Firstbase is a legitimate US company formation service. Its Start package is $399 one-time and covers Delaware or Wyoming formation, state filing fees, an expedited EIN, and core documents, with guidance to a US bank account, including for non-residents. The registered agent is a separate add-on, and the honest thing to watch is add-on and renewal charges, all of which are easy to manage. Below are honest answers to the exact questions people ask before paying.
There are no secret charges buried in the $399: it covers formation, state filing fees, an expedited EIN, and documents. The costs people call hidden are usually the registered agent at $299 per year per state (sold separately) and optional add-ons you can decline, plus your state's own annual fees. Read the order summary and you will see every line.
Firstbase's core Start package is $399 one-time (as of 2026, confirm at checkout) and covers formation, state filing fees, an expedited EIN, and essential documents. The registered agent is sold separately at $299 per year per state, and the Firstbase One bundle is $199 per month if you want mailroom, agent, accounting, and tax filing added.
Firstbase's registered agent, sold as Agent Autopilot, costs $299 per year per state and is sold separately from the $399 formation package. Whether year one is bundled into the $399 is not clearly stated on their pricing page, so confirm at checkout whether you are paying for the agent now or on your first renewal.
For most founders who want a lean, banking-ready US company set up correctly the first time, yes: Firstbase's $399 one-time Start package covers formation, state filing fees, an expedited EIN, and the core legal documents, which is strong value versus doing it piece by piece. As of 2026, confirm the exact price at checkout since pricing changes.
Firstbase One at $199 per month ($2,388 per year) is worth it if you want mailroom, registered agent, accounting, and tax filing handled in one subscription. If you only need to form the company and open a bank account, the one-time $399 Start package is the better value.
For most founders, an LLC is the simpler, cheaper, more flexible choice, and Firstbase forms it with everything you need. Choose a Delaware C-Corp instead if you plan to raise venture capital or issue stock options, since that is what investors expect.
Firstbase lets you form in Delaware or Wyoming at the same package price. Pick Wyoming for a low-cost, privacy-friendly LLC with cheaper annual upkeep. Pick Delaware if you plan to raise venture capital or want the state investors and lawyers know best.
The $399 Start package (as of 2026, confirm at checkout) includes Delaware or Wyoming formation, the state filing fees, an expedited EIN, and essential legal documents (operating agreement, bylaws, stock purchase agreements), plus help opening a US bank account. The registered agent is sold separately at $299 per year per state.
Yes. You do not need to be a US citizen or resident, hold a US visa, or have an SSN to form a US company through Firstbase. Non-resident founders are one of Firstbase's core audiences, and it handles the formation, the EIN, and US bank account guidance for you.
Yes. Firstbase obtains your EIN from the IRS even if you have no Social Security number. For non-residents without an SSN it files the application by fax or mail on your behalf, so you do not have to navigate the IRS process yourself.
State formation is usually quick, often a few business days, especially with expedited filing. The EIN is the variable: US founders with an SSN can get one in minutes, while non-residents without an SSN usually wait several weeks because the IRS, not Firstbase, sets that pace.
Yes. A US company formed through Firstbase works with standard payment processors, including Stripe. Once you have your EIN and a US bank account, you can create a Stripe account and start accepting card payments.
Yes, Firstbase includes guidance to open a US bank account and routes you to founder-friendly fintechs like Mercury. It gets you formation-ready with an EIN and documents, but no service can guarantee approval, since that decision belongs to the bank.
Choose Firstbase for a flexible, banking-ready LLC or C-Corp in Delaware or Wyoming, especially as a non-resident. Choose Stripe Atlas if you are on the venture-capital track and want a Delaware C-Corp with an 83(b) filing and Stripe perks.
Yes, if you value a smooth EIN and banking experience and fewer upsells to sort through, Firstbase is worth the higher price. Bizee is cheaper to start (often $0 plus state fee) but upsells heavily, and its EIN and banking support are lighter than Firstbase's.
Northwest is cheaper on paper at $39 plus state fees with a free first year of registered agent, and it is the best value if you will handle your EIN and banking yourself. Firstbase costs more at $399 but earns it by getting your expedited EIN and US bank account sorted, which matters most for non-residents.
Buy Firstbase if you want a lean, one-time formation with a real EIN and banking help, including as a non-resident. Choose Doola instead if you want bookkeeping and tax filing bundled into a yearly subscription from day one.
Firstbase can often refund the service portion of your order if you cancel before the state filing is submitted, but once your company has been filed with the state and your EIN requested, the state filing fees are non-refundable because they are paid to the government. Check their current refund terms at checkout and act quickly if you change your mind.
Cancel any recurring Firstbase service inside your dashboard before the renewal date, not by email. Find the registered agent or subscription in your account settings, cancel it there, and keep a screenshot of the confirmation. Calendar the renewal date minus 30 days so you always act with time to spare.
Yes. Your LLC and EIN are yours, not Firstbase's, so cancelling Firstbase services does not dissolve your company or revoke your EIN. Just appoint a replacement registered agent before Firstbase's stops covering you, and keep your formation documents.
Yes. You can keep your Firstbase-formed company and simply appoint a cheaper registered agent (for example Northwest at $125 per year) with a quick state filing, then decline the Firstbase Agent Autopilot renewal. Your LLC, EIN, and bank account are unaffected as long as there is no coverage gap.
Most likely no. As of the FinCEN interim final rule (effective March 2025 and still in effect in mid-2026), US-formed domestic LLCs and US persons are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information reporting. Only foreign-formed entities registered to do business in the US must file. Since a normal Firstbase LLC is US-formed, it generally does not need a BOI report.
Your main recurring costs are the state's annual fee and a registered agent. Expect roughly $60 per year in Wyoming or $300 per year in Delaware for the state, plus about $299 per year if you keep Firstbase's Agent Autopilot. Firstbase's $399 Start fee is one-time, not annual.
Firstbase handles the formation, expedited EIN, and banking guidance in one flow, including for non-residents. Transparent pricing, and the company is yours to keep.