Formation
OpenStates LLC Service: Scope, Pricing and Limitations
OpenStates’s own service overview: current setup and subscription pricing, scope limits, independent bank approval and separate professional tax work.
By OpenStates Team ·
If you've been searching for openstates llc or openstates review, you're probably weighing whether OpenStates is the right service to form your US LLC as a non-resident. This is the long answer: what we do, what we charge, what we don't do, and where we sit relative to Stripe Atlas, Firstbase, and doola.
What is OpenStates?
OpenStates is a done-for-you US LLC formation and compliance service built specifically for non-US residents. We handle the state filing, registered agent, EIN application, US business bank account introductions, and ongoing compliance — including annual report reminders and IRS Form 5472 reminders; actual CPA preparation is separate — from a single dashboard.
Most clients are international founders selling SaaS, e-commerce, agency services, or digital products into the US market. They want a US LLC so they can accept Stripe, hold a US bank account, and present a US-based business to their customers — without flying to America to do it.
What's included in the OpenStates setup fee
- State filing of the Articles of Organization (Wyoming, Delaware, or New Mexico)
- Registered agent for the first year
- EIN obtained directly from the IRS — no SSN required
- US business bank account introductions (Mercury, Relay)
- Operating Agreement, EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575), and a digital document vault
- A US business mailing address option
- Direct support over WhatsApp and a built-in ticket system
See live pricing on the pricing page. Setup is a one-time fee; ongoing compliance lives in a low monthly subscription that covers the registered agent, annual reports, and Form 5472 filing reminders.
What OpenStates does NOT do
We're upfront about scope. OpenStates is not a tax advisor, not a law firm, and not a bookkeeping service. We won't file your home-country taxes. We won't open a bank account with Chase or Bank of America (those usually require an in-person visit). We don't form C-Corps for venture-backed startups — Stripe Atlas is genuinely better for that lane.
How OpenStates compares
OpenStates vs Stripe Atlas
Stripe Atlas supports Delaware LLCs and C corporations and lists $500 incorporation. Compare the actual chosen entity, state annual obligations, agent renewals and current service scope with OpenStates; LLC availability is not a provider-only distinction.
OpenStates vs Firstbase
Compare Firstbase and doola using their current official pricing, eligibility and package terms. This article has no verified independent review or turnaround dataset and does not repeat obsolete precise prices or claim universal savings.
OpenStates vs doola
Compare Firstbase and doola using their current official pricing, eligibility and package terms. This article has no verified independent review or turnaround dataset and does not repeat obsolete precise prices or claim universal savings.
Who OpenStates is best for
- Non-US residents forming their first US LLC
- Solo founders, freelancers, agencies, and e-commerce sellers
- People who want a real human on WhatsApp, not a chatbot
- Founders who value transparent pricing over a long upsell menu
Who it's NOT for
- US residents — you have cheaper DIY options
- Founders raising VC who need a Delaware C-Corp (use Stripe Atlas)
- Anyone needing full-service US tax filing under one roof
Frequently asked questions about OpenStates
Is OpenStates legit?
Yes. OpenStates files real Articles of Organization with US state agencies, obtains real EINs from the IRS, and uses real US-licensed registered agents. You receive original state documents and your IRS CP 575 in your dashboard.
How long does the OpenStates LLC formation take?
State filing is typically 1–7 business days depending on the state. EIN takes 1–4 weeks via fax for non-residents. Bank account introductions usually complete within a week of receiving the EIN. End-to-end: most clients are fully operational in 2–4 weeks.
Do I need to be in the US to use OpenStates?
OpenStates onboarding and formation work can be handled remotely. Banking introductions are not bank approval: each provider decides whether remote applications are available for your country, industry, identity and address circumstances.
Can I migrate my existing LLC to OpenStates?
Yes. We have a manage existing LLC flow that takes over registered agent, compliance, and document management for an LLC you already formed elsewhere.
Bottom line
If you're a non-resident who wants a US LLC done properly with no surprise fees and a real human you can message, OpenStates is built for you. Learn more about our team and mission, view pricing, or read our complete non-resident LLC guide and the best state comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenStates legit?
