doola used Anvil's Etch E-sign embedded signatures with interactive signing for business formation agreements and tax forms, simplifying the company creation process for international entrepreneurs.
The Company
doola helps founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners start and run US businesses, including international founders based outside the United States. Its all-in-one back office covers LLC and C-corp formation, registered agent services, EINs, guidance on applying for a US business bank account, bookkeeping, and business tax filings and compliance. No US residency or Social Security number is required, and doola has served more than 32,000 founders across more than 175 countries.
The Problem
Starting a US business involves substantial legal documentation. Entrepreneurs must sign formation documents (articles of organization for LLCs, articles of incorporation for C-corps), operating agreements, tax forms (including SS-4 for EIN applications and various IRS forms), banking documents, and compliance paperwork. Each document requires specific information about the business, its owners, and its structure.
For international entrepreneurs, this documentation challenge is amplified. They may not be familiar with US legal documents, they're working across time zones, and they need a signing process that works from anywhere in the world. Traditional approaches requiring printed documents, notarization, or in-person signatures are simply not feasible.
Before implementing a sophisticated signing solution, doola needed to balance two competing priorities: making the signing process simple enough for entrepreneurs unfamiliar with US business formation, while collecting legally valid signatures on documents with real legal and tax implications. The documents must be properly executed to be accepted by state governments, the IRS, and financial institutions.
Additionally, doola needed flexibility around signature methods. Some documents require more formal signature collection, while others might be processed more efficiently with different signing approaches.
The Solution
doola implemented embedded signatures with interactive signing powered by Anvil, creating a seamless signing experience integrated directly into their business formation workflow.
When entrepreneurs complete doola's business formation process, they provide all necessary information about their business, ownership structure, and personal details. This information flows into Anvil, which generates the complete set of formation documents (operating agreements, tax forms, and other required legal paperwork) with all fields pre-populated.
The signing experience uses Anvil's embedded interactive signing, which is integrated directly into doola's platform. Entrepreneurs don't need to leave doola's interface or manage external signing links. Instead, they see their documents presented clearly within the platform, with visual indicators showing exactly where signatures are required.
Interactive signing is particularly valuable for the complex, multi-page legal documents involved in business formation. As entrepreneurs work through the documents, they can see their progress, understand what they're signing, and complete the process efficiently. The interactive nature ensures they don't miss signature fields or incorrectly place signatures.
For certain document types, doola can configure different signing methods based on the document's requirements and the entrepreneur's situation. This flexibility ensures that the signing approach matches the document's legal requirements while keeping the experience as streamlined as possible.
All signed documents are automatically organized within doola's platform, creating a complete digital file for each business formation. Entrepreneurs receive copies of all signed documents, and doola maintains the records needed for ongoing compliance support.
By implementing embedded signatures with interactive signing, doola created a business formation experience that works for international entrepreneurs, making the complex process of starting a US business accessible from anywhere in the world while ensuring all legal documents are properly executed.
