Firstbase review

Firstbase is the most startup-shaped provider in this comparison. The pitch is a US company, an EIN, a bank introduction and a compliance dashboard in one place. That is genuinely useful if you are building a venture-track startup. It is overkill if you are a solo consultant with a laptop and an accountant.

The Start package

The pricing page shows $99 against a $399 list price, plus state fees, for the Start package. It includes company formation in Delaware or Wyoming, expedited EIN setup, essential documents and access to banking partners. The page says registered-agent services are required for incorporation and prices the agent at $299. The $99 is a promotional price; the list price is the number to use for a multi-year budget.

Firstbase also sells Firstbase One at $199/month billed yearly at $2,388, which includes registered agent, annual report filings, compliance reminders, mailroom and other services. Tax filing and accounting are separate add-ons. Check what the bundle covers before comparing it with a US CPA's quote.

What is good

• EIN is included. For a non-resident, the EIN is the step most likely to cause a delay; having it in the package is a real convenience.
• Startup-oriented stack. Banking introductions, documents, compliance reminders and a dashboard are designed for founders who are hiring or raising.
• Registered agent in all 50 states. The agent add-on is national, which matters if you later foreign-qualify in another state.
• Clear upgrade path. If you need annual reports, mailroom or tax filing, the One bundle is a single place to buy them.

What to watch

• Only Delaware and Wyoming formation. If you want New Mexico or Florida, Firstbase's Start package is not the right product.
• The $99 price is promotional. Budget the $399 list price for year two and three comparisons, even if you pay $99 today.
• The agent is $299. That is the highest agent price in this comparison. Over three years it dominates the total.
• The One bundle is a subscription. $2,388 a year is a real operating cost for a pre-revenue company. Compare it with a US accountant and a standalone agent.
• No EU tax advice. The dashboard covers US compliance, not your Dutch or Polish return.

Who it is for

A startup founder who wants a Delaware or Wyoming entity, an EIN, a bank introduction and a compliance dashboard without assembling four vendors. It is also a sensible choice if you are preparing to raise and want the documents and cap-table basics in one place.

Who it is not for

A solo consultant or e-commerce seller who wants the lowest fixed cost, or a founder who wants New Mexico or Florida. In those cases, Northwest or a DIY filing plus a standalone agent is usually cheaper.

The three-year cost

Wyoming at the promotional price: $100 state + $99 Start + $299 agent = $498 in year one; $60 state + $299 agent = $359 a year after that. At the list price, year one is $798. Delaware: $70 + $99 + $299 = $468 in year one, then $400 + $299 = $699 a year. The agent renewal, not the formation fee, is the number that matters.

Verdict

Firstbase is a good startup package with a high ongoing cost. If you need the bundle and the bank introduction, it can save time. If you are optimizing for a simple LLC, the $299 agent and the promotional-to-list price transition make it hard to recommend over Northwest. Read the current pricing page and confirm the state availability before you buy.