Does Firstbase have hidden fees beyond the $399?

The honest answer is that the $399 Start package is not a bait-and-switch: it genuinely covers formation, the state filing fees, an expedited EIN, and your essential documents. What surprises some people is that the registered agent (Agent Autopilot) is a separate $299 per year per state. Every US company legally needs a registered agent, so factor this in from the start. Whether year one is included in the $399 is not confirmed on their pricing page, so confirm at checkout.

The other thing readers call a hidden fee is add-ons offered during checkout, such as extra compliance or premium services. These are optional. You can decline anything you did not come for and still walk away with a fully formed company and an EIN. The complaints you may have seen are usually about add-ons stacking past the $399 headline, which is avoidable simply by reading each line before you pay.

Separately, your state charges ongoing fees that no formation service can waive: a Delaware LLC pays a flat $300 franchise tax per year, a Delaware C-Corp pays a minimum $175 franchise tax plus a $50 annual report, and a Wyoming LLC annual report runs about $60 minimum. These are the owner's costs, not a Firstbase surcharge, but they are worth budgeting for so nothing feels like a surprise later.

Protect yourself with a quick checklist: screenshot the order summary so you have a record, decline add-ons you do not need, note the renewal date on the registered agent and any subscription, and calendar that date minus 30 days. If you ever want to stop a recurring service, cancel inside the dashboard rather than by email, which avoids the auto-renew friction some users have reported.

So: no true hidden fees, but real separate costs. Go in knowing the registered agent and state fees exist, and the $399 does exactly what it says. That transparency, plus the fact that you own the company outright, is what makes it a low-risk start.