Yes. OpenStates files real Articles of Organization with US state agencies, obtains real EINs directly from the IRS, and uses US-licensed registered agents. You receive original state-stamped formation documents and your IRS CP 575 confirmation letter in your client dashboard.
How long does the OpenStates LLC formation take?
State filing is typically 1–7 business days depending on the state. EIN issuance takes 1–4 weeks via fax for non-residents. Bank account introductions (Mercury, Relay) usually complete within a week of receiving the EIN. End-to-end, most clients are fully operational in 2–4 weeks.
Do I need to be in the US to use OpenStates?
OpenStates onboarding and formation work can be handled remotely. Banking introductions are not bank approval: each provider decides whether remote applications are available for your country, industry, identity and address circumstances.
How does OpenStates compare to Stripe Atlas, Firstbase, and doola?
Compare Firstbase and doola using their current official pricing, eligibility and package terms. This article has no verified independent review or turnaround dataset and does not repeat obsolete precise prices or claim universal savings.
Can I migrate an existing LLC to OpenStates?
Yes. OpenStates has a dedicated "manage existing LLC" flow that takes over registered agent service, ongoing compliance, and document management for an LLC you already formed elsewhere — without needing to re-form the entity.
How to evaluate the service scope before paying
This is OpenStates’s own service overview, not an independent customer-review study. The practical way to assess a formation offer is to request a written scope. Identify the entity, state, documents, address service, registered agent appointment and EIN assistance. Ask which work is performed by the provider, which work you must complete, and which work requires a separately engaged CPA or attorney. Do not read a compliance reminder as a promise that an accurate tax return has been prepared or submitted.
Compare setup and renewal charges separately. A subscription can continue after the state has formed the entity, and the company can still owe state taxes or report fees. If you stop a subscription, arrange a successor registered agent and a reliable business mailing address before cancelling. Confirm who holds your filed articles, operating agreement and IRS confirmation and whether you can export them. Company documents and filing receipts should remain accessible independently of the provider’s dashboard.
Bank introductions mean an application opportunity, not an approved account. Prepare truthful identity documents, owner addresses, business activity, source of funds and customer evidence. Ask the intended institution about restricted countries, permitted industries and physical-address requirements. A registered agent address receives legal notices but may not satisfy a bank’s operating-address rule. If an account is essential to the business model, evaluate a backup provider and the cost of rejection before purchasing formation.
Finally, compare like-for-like alternatives. Atlas can form a Delaware LLC as well as a C corporation; other providers have their own supported states and service scopes. Compare the chosen entity, current annual state obligations, agent renewal and actual professional tax work rather than assuming every competing package is equivalent. Ask a qualified adviser about classification and reporting, especially when adding owners, changing residence, receiving US-source royalties or operating with US inventory. No universal cheapest-provider or tax-free finding follows from this service overview.
Continue with the state decision
Compare formation fees, annual obligations and your actual operational footprint.
Sources
- Delaware Division of Corporations — Current alternative entity annual tax filing instructions
- Delaware Code — Title 6 §18-1107(b): current annual LLC tax
- Mercury — Current official eligibility, product and pricing information; approval remains independent
- OpenStates — Current plan prices and scope; CPA services separate
- Relay — Current official eligibility, product and pricing information; approval remains independent
- Wyoming Secretary of State — Business FAQs: annual license tax is $60 or 0.0002 of Wyoming assets, whichever is greater
- Stripe — Atlas: Delaware LLC or C corporation and current incorporation price
- doola — Current official eligibility, product and pricing information; approval remains independent
- Firstbase — Current official eligibility, product and pricing information; approval remains independent
- IRS — How to apply for an EIN
- IRS — Effectively connected income
- IRS — Taxation of nonresident aliens: ECI and US-source FDAP
- IRS — Form 5472 instructions: who must file, reportable transactions, DE filing methods and penalties
- IRS — Form SS-4 instructions
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.