Firstbase vs Clerky: Side-by-Side Comparison
Side-by-side comparison across 11 dimensions. Data is approximate and for informational purposes only.
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| Dimension | Firstbase | Clerky |
|---|---|---|
| Entity Types | LLC, C-Corp | C-Corp |
| Setup Fee | $399 | $819 (one-time) |
| Annual Fee | $299/yr per state (Firstbase Agent) | $125/yr DE registered agent (yr 2+) |
| Timeline | 1–3 business days | 1–3 business days |
| States Available | Delaware or Wyoming (foreign qualification in all 50 states post-formation) | Delaware only |
| EIN Filing | Included | Included (fax path; no US taxpayer ID needed) |
| Registered Agent | Not included — Firstbase Agent required, from $299/yr per state | Included (first year only; $125/yr after) |
| Banking Integration | Marketplace (apply/referral): Mercury, Payoneer, Relay, Brex — partner approval required | Apply flow: Mercury/Brex/Rho/JPM/Arc/Ramp |
| Compliance Support | Full (GS assessment) | Minimal (GS assessment) |
| Non-Resident Support | Full (GS assessment) | Partial (GS assessment) |
| Platform Type | Full-service | Full-service |
Key Notes
Firstbase
Built specifically for non-US founders, and it does deliver every leg — but almost nothing is inside the headline price. The $399 Start fee does NOT include registered agent (Firstbase Agent is a separate $299/yr, charged per state), so year one is $698 plus state fees while every other service in this table bundles the first year. If you have no US address of your own, Firstbase Mailroom is mandatory, from $35/month. Firstbase will get your EIN without an SSN or ITIN, and says so plainly — expect 20-30 business days against 1-3 with one. Annual reports, franchise tax and BOI are filed for you only at Agent Autopilot ($299/yr/state); the cheaper Light tier only reminds you. Formation is Delaware or Wyoming only; other states require foreign qualification as a separate paid step afterwards. Tax filing (Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120 for foreign-owned single-member LLCs) is a separate add-on at $1,799/yr per package. Firstbase also publishes a restricted list of 22 countries (including Venezuela) whose residents it cannot onboard.
Clerky
Specialized for VC-backed startups. One-time fee covers incorporation, bylaws, stock issuance, and founder agreements. Used by Y Combinator companies. It has the clearest no-taxpayer-ID EIN path of anyone here — "You do not need a US taxpayer ID to apply by fax", and Clerky walks you through it — though the IRS side takes "a month or more". Two caveats for a non-resident: Clerky says it has no geographic restrictions but adds that "our standard products are designed for U.S. founders", and Indian FEMA residents are told to contact them rather than sign up. On compliance it sells reminders, not filings: "no ongoing platform fees" is true of Clerky but not of your company, which still owes the Delaware registered agent fee ($125/yr, invoiced directly by CSC from year two) and Delaware franchise tax (~$400+ for early-stage startups) — and you file those yourself.
What Real Users Say
Anonymized and paraphrased observations from founder communities, review platforms, and forums.
Clerky is for founders who have legal counsel and want clean incorporation docs for a Delaware C-Corp. Firstbase is for founders who want the whole formation handled end-to-end.
Source: Reddit r/startupsVC-backed founders whose lawyers specify Clerky tend to use Clerky. Solo founders without legal counsel often find Firstbase less overwhelming.
Source: Founder communitiesClerky ongoing compliance tools (409A, board consents) are stronger than anything Firstbase offers post-formation. Benefiting from them requires familiarity with those instruments.
Source: G2 reviewsFrequently Asked Questions
How We Compared
We collected pricing, included services, non-resident support levels, and formation timelines from each provider's public website. Costs are compared at initial setup and annual renewal rates.
Disclaimer: All data on this page is approximate and for informational purposes only. Pricing, features, and availability change frequently. This is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify all figures directly with each provider before making decisions. Data reflects conditions as of early 2026.
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