GenZone vs StartGlobal: Pricing and What's Included
Comparing the non-resident formation stack, side by side, on price, the registered agent, the EIN, tax filing, and ongoing service.
StartGlobal's $399 formation is the lower entry price, but Form 5472 is priced by revenue, bookkeeping by transaction volume, and the agent, mailing address, and annual report are each separate. GenZone Advanced is a fixed $999 that bundles Form 5472 and 1120 filing, mail forwarding, banking, and a named advisor, a total you know before the year starts.
*Based on StartGlobal's published prices, the calculable first-year cost is $518.88 to $817.88 before federal tax filing and bookkeeping, depending on whether the $299 annual report service applies. From year two, the calculable recurring cost is $218.88 to $517.88 per year before federal tax filing and bookkeeping. StartGlobal's Pay as you go prices its registered agent at $99/year, its annual report service at $299/year where applicable, a separate US Mailing Address at $9.99/month, federal tax filing by revenue, and bookkeeping by transaction volume, so the final StartGlobal total depends on the services the business needs. GenZone Advanced is a fixed $999/year with Form 1120 and 5472 filing, physical mail forwarding, banking support, and dedicated support included. Figures reflect StartGlobal's publicly listed pricing as reviewed September 2026. Confirm current pricing on StartGlobal's site before deciding.
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It took them under two days to get two US LLCs up and running, with the paperwork submitted. Honestly I couldn't have started my business in the UAE and expanded this quickly. I'm still surprised how fast the CEO, Kevin, jumps in when needed, deep into the night. Clearly dedicated, and it shows.
Super fast, no headaches, amazing support. I opened my company in Dubai, got my UAE residency and ID, and opened two more companies in the US. I didn't have to worry about anything, they handled everything from start to finish. Every time I had a question, I got a reply in under five minutes.
I reached out to several companies to set up my US LLC, and the difference with GenZone was night and day. They set up my LLC in just one day, and I had my EIN and everything sorted within a week. Unbelievably quick. The whole team made what I expected to be a complicated process feel effortless.
We chose GenZone after seeing them on YouTube for Dubai setup. They handled our Dubai FZCO and our residency visas, and the whole process was streamlined and effortless. Communication is top notch, often answered within minutes. They then handled our US LLC too, again super easy. Recommend to anybody.
GenZone is everything they claim they are and more. They helped me start my US LLC in almost no time at all. They act fast and they deliver. Wonderful cooperation, pleased to have used their services.
GenZone made setting up my US LLC as a non-resident incredibly smooth. Albert and the team were super helpful throughout, and the LLC was formed quickly with all documents organized neatly. The EIN took a little longer than expected, but the team followed up and got it sorted. Would definitely recommend to other international entrepreneurs.
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The Full Breakdown
Both GenZone and StartGlobal form US LLCs for non-residents. The primary difference is one fixed annual price versus fees assembled service by service.
The core difference between GenZone Advanced and StartGlobal Pay as you go is the structure of ongoing costs. GenZone Advanced is a fixed $999 annual package. StartGlobal separates the initial formation from every service that follows.
StartGlobal's $399 formation covers state filing, the first year of registered agent service, the EIN application, and guided bank setup. Ongoing services are priced individually: tax filing by revenue, bookkeeping by transaction volume, and a US Mailing Address at $9.99 a month.
GenZone Advanced bundles more. Its $999 annual price includes formation, the registered agent, physical mail forwarding, Form 1120 and 5472 filing, banking support, and dedicated support.
The gap widens after formation. With StartGlobal, the annual total depends on which ongoing services a business adds. With GenZone Advanced, everything listed is in one price, so the cost is clear from the outset.
For a non-resident, the comparison is not just the formation fee. The real question is how fully the advertised price covers ongoing tax, compliance, mail, banking, and support.
What the $399 Formation Covers
StartGlobal's formation is a one-time $399, as confirmed on its pricing page, with state and government fees included. It covers a business name check, state filing, the first year of registered agent service, the EIN application, and guided setup for a US business bank account.
GenZone's Advanced plan folds formation, state fees, the operating agreement, the registered agent, and physical mail forwarding into its $999 annual price.
