Wyoming LLC via Northwest Registered Agent + Mercury bank account. All-in cost year one: roughly $275. This is the cheapest, cleanest path for the vast majority of indie founders. Stripe Atlas is the bundled alternative if you want one vendor handling the whole stack.
You're building a VC-track startup
Delaware C-Corp via Stripe Atlas or a startup-focused law firm. Delaware case law is what every VC's standard-form documents assume.
You're targeting APAC markets
Singapore Pte Ltd via Sleek or Osome. Prestige, treaty network, and functional banking. The nominee-director requirement adds ongoing cost but unlocks doors.
You want UK presence without moving
UK Ltd direct via Companies House. £50, one hour. Use 1st Formations only if you also want a registered office package bundled.
You're relocating to UAE
DMCC or IFZA directly. The residency visa that comes with free-zone formation is frequently the real reason to incorporate there — the business setup is a means to the visa end.
Banking after formation
Formation is half the job. Banking is the other half, and it's where most non-resident setups fail. The reliable non-resident options as of 2026:
- Mercury — the industry-standard for US LLCs/Corps. Remote onboarding. Full review →
- Relay — alternative to Mercury with similar onboarding characteristics.
- Wise Business — multi-currency accounts with real FX rates. Complements Mercury for international payments. Full review →
- Brex — available to startups with venture funding or meaningful revenue.
FAQ
Wyoming or Delaware for an LLC?
Wyoming for most non-VC situations — cheaper annually ($60 vs $300 franchise), stronger privacy (no manager disclosure on public filings). Delaware if you need its courts' case law (litigation-exposed business) or if you intend to raise venture capital eventually.
Do I need a registered agent?
Yes, every US LLC or Corp requires a registered agent with a physical address in the state of formation. Non-resident founders use a commercial registered agent service. Northwest is $125/year; competitors range from $50 (Harvard Business Services in Delaware) to $300+ (LegalZoom).
How long does EIN take for non-residents?
Typically 4-6 weeks if you submit Form SS-4 by fax, 6-10 weeks by mail. Formation providers who handle it on your behalf (Stripe Atlas, Firstbase, doola) usually add 1-2 weeks of their processing overhead.
Should I use Atlas or go direct with Northwest?
Atlas ($500) if you want one vendor handling formation + EIN + Mercury intro + Stripe setup + legal templates. Northwest ($39 + $125/yr RA = ~$275 year one savings vs Atlas) if you're comfortable setting up Mercury separately and don't need Stripe pre-configured.
What about nominee directors in Singapore / Hong Kong?
Singapore Pte Ltd requires at least one ordinarily-resident director. Nominee director services (SGD 2,000-3,000/year) fulfill this requirement. Hong Kong doesn't formally require resident directors but practical banking often does — resident directors simplify account opening considerably.
Pricing and service details verified April 2026. Check provider sites for current offers before committing.