Clerky vs doola: pricing and features compared
Data last updated: Apr 21, 2026Clerky starts at $427 plus state fees. doola starts at $222 plus state fees. Sticker-price differences between LLC formation services rarely tell the full story, since the cheapest tier usually excludes the EIN filing and operating agreement most filers need.
The registered agent renewal is the line item that actually matters over time: Clerky is $125 per year, doola is $197. Over five years that delta adds up to $288, which is typically a larger swing than the formation-tier sticker price.
For most filers, the decision between two services is decided by three things: whether you need a $0 tier or can absorb a mid-tier to get the EIN and operating agreement bundled, how much the registered agent will cost you in year two and onward, and whether the support quality matters to you (it matters more if you're paying $200+ for the service in the first place).
Key differences at a glance
- doola is $205 cheaper at the starting tier (both charge upfront).
- Clerky has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($125/yr vs $197/yr). Over five years that is a $288 difference.
- doola offers live chat support; the other relies on phone and email only.
Where each service fits
Pick Clerky when
Pick Clerky when you're optimizing for lower long-term cost (RA renewal is cheaper).
Pick doola when
Pick doola when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price; you want the operating agreement bundled at no extra cost; you want live chat support.
What each service offers that the other does not
Only Clerky
- Phone support
Only doola
- Operating agreement included free
- Banking partner integration
- Live chat support
Both services
- EIN included free
- Compliance dashboard
- Non-US founder support
What it costs under your specific situation
Running the same LLC through three common scenarios. Year-1 and 5-year totals exclude state fees, which are identical for both services.
| Scenario | Clerky Year 1 | doola Year 1 | Clerky 5-year | doola 5-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just the basics: state filing, RA year 1, nothing else You file the EIN yourself at irs.gov and skip a written operating agreement. | $427 | $222 | $927 | $1,010 |
| You want EIN and operating agreement handled too Most new LLCs end up here. Assumes $70 EIN and $99 OA add-ons where the service charges for them. | $427 | $222 | $927 | $1,010 |
| Standalone registered agent only (no formation) You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA. | $0 | $197 | $0 | $985 |
Full feature comparison
| Dimension | Clerky | doola |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price Cheapest tier, excludes state fees | $427 | $222 |
| Registered agent year 1 | Included | Included |
| Registered agent renewal Year 2 onward, annual | $125/yr | $197/yr |
| Free $0 tier | No | No |
| EIN application | Included free | Included free |
| Operating agreement | Not offered | Included free |
| Compliance dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Mail scanning | No | No |
| International founders | Yes | Yes |
| Banking partner | None | Mercury |
| Phone support | Business hours; no explicit hours published on the contact page | No |
| Live chat | No | Yes |
| Trustpilot rating | Not published | 4.6/5 (2,005 reviews) |
Pricing tiers side by side
Clerky
- Pay Per Use (Delaware C-corp Incorporation) — $427
Includes RA year 1 · renews $125/yr - Company Lifetime Package — $819
Includes RA year 1 · renews $125/yr
doola
- Starter — $222 · renews $222/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $197/yr - Tax and Compliance — $1,499 · renews $1,499/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $197/yr - Business-in-a-Box — $2,249 · renews $2,249/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $197/yr
Support and ratings, interpreted
Clerky offers phone, email. doola offers email, live chat. doola is the only one of the two with live chat, which matters if you anticipate back-and-forth questions during filing.
Clerky
Phone: Business hours; no explicit hours published on the contact page.
Email: yes.
No live chat.
doola
No phone support.
Email: yes.
Live chat: 24/7 per vendor, via in-app chat and help center.
Trustpilot: 4.6/5 from 2,005 reviews.
Before you pick either service
A few things apply no matter which one you choose. These catch enough first-time filers to be worth stating plainly.
The state fee is identical. Whether you use Clerky, doola, or neither, your state charges the same formation fee. Nothing a service does lowers that number. The fee ranges from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts depending on where you form. See the state-by-state guide for exact numbers.
You can get an EIN for free at irs.gov in five minutes. Both Clerky and doola either bundle EIN filing or sell it as a paid add-on. You're never required to pay for EIN filing; the IRS charges nothing and the online form takes about five minutes. If a service is pitching "we'll handle your EIN" as a headline feature, that's convenience pricing, not necessity.
The registered agent renewal is what matters long-term. The formation fee is a one-time cost. The registered agent is what recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC open. Over five years, the RA renewal cost usually exceeds the formation fee. Compare on that number, not just the day-one sticker.
Operating agreements are separately priced at most services. Any LLC with more than one member, and any LLC relying on its liability shield, should have a written operating agreement. It governs ownership percentages, profit splits, management structure, and dissolution. California, Maine, Missouri, and New York require it by statute; every other state treats it as strongly recommended. Don't skip it to save $99.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Which is cheaper, Clerky or doola?
doola is cheaper at the starting tier ($222 vs $427). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $83.