How Pay as You Go Is Priced
After formation, StartGlobal charges for ongoing services separately. The registered agent renews at $99 a year, the annual report service is $299 a year where applicable, the US Mailing Address is $9.99 a month, bookkeeping is priced by transaction volume, and federal tax filing by revenue.
This lets founders pick only what they need, but the final annual cost varies by state, revenue, transaction volume, and services chosen, rather than a single fixed number.
GenZone's price is set before the year begins. The Advanced plan is $999 annually, whatever the revenue, and includes the compliance components a non-resident needs.
The EIN, Without an SSN
StartGlobal prepares the EIN application as part of formation and confirms it can be obtained without a US Social Security Number. Its pricing page does not specify a turnaround for the Pay as you go EIN service.
Non-residents without an SSN generally cannot use the IRS online application, so it goes in via Form SS-4 through other IRS-approved methods. GenZone handles non-resident EIN processing directly with the IRS, with a stated turnaround of 3 to 5 business days on all its plans.
Form 5472, Priced by Revenue
Foreign-owned US disregarded entities may have an annual Form 5472 reporting obligation when they have reportable transactions with their foreign owner or related parties. When required, the form is attached to a pro forma Form 1120.
A Revenue-Based Price, Not a Fixed One
The IRS can impose a $25,000 penalty for failing to file Form 5472 when required. StartGlobal's page lists Federal Tax Filing as a Pay as you go service priced by revenue, and its Pay as you go page publishes no separate fixed price for these filings.
StartGlobal's Managed LLC materials do include Form 5472 and the pro forma Form 1120. GenZone includes both in its $999 Advanced plan, filed by in-house CPAs, at a price fixed before the year starts.
New to the surrounding paperwork? The guide to W-8 and W-9 forms for foreign owners explains which form applies and when.
A US Address for Real Mail
The Pay as you go plan does not include StartGlobal's separate US Mailing Address, currently listed at $9.99 a month. Its registered agent provides a US address for legal and official correspondence, while the mailing address product is for general business mail.
For a non-resident, that distinction matters, since the two addresses serve different purposes. GenZone's Advanced plan includes physical mail forwarding in its annual price.
Banking: Guided Setup and Hands-On Support
StartGlobal includes guided setup for a US business bank account in its formation fee, referencing providers like Mercury and Lili. Final account approval always rests with the financial institution.
GenZone's banking support, included in the Advanced plan, prepares the documents and supports applications across providers such as Slash, Stripe, and Mercury, having helped open over 3,000 global business accounts. Final approval always rests with the bank.
GenZone is not just a US LLC provider. We build and run your full global structure, from companies to residency to banking.
- Dubai company setup and UAE residency for legal tax repositioning and a 0% position.
- Golden visa and long-term UAE residency for qualified high-net-worth founders and investors.
- UAE accounting and bookkeeping that keeps your Dubai company compliant and clean.
- Business banking across many countries, including the US, Dubai, Panama, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, Liechtenstein, and the Bahamas, plus digital accounts with Wise, Mercury, Relay, Slash, Stripe, and more.
Pricing, Added Up Honestly
GenZone publishes three fixed annual tiers on its US LLC page: Basic at $499, Advanced at $999, and Done-For-You at $1,999.
State fees, the registered agent, and mail forwarding are included from Basic. Form 5472 and 1120 filing, plus banking support, are part of Advanced. Bookkeeping with a dedicated accountant is on Done-For-You.
StartGlobal's Pay as you go has a lower upfront formation price, but the final cost depends on the ongoing services a business needs.
Its published prices include $99/year for the agent, $299/year for the annual report where applicable, $9.99/month for the mailing address, tax filing by revenue, and bookkeeping by volume.
GenZone Advanced is $999/year, bundling formation, the registered agent, mail forwarding, Form 1120 and 5472 filing, banking, and dedicated support into the annual price.
The comparison is less about which starts lower and more about which total is known in advance. Most founders comparing formation services for non-residents weigh the same trade-off.
Support: Pay as You Go, or Dedicated From Day One
StartGlobal's Pay as you go offers individual services, and its pricing page lists priority support under the Managed LLC plan, not Pay as you go.
