Firstbase vs Doola: 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 | Doola |
|---|---|---|
| Entity Types | LLC, C-Corp | LLC, C-Corp |
| Setup Fee | $399 | $297/yr + state fees (Starter) |
| Annual Fee | $299/yr per state (Firstbase Agent) | $297/yr (Starter; same subscription as formation) |
| Timeline | 1–3 business days | 1–2 business days |
| States Available | Delaware or Wyoming (foreign qualification in all 50 states post-formation) | All 50 states |
| EIN Filing | Included | Included |
| Registered Agent | Not included — Firstbase Agent required, from $299/yr per state | Included |
| Banking Integration | Marketplace (apply/referral): Mercury, Payoneer, Relay, Brex — partner approval required | Guidance to open a US bank account; Mercury and Relay are Marketplace partners |
| Compliance Support | Full (GS assessment) | Partial (GS assessment) |
| Non-Resident Support | Full (GS assessment) | Full (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.
Doola
Full-service formation for non-US founders, and the clearest published answer in this table on the questions that decide it: no SSN needed, no US address needed, and doola obtains the EIN either way. Registered agent is bundled free with formation. Two things to hold it to, though. doola publishes FOUR mutually inconsistent no-SSN EIN timelines across live pages — 4-6 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 2-4 months, and 2-3 weeks expedited — so no single figure is quotable; on the $297 Starter plan, expect the non-expedited one. And on compliance it reminds reliably but files ambiguously: the "we file your annual report for you" promise is attached to a "Premium Plan" that no longer exists, while the current $2,999 top plan describes the same thing as "reminders and guided help".
What Real Users Say
Anonymized and paraphrased observations from founder communities, review platforms, and forums.
Firstbase formation is faster (often same-day state filing). Doola takes longer but includes more post-formation services in the base price.
Source: G2 reviewsDoola bookkeeping is basic — fine for simple LLCs, not enough for founders with multiple revenue streams or international income. Firstbase does not include bookkeeping at all.
Source: Reddit r/EntrepreneurBoth have aggressive renewal pricing. Check year 2 and year 3 costs before comparing — the formation fee is the smallest part of the total.
Source: Trustpilot 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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