-
Does Clerky or doola have better support?
Clerky offers phone, email. doola offers email, live chat. doola is the only one of the two with live chat, which matters if you anticipate back-and-forth questions during filing.
-
Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using Clerky or doola?
You can. The state fee is identical whether you use a service or not. What these services sell is convenience: a handled registered agent (which you can also buy standalone), a bundled operating agreement, compliance reminders, and in some cases banking and tax integrations. If your time is worth more than $50 an hour and you would rather not research your state's specific filing quirks, a service pays for itself. If you like DIY administrative work, file directly at your state's Secretary of State portal.
-
How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?
Clerky renews at $125/yr. doola renews at $197/yr. This number matters because it recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC. Over a five-year window, the registered agent renewal cost typically exceeds the formation fee, so it's worth more attention than most reviews give it.
Full reviews
Sources
- Pricing: www.clerky.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Clerky pricing page shows two formation options: Pay Per Use at $427 one-time and Company Lifetime Package at $819 one-time. Both are Delaware C-corp incorporation. Clerky does not offer LLC formation. This is editorially important: readers comparing Clerky to Bizee or ZenBusiness should be aware it is not the same product category. - Registered agent renewal usd: www.clerky.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
First-year Delaware registered agent fee of $125 is bundled with both formation packages. Renewal pricing beyond year one is not explicitly published on the pricing page; $125/yr is used as the reasonable standing estimate based on year one. - Registered agent only: www.clerky.com/formation · verified April 21, 2026
Registered agent is bundled inside Clerky formation, not sold as a standalone SKU. - Features: www.clerky.com/formation · verified April 21, 2026
Formation product includes post-incorporation setup (bylaws, stock issuance, IP agreements) and an EIN Application workflow including support for non-US founders via pre-filled IRS forms and in-house fax submission. No LLC-style operating agreement (C-corp uses bylaws). No general mail scanning or banking partner integration (corporate bank account opening supported via partner banks as informational guidance). - Free filing tier: www.clerky.com/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Entry price is $427 one-time; there is no $0 formation tier. This is intentional per Clerky positioning for fundraising-track startups. - Support: www.clerky.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Contact info on the site lists email support@clerky.com and phone 650-440-5449. Area code 650 maps to the San Francisco Peninsula, consistent with the founders' Orrick Menlo Park background. No live chat. - Headquarters: www.clerky.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Business address listed as 440 N. Barranca Ave. #1881, Covina, CA 91723 (Clerky is a bonded legal document assistant registered in Santa Clara County, LDA258). - Founded: www.ycombinator.com/companies/clerky · verified April 21, 2026
Y Combinator company profile and third-party sources (Tracxn, press coverage) place Clerky's founding in 2011 by Darby Wong (CEO) and Chris Field, both former startup attorneys at Orrick Herrington and Sutcliffe. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/clerky.com · verified April 21, 2026
Clerky has a limited Trustpilot footprint (well under 100 reviews). Per playbook policy, rating and review count are left null because the sample is not representative. The Trustpilot URL is kept for reference. - Pricing: www.doola.com/pricing/ · verified April 21, 2026
Three tiers: Starter $222/yr (from $297), Tax and Compliance $1,499/yr (from $1,999), Business-in-a-Box $2,249/yr (from $2,999). All tiers are annual subscriptions. State fees not included. - Features: www.doola.com/llc/ · verified April 21, 2026
doola forms LLCs in any US state. Bundle includes EIN, registered agent (year one), operating agreement, and bank account guidance. Dashboard provides bookkeeping and compliance. - Banking partner: www.doola.com/pricing/ · verified April 21, 2026
Mercury is the named banking partner surfaced on the pricing page (fintech services via Choice Financial Group and Column N.A.). - International: www.doola.com/llc/ · verified April 21, 2026
Doola is built primarily for non-US founders needing a US LLC, EIN, and US bank account for Stripe, Shopify, and Amazon access. - Founded: www.ycombinator.com/companies/doola · verified April 21, 2026
Y Combinator profile confirms doola founding year 2020, founders Arjun Mahadevan and JP Pincheira. - Headquarters: www.crunchbase.com/person/arjun-mahadevan · verified April 21, 2026
Crunchbase and LinkedIn place CEO Arjun Mahadevan and doola HQ in New York. - Support: help.doola.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Help center routes to a web form and ticket tracker. No public phone number on contact or help pages. Vendor markets 24/7 chat support. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/doola.com · verified April 21, 2026
Trustpilot shows doola.com rated 4.6/5 across roughly 2,005 reviews as surfaced by Trustpilot search result snippet on 2026-04-21. - Price usd: www.trustpilot.com/review/doola.com · verified April 21, 2026
Customer reviews on Trustpilot reference a $197 charge for registered agent renewal. Vendor does not publish a separate RA-only pricing card.