7 Best Gust Alternatives & Competitors

Does Gust’s lack of diverse compliance requirements lock you out as a non-US resident? Try one of these 7 best Gust alternatives catering to both residents and non-US residents. 

Doola is our pick as the best alternative after thorough testing. It simplifies the incorporation process, making it fit startups at inception.

However, how do the other six platforms compare? Let’s find out!

1. Doola

Best suited for: Non-US residents running DAOs, consultancies, or e-commerce businesses that need support incorporating in the US.

Pricing: $297/yr – $2,397/yr

Doola is a filing service that helps businesses from anywhere globally form and run their entity legally in the US.

Features

• Worry-Free Tax Filing: Doola can prepare and file tax forms for startups, freelancers, vendors, and online store owners. It is a service that ensures your business avoids penalties for late tax filings.
• Bookkeeping: Doola offers invoicing and bookkeeping services to first-time founders to help them stay up-to-date with their accounts. The best part is that Doola provides access to a CPA team who can review your business financial reports.
• Doola Money Transfer: Doola now offers a low-cost solution for international monetary transfers with 100+ countries. It helps facilitate local currency transactions with the convenience of USD deposits.
• Formation Services: Doola offers businesses multiple entity options when forming a business, such as LLC, corporation, and DAO LLC. The best part is that companies get free EIN registration during the process.

Doola Vs Gust

Criteria	Doola	Gust
Best For	Medium and large enterprises	Mid and large enterprises
Standout Feature	DAO LLC formation	Fundraising support
Pricing	$297/yr – $2,397/yr	$300/yr – $3,000/yr

Conclusion

Doola fits non-US residents with DAOs or e-commerce stores looking to incorporate them in the US. Its money transfer, bookkeeping support, and DAO LLC formation make it stand out.

Get started with Doola today!

Get started with Doola

2. Firstbase

Best suited for: Small and mid-sized businesses globally looking to incorporate an entity in any of the 50 states.

Pricing: $399 one-time fee

Firstbase is an online filing service that helps first-time founders start a USA-based business from anywhere globally.

Features

• Partner Rewards: Firstbase gives businesses access to an exclusive network of partners offering perks worth 350K+ in rewards. The rewards are carefully selected to help first-time founders grow their ventures through incentives, credit, and more.
• Payroll: It is a service that helps businesses manage payroll taxes in all 50 states. Firstbase ensures businesses stay compliant even when hiring remotely.
• Business Insurance: Firstbase offers insurance like general liability for e-commerce and startups. Through their third-party partners, businesses can get a quote in minutes and find a cover that fits their business.
• Accounting and Bookkeeping: Businesses can get the service as an add-on for $99 monthly, where they get a certified CPA to audit their accounts. The best part is that the CPA experts advise on best practices to keep books updated.

Firstbase Vs Gust

Criteria	Firstbase	Gust
Best For	Small and medium-sized enterprises	Mid and large enterprises
Standout Feature	$350K in deals and rewards	Fundraising support
Pricing	$399 one-time fee	$300/yr – $3,000/yr

Conclusion

Firstbase fits global SMBs looking for personalized support in incorporating as an LLC or corporation in the US. Its unique selling points include payroll, bookkeeping, and $350+ rewards services.

Start your business with Firstbase

Get started with Firstbase

3. LegalZoom

Best suited for: SMBs looking for legal support in forming and managing an LLC, non-profit, or corporation.

Pricing: $149 – $349

LegalZoom is an online legal platform that offers services like business formation, attorney advice, and intellectual property.

Features

• Trademark monitoring: LegalZoom supports businesses to ward off copycats that want to profit from their brand. LegalZoom can monitor an SMB trademark by checking for potential issues and including risk-ranked reports.
• Dissolution: If your business is looking to move on from being an LLC or corporation, LegalZoom can help in the dissolution process. LegalZoom files the necessary paperwork with the state and even puts creditors on notice of the dissolution.
• Customizable Wix Website: LegalZoom partners with the company to create a customizable website that small businesses can tweak to fit their brand. The good thing is that WIX has a drag-and-drop builder, making it easy to customize the site.
• BOI Reporting: A new federal law requires all businesses to file a (Beneficial Owner Information) report annually for transparency. LegalZoom can help businesses file the report to stay compliant. The service is an add-on priced at a fee of $149.

LegalZoom Vs Gust

Criteria	LegalZoom	Gust
Best For	Solopreneurs and SMBs	Mid and large enterprises
Standout Feature	Range of legal services	Fundraising support
Pricing	$149 – $349	$300/yr – $3,000/yr

Conclusion

LegalZoom suits small businesses looking for hands-on legal support in forming an entity and post-incorporation management. Its business plan advisory, free plan, and a broad range of legal services make it stand out.

Start your business with LegalZoom today!

Get started with LegalZoom

4. Clerky

Best suited for: Tech startups looking for legal support incorporating as a Delaware C-Corp and accessing funding.

Pricing: $427 to $819

Clerky is an online legal service that helps tech small businesses form and incorporate as a Delaware C-Corp.

Features

• Commercial NDA Agreements: Clerky can help companies protect their entities when conducting business with other enterprises through NDAs. Whether it’s a one-way or mutual agreement, Clerky has you covered.
• EIN Application for Non-US Founders: Startups that incorporate through Clerky can apply by fax for their EIN online. It is a handy feature, especially for non-US residents with no taxpayer ID.
• Foreign Qualification: Startups looking to conduct business in NY and CA require foreign qualifications first. The good thing is that Clerky can help such SMBs navigate the processes.
• Hiring: Clerky can help startups create comprehensive legal paperwork for hiring employees, advisors, and consultants. It has a library of templates for offer letters, advisor agreements, and more.

