Firstbase review: what foreign founders get, pay and should check

This Firstbase review is for founders and executives outside the United States who are weighing a US company. Firstbase pairs a low-cost formation bundle in Delaware or Wyoming with a menu of paid ongoing services: registered agent, mailroom, accounting and tax filing. Whether it fits you depends less on the formation price and more on whether you want those ongoing services from one provider.

Greatweek is a commercial growth and US market-entry agency. It is not a law firm, tax advisor or formation service, and it has no affiliate relationship with Firstbase or any other vendor named here. All prices below were read on the Firstbase pricing page in October 2026 and can change at any time.

What the formation bundle includes

The entry product is called Start. As of October 2026, Firstbase lists it at $99 one-time, with a $399 figure shown beside it that appears to be the list price. The bundle covers formation in Delaware or Wyoming, an expedited EIN application and, in Firstbase's words, "Zero filing fees for all required documents".

The Firstbase homepage also carries a banner that reads "Formation is on us. Pay only your state fee." No end date is shown. Treat it as a promotion and confirm what you will actually be charged at checkout.

The state fee is separate from what Firstbase charges. Delaware's fee schedule, revised August 1, 2026, lists $109 to file a certificate of incorporation (the amount varies based on stock) and $110 to form a domestic LLC. Wyoming's schedule, effective July 1, 2026, lists $100 for either.

Two conditions on the pricing page deserve attention. Firstbase states that "A US address is required for incorporation" and that "Registered agent services are required for incorporation". In practice, the formation price is the start of the bill, not the whole of it.

What it costs after formation

The registered agent product, which Firstbase calls Agent or Autopilot, is listed at $299 per year per state as of October 2026. The page says it covers registered agent and foreign qualification in all 50 states, annual report and franchise tax filings, BOI filings and compliance reminders.

A note on BOI. FinCEN issued a final rule on August 11, 2026 that permanently removes beneficial ownership reporting for US companies and US persons. A Delaware or Wyoming company is a US company, so it is exempt. BOI reporting now applies only to companies formed under foreign law that register to do business in a US state. The BOI feature therefore matters mainly if your foreign parent registers directly in a state.

The other paid services, as listed on the Firstbase pricing page in October 2026:

The $1,799 tax filing includes Form 1120, Form 5472 and state returns. The $899 package for non-US-owned single-member LLCs covers the pro forma Form 1120 with Form 5472.

If you prefer one bundle, Firstbase One is listed at $199 per month or $2,388 billed yearly. Check exactly which of the services above it includes before you compare it with buying them separately.

Where Firstbase fits for non-US founders

Firstbase says its tax filing serves "US-based or international founders" and offers a dedicated package for non-US-owned single-member LLCs. That package matters because the IRS Form 5472 instructions (Rev. December 2024) require a foreign-owned US disregarded entity to file a pro forma Form 1120 with Form 5472 attached.

The penalty for failing to file Form 5472 is $25,000, plus a further $25,000 if the failure continues more than 90 days after IRS notification. A founder who forms a single-member LLC and overlooks this filing carries a real risk, so a provider that bundles it has practical value.

Firstbase also suits founders who want a Wyoming option. Stripe Atlas, for example, forms in Delaware only. If you have already decided that a Wyoming LLC suits your plans, Firstbase is one of the services that offers it. For the entity decision itself, read Greatweek's guide to choosing between a Delaware C corp and an LLC.

Finally, Firstbase suits founders who would rather have one provider for agent, mail, accounting and tax than assemble several.

Where it may not fit

If you plan to raise from US institutional investors, you will want founder equity, an 83(b) filing where relevant and standard fundraising documents set up from day one. The Firstbase pricing details read for this review focus on formation, compliance, accounting and tax. Ask Firstbase what equity and fundraising documents are included, and compare the answer with services built around a fundraising C corporation.

If your US company will be a subsidiary of an established parent, ask Firstbase whether its process supports a corporate shareholder before you start. That was not stated on the pages Greatweek read.

If your budget is tight, look at the annual total rather than the formation price. Registered agent and tax filing alone come to $1,198 a year for a non-US-owned single-member LLC ($299 plus $899) at October 2026 prices, before mailroom or accounting.

That annual total is easier to judge once you know what the US company has to achieve. Greatweek's US Market Entry work covers the commercial side: whether the US opportunity is real at your stage or a year too early, which buyers to target first and which route to market fits your economics. The free US Market Entry Playbook walks through the same questions. Formation and filings stay with the provider and your advisors.

What to check before you sign up

Work through these four questions with Firstbase before you commit.

1. 1Confirm the formation charge at checkout and whether the homepage promotion applies to you.
2. 2Ask how long formation and EIN issuance take for a founder without an SSN or ITIN. Firstbase's current timelines could not be confirmed for this review, so do not plan around a figure you have seen elsewhere.
3. 3Ask which banks are available. The pricing page says you can "Open a business bank account with one of our banking partners" but does not name them.
4. 4Ask how you would move the registered agent service to another provider later, and what that would cost.

Frequently asked questions

Is Firstbase legit for non-US founders?

Firstbase publishes its prices, offers tax filing aimed at international founders and has a specific package for non-US-owned single-member LLCs. As with any vendor, read its terms and ask for current timelines before you commit.

How much does Firstbase cost per year?

As of October 2026, the formation bundle is $99 one-time plus state fees, and the registered agent service is $299 per year per state. Tax filing is $899 or $1,799 per year depending on entity type. Your total depends on which services you add.

Does Firstbase form companies in Wyoming?

Yes. As of October 2026 the Start bundle covers Delaware or Wyoming.

Do I still need to file BOI if I use Firstbase?

Not for a US-formed company. FinCEN's August 2026 final rule exempts US companies. A foreign company registered to do business in a US state still has to report.

Firstbase is one reasonable route among several. See how it compares in Stripe Atlas vs doola vs Firstbase, and read the wider case in the benefits of incorporating in the US. If you are still deciding whether a US entity is the right next step, Greatweek's 20-minute US Entry Review looks at the commercial evidence first. Confirm entity, tax and filing questions with a qualified US tax advisor or corporate lawyer before you act.