Doola is one of the most popular formation services for non-US founders. You pay, they handle your Delaware LLC or C-Corp formation, EIN application, registered agent, compliance reminders, and often bookkeeping and tax filing.
But there's one thing doola doesn't provide: a US phone number.
What Doola Gives You
- LLC or C-Corp formation in Delaware or Wyoming
- EIN (Employer Identification Number) — doola applies on your behalf
- Registered agent — required by Delaware, included in doola's package
- US mailing address — for official correspondence
- Compliance calendar — reminders for annual reports, franchise tax, etc.
- Optional add-ons — bookkeeping, tax filing, bank account assistance
This covers the legal and administrative foundation. But as soon as you start operating — opening a bank account, setting up Stripe, signing up for business tools, creating invoices — you hit the phone number gap.
Why Doola Doesn't Include a Phone Number
It makes sense when you think about it. Doola is a formation and compliance service. A phone number is an ongoing operational cost that varies by use case. Some founders need a full business phone system. Others just need a number to put on forms. Bundling a phone number into formation packages would add complexity and cost for something not every customer needs.
Doola's website mentions OpenPhone as a recommended solution.
OpenPhone: Doola's Recommended Option
OpenPhone is a legitimate business VoIP platform. Here's what you get:
- Full business phone system with calling, texting, voicemail
- Mobile and desktop apps for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
- Shared numbers for teams
- CRM integrations with HubSpot, Salesforce, etc.
- Auto-attendant and call routing
Cost: $15/month per user
For a solo founder who just needs a number on file, OpenPhone is like buying a Swiss Army knife when you need a screwdriver. It's a great product, but it has features and a price point designed for teams that actively use their phone for business communication.
IncNumber: The Number-on-File Alternative
IncNumber is built for a different use case: you need a US phone number to exist, not to have conversations on.
- Real US local phone number — works on any form, any registration
- SMS forwarded to your email — every text message arrives in your inbox, no app needed
- Professional voice greeting — callers hear a message, no need to answer calls in English
- No app required — everything works through email
Cost: $7/month
No calling features, no CRM integration, no team management. Just a number that works when someone texts it or when a form requires one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | OpenPhone | IncNumber |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $15 | $7 |
| Annual cost | $180 | $84 |
| Make outbound calls | Yes | No |
| Receive calls | Yes (app) | Greeting only |
| SMS | In-app | Forwarded to email |
| Mobile/desktop app | Yes | Not needed |
| Team features | Yes | No |
| CRM integration | Yes | No |
| Account required | Yes | Yes |
| Non-US setup | Yes | Yes |
Which Doola Customers Need What
You need OpenPhone ($15/mo) if:
- You take customer calls regularly
- You make outbound sales or support calls
- You need to text customers back and forth
- Your team shares a phone number
- You want CRM integration for call logging
You need IncNumber ($7/mo) if:
- You need a US number for your doola LLC's forms and registrations
- Your bank, Stripe, or other services require a US phone number on file
- You want to receive SMS notifications (verification codes, alerts)
- You don't actually talk on the phone for business
- You want the cheapest option that works
Most doola customers fall into the second category
Doola's core customer is a non-US founder who just incorporated a US company. At this stage, you're setting up infrastructure — bank account, payment processing, business tools. You need a phone number that passes form validation and receives SMS. You don't need a phone system.
The $96/year difference ($180 for OpenPhone vs. $84 for IncNumber) adds up when you're counting every dollar of your US company's overhead.
Save $96/year on your doola LLC's phone number
$7/month for a real US phone number. SMS forwarded to email, no app needed, cancel anytime. Everything doola doesn't include, at less than half the cost of OpenPhone.
Get your US number →A Note on VoIP Limitations
Both OpenPhone and IncNumber are VoIP services. This means both face the same limitation: some financial institutions detect VoIP numbers and may not deliver verification codes to them. This is an industry-wide reality, not specific to any one provider.
For bank login 2FA and similar financial verification, a mobile carrier SIM (T-Mobile, Mint Mobile prepaid) may be necessary. Neither a $7/month nor a $15/month VoIP service can guarantee compatibility with every financial institution's verification system.