GenZone pairs its platform with a dedicated representative on WhatsApp, available from the first message through banking, filings, and every renewal, on every plan.
Each Firm Serves a Different Founder
Choose GenZone if you...
- Want Form 5472, mail forwarding, and banking support included in one fixed annual price.
- Need a stated non-resident EIN turnaround of 3 to 5 business days.
- Want a dedicated representative on WhatsApp for all filings and renewals.
- May want a US structure paired with Dubai residency and a UAE company.
StartGlobal may fit if you...
- Prefer a lower upfront formation cost and plan to add services only as needed.
- Are comfortable with federal tax filing priced by revenue.
- Want bookkeeping available a la carte, priced by transaction volume.
- Prefer to select ongoing services individually rather than use a bundled annual plan.
The Difference Comes Down to How You Pay
StartGlobal keeps formation at $399 and lets founders add ongoing services individually: the registered agent, annual reports where applicable, a separate mailing address, bookkeeping, and federal tax filing, each at its own price point.
GenZone Advanced takes a bundled approach at $999 a year, including formation, the registered agent, physical mail forwarding, Form 1120 and 5472 filing, banking support, and dedicated support. The real choice is a modular model versus a fixed annual package for the full non-resident compliance stack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is StartGlobal good for non-resident founders?
StartGlobal forms US LLCs for non-residents and prepares the EIN application without a US Social Security Number. Its Pay as you go model separates ongoing services, including federal tax filing, bookkeeping, and its separate US Mailing Address. GenZone Advanced bundles Form 5472 filing, mail forwarding, banking, and a named advisor into one $999 annual price.
How does StartGlobal's Pay as you go pricing work?
After the one-time $399 formation fee, ongoing services are priced separately: the registered agent is $99/year, the annual report service $299/year where applicable, the US Mailing Address $9.99/month, bookkeeping by transaction volume, and federal tax filing by revenue. The total depends on the services the business needs. GenZone Advanced is a fixed $999.
Is StartGlobal's $399 formation fee one-time?
Yes. StartGlobal's $399 formation fee is a one-time payment covering state fees, the first year of registered agent service, the EIN application, guided bank setup, and the listed formation documents. Ongoing services are billed separately. GenZone Advanced folds those ongoing pieces into one $999 annual price.
Does StartGlobal file Form 5472 for foreign-owned LLCs?
StartGlobal's Pay as you go lists Federal Tax Filing as an add-on priced by revenue, rather than a separate fixed Form 5472 price; its Managed LLC plan includes Form 5472 and the pro forma Form 1120. GenZone includes Form 1120 and 5472 in its $999 Advanced plan, filed by in-house CPAs at a fixed price.
Does StartGlobal include a US mailing address?
Not as part of the Pay as you go plan. StartGlobal lists a separate US Mailing Address at $9.99/month. Its registered agent provides a US address for legal and official correspondence, which differs from a general business mailing address. GenZone's Advanced plan includes physical mail forwarding in the annual price.
Does StartGlobal help open a US bank account?
Yes. Guided setup through providers like Mercury and Lili is included in the $399 formation fee. GenZone prepares the documents and supports applications across Slash, Stripe, Mercury, and more, having helped open over 3,000 global business accounts. Final approval always rests with the bank.
Does StartGlobal have a lower upfront price than GenZone Advanced?
StartGlobal's formation is $399 against GenZone Advanced at $999 a year, but the two cover different scopes. StartGlobal charges for ongoing services separately, while GenZone Advanced bundles the non-resident compliance stack, mail forwarding, banking, and support into one fixed annual price known in advance.
Can I switch to GenZone after forming with StartGlobal?
Yes. An existing LLC can generally change its registered agent and move ongoing compliance, banking support, and Form 5472 filing to a different provider without reincorporating, subject to state procedures. GenZone can take over the full non-resident stack at a fixed annual price.
What is the main difference between GenZone Advanced and StartGlobal Pay as you go?
StartGlobal separates formation from ongoing services, so founders add each one individually and the total varies. GenZone Advanced bundles formation, compliance, Form 5472 and 1120 filing, banking, mail forwarding, dedicated support, and a US plus Dubai option into one fixed $999 annual price.