Clerky Vs Gust

Criteria	Clerky	Gust
Best For	Small businesses	Mid and large enterprises
Standout Feature	Support for PBCs	Fundraising support
Pricing	$427 to $819	$300/yr – $3,000/yr

Conclusion

Clerky fits high-growth tech startups looking for legal support incorporating Delaware C-Corp and accessing funding.

Its support for PBCs and foreign qualifications in NY and CA make it stand out.

5. Stripe Atlas

Best suited for: Stripe Atlas is best for companies who want to establish an LLC or C-corporation in Delaware.

Pricing: $500 + $100/year

Stripe Atlas is a Stripe product offering filing services to first-time founders, helping them incorporate as an LLC in Delaware.

Features

• Formation Services: Startups can pick from 2 entity types, LLCs or C-Corps, to incorporate in Delaware. The best part is that startups get discounts on hosting, legal services, and more during formation.
• Registered Agent: Stripe Atlas provides businesses with a year-long free registered agent service after incorporation. After, the business pays $100 billed annually. The services are excellent since Stripe Atlas partners with Legalinc, a reputable company specializing in RA services.
• Annual Report filing: Stripe Atlas helps startups prepare and file their annual tax report with the state of Delaware. Not only that, Stripe Atlas goes the extra step to provide guides and notifications on filing and report submission.
• Legal Templates: Stripe Atlas has an extensive library of free annotated legal templates that startups can use depending on specific needs. The legal templates make entrepreneurs not need to look for an actual attorney to prepare one for them.

Stripe Atlas Vs Gust

Criteria	Stripe Atlas	Gust
Best For	Startups and first-time founders	Mid and large enterprises
Standout Feature	Stripe ecosystem	Fundraising support
Pricing	$500 + $100/year	$300/yr – $3,000/yr

Conclusion

Stripe Atlas suits first-time founders looking for a formation service offering an integrated payment gateway.

Its unique selling points are its Stripe ecosystem integration and powerful registered agent services.

6. CorpNet

Best suited for: SMBs looking for hands-on incorporation service with quick turnaround times.

Pricing: $99 – $419

CorpNet is an online filing service with 26+ years of experience helping businesses incorporate and maintain compliance in the US.

Features

• DBA Registration: Startups planning to run their company with a different name besides their legal business name can request this service. CorpNet assists with identifying if the desired name is available and then prepares and files the DBA form.
• Foreign Qualification: Small businesses looking to run operations in another state from the state of formation must register as a foreign entity. CorpNet can help SMBs with filing the necessary paperwork in a matter of minutes.
• Registered Agent Services: Businesses can choose CorpNet as their registered agent for $149 annually. Something to note is that the basic plan only offers it for 60 days.
• Formation Services: Businesses will find CorpNet formation services comprehensive, covering the crucial formation and paperwork startups need. Not only that, SMBs also get an operating agreement when forming an LLC, exclusive to deluxe packages.

CorpNet Vs Gust

Criteria	CorpNet	Gust
Best For	Small and medium-sized enterprises	Mid and large enterprises
Standout Feature	Domestication for LLC and C-Corps	Fundraising support
Pricing	$99 – $419	$300/yr – $3,000/yr

Conclusion

CorpNet fits SMBs looking for a formation service with hands-on experience incorporating businesses in the US. Its apostille certification, powerful registered agent, and articles of dissolution make it stand out.

Start a business with CorpNet

Get started with CorpNet

7. StartGlobal

Best suited for: SMBs looking for hands-on incorporation service with quick turnaround times.

Pricing: $399 + state fees

StartGlobal is a comprehensive formation service catering to non-US residents looking to incorporate an LLC in any US state.

Features

• US Mailing Address: Businesses can get help getting a physical address in the US for their business mails. It is handy for receiving packages from vendors, clients, and more.
• Formation and EIN registration: LLC formation is the specialty of StartGlobal, which allows non-US residents to migrate their venture into any US state. Not only that, businesses get a comprehensive formation and EIN registration service that helps them launch properly.
• Registered Agent Services: StartGlobal includes its registered agent services in its maintenance package. The package costs $149 annually, and it includes a compliance portal with tools that help track tax filing due dates.
• Annual Tax Filing: Startups can request support with filing their annual tax report with the state of Delaware. Whether it’s state, federal, or extension filing, StartGlobal has you covered.

StartGlobal Vs Gust

Criteria	StartGlobal	Gust
Best For	Small businesses	Mid and large enterprises
Standout Feature	Bookkeeping and accounting	Fundraising support
Pricing	$99 – $419	$300/yr – $3,000/yr

Conclusion

StartGlobal suits non-US residents looking for an all-inclusive service to incorporate an LLC in any US state.

Its accounting expert consultation and transparent pricing are its standout features.

Which Gust alternative should I use?

Gust excels as a go-to formation service for tech startups looking to incorporate Delaware C-Corps.

Its comprehensive tools for investor networking, equity management, and cap tables make it stand out.

However, the expensive subscription-based plans, limited legal services, and lack of a mobile app locks out SMBs.

That’s why we recommend these 7 best Gust alternatives. The platforms offer a good balance of formation services at an affordable price.

Pick one that fits your business model and budget!

Recap of Gust alternatives:

1. Doola
2. Firstbase
3. LegalZoom
4. Clerky
5. Stripe Atlas
6. CorpNet
7. StartGlobal