Firstbase (firstbase.io) is a US company formation product built specifically for global founders. The value proposition is nearly identical to doola's — Wyoming or Delaware LLC formation, EIN acquisition, registered agent, bank introduction — but the product experience is visibly more polished. For founders who'll reference their formation provider's dashboard regularly, the UX delta matters.
What Firstbase includes
Start plan (~$399 + state fees)
- State filing (Wyoming default, Delaware optional)
- EIN acquired via Form SS-4 submission
- Registered agent service for year one
- US business address with mail scanning
- Mercury bank account introduction (high approval rate)
- Operating agreement template
- Dashboard with compliance tracking
Agent package ($25/month ongoing, separate)
- Continued registered agent service
- Compliance calendar with deadline reminders
- Annual report filing assistance
- Document storage
Tax package (custom pricing)
- Federal tax return preparation
- State tax handling
- Bookkeeping integration options
- CPA consultation
Pricing comparison
| Firstbase Start | doola Starter | Stripe Atlas | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-time cost | $399 + state fees | $297 + state fees | $500 flat |
| Year-1 RA | Included | Included | Included |
| Year-2+ RA | $25/mo ($300/yr) | Varies | $125/yr |
| Mercury intro | Strong | Good | Strong |
| Dashboard polish | Best of the three | Adequate | Adequate |
| Delaware focus | Balanced | Wyoming lean | Delaware lean |
Where Firstbase wins
Dashboard and UX quality
The MyFirstbase dashboard is the most polished of the three major global-founder formation services. Compliance timeline, document storage, filing status, bank account health, and tax obligations all visible in one clean interface. If you'll reference your formation provider's dashboard monthly, Firstbase's UX saves real friction over time.
Mercury approval track record
Firstbase has one of the strongest track records among formation services for Mercury account approval. The intro relationship is well-established and bank-side reviewers recognize Firstbase applications favorably.
Support responsiveness
Chat and email responses typically arrive within a few hours during business hours. Technical questions get routed to knowledgeable agents rather than generic support. Not Kinsta-level, but clearly above doola's average pace.
Transparent pricing
Firstbase publishes package prices clearly. No surprise add-ons during checkout. The "you pay what you see" experience reduces friction for first-time founders who've been burned by aggressive upsell flows at other services.
Where Firstbase is more expensive
- ~$100 more than doola for functionally comparable Starter packages.
- $25/month ongoing Agent package adds up: $300/year vs Northwest's $125/year for equivalent registered-agent service.
- EIN timing is similar to doola and Stripe Atlas — 3-6 weeks typical. No speed advantage over competitors.
- Stripe account is not pre-configured (unlike Stripe Atlas). You add Stripe separately after bank account opens.
Firstbase vs doola — direct comparison
These are the two closest competitors in the global-founder formation space. Key differences:
- Firstbase is $100 more expensive one-time but has a more polished product experience.
- doola has more aggressive tax-compliance bundling. Total Compliance at $297/year is a cleaner bundle than Firstbase's custom-priced tax packages.
- Firstbase's dashboard is better; doola's content marketing is more present.
- Both have similar Mercury approval rates when applications are well-prepared.
Net: if you value product polish and Mercury reliability, Firstbase. If you value tax bundle clarity and lower cost, doola. Both are defensible choices; neither is meaningfully better.
Who should pick Firstbase
- Global founders who'll reference their formation dashboard regularly.
- Founders willing to pay $100 more for a better product experience.
- Non-US founders who want near-guaranteed Mercury approval.
- First-time founders who benefit from polished onboarding flow.
Who should look elsewhere
- Cost-sensitive founders who prioritize lowest total cost → Northwest DIY (~$225 year-one including Mercury separately).
- Founders who want bundled Stripe setup → Stripe Atlas.
- Founders who specifically want tax compliance bundled at fixed price → doola Total Compliance.
- Delaware C-Corp founders on VC track → Stripe Atlas's Delaware flow is more native.
FAQ
How long does Firstbase take end-to-end?
Formation filing: 1-2 business days. EIN acquisition: 3-6 weeks (IRS-controlled, not Firstbase-controlled). Mercury approval: 1-3 business days once EIN is in hand. Total "decide to form" → "can accept payments" typically 4-7 weeks.
Is Firstbase's Agent package worth $25/month?
Only if you value the compliance dashboard and deadline-reminder system. For bare registered-agent service, Northwest at $125/year is cheaper and functionally equivalent. The Agent package includes more than just RA; decide if those extras are worth $175/year premium over Northwest.
Can I switch to a different registered agent later?
Yes. Registered agent changes are standard — file a Statement of Change with your state. Common reason to switch: Firstbase's $25/month adds up over years if you don't use the dashboard features.
Does Firstbase handle Delaware formations?
Yes, but Wyoming is the default recommendation. For Delaware C-Corp on VC track, Stripe Atlas is more polished than either Firstbase or doola.
What happens if Mercury declines my application?
Firstbase's relationship with Mercury helps but doesn't guarantee. Declined applications typically retry with Relay or via direct Mercury re-application after addressing issues. Firstbase's support helps troubleshoot.
Last verified April 2026.