Choose doola if you want ongoing compliance and bookkeeping bundled into one annual plan you do not have to think about. Choose Firstbase if you want a lower entry price, a modular back office you add to selectively, or a C-corporation. Both form legally identical companies, so the decision is really about how much ongoing work you want to outsource.
doola vs Firstbase at a glance
| Dimension | doola | Firstbase |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | From ~$297/yr + state fee | From $399 + state fee |
| Pricing model | Annual subscription tiers | One-off formation plus modular add-ons |
| Entity types | LLC focus; C-corp available | LLC and C-corp |
| Built primarily for | Non-US residents needing ongoing compliance | Founders wanting a modular US back office |
| EIN without SSN/ITIN | Yes, via Form SS-4 | Yes, via Form SS-4 |
| Registered agent | Typically bundled into tiers | Recurring, often priced separately |
| Bookkeeping / tax | Bundled in higher tiers (Total Compliance ~$1,999/yr) | Add-on, priced separately |
| Banking | Introductions only - never guaranteed | Introductions only - never guaranteed |
| Where cost escalates | Jumping to the compliance/bookkeeping tier | Stacking add-ons plus year-two renewals |
Pricing is a research snapshot last checked 2026-07-21 and changes often. Confirm current pricing on each provider’s own site.
Which one fits your situation?
| If this is you | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want one annual bill that covers compliance | doola | Tiers bundle filings and bookkeeping so nothing is billed per item. |
| You want the lowest realistic entry cost | Firstbase | Lower headline price if you skip add-ons - but check year-two renewals. |
| You are forming a C-corp to raise US capital | Firstbase | Stronger C-corp support, though Stripe Atlas is purpose-built for this case. |
| You are dormant or pre-revenue | Neither tier - go lean | Direct filing plus a specialist CPA for Form 5472 is usually cheapest. |
| You would genuinely forget your filings | doola | A missed Form 5472 penalty starts at $25,000 - the bundle can pay for itself. |
| You already have an accountant you trust | Firstbase | Buy formation only and keep your existing tax relationship. |
The real cost difference over three years
Entry prices mislead here because the two companies monetise differently. doola sells an annual subscription, so the number you see is closer to what you pay every year. Firstbase sells a one-off formation with a lower headline, then charges separately for the registered agent, address, tax and compliance services most non-residents end up wanting.
That means the comparison flips depending on how much you buy. A founder who takes doola's entry tier and Firstbase's formation-only package will pay less with Firstbase in year one. A founder who wants bookkeeping and tax filing handled will often find doola's bundled tier competitive against Firstbase's formation plus stacked add-ons - and easier to predict.
The number that actually matters is year two, when no formation fee is charged and only renewals bill. Model both providers at year two before deciding, then multiply by three. Almost every complaint about either company traces back to someone budgeting for year one and being surprised in year two.
- Year one favours Firstbase if you buy formation only.
- Year two and beyond favour whichever provider bundles what you actually use.
- State fees are identical either way - they go to the state, not the provider.
Which is better specifically for non-residents?
doola is positioned more explicitly around non-US-resident founders, and its packaging reflects that: the assumption is you are abroad, you have no SSN, and you need someone to own the annual filings you have never heard of. If that describes you and you want minimal ongoing thought, that focus is real value.
Firstbase serves non-residents perfectly well too, but its shape is a modular back office rather than a compliance concierge. That suits a founder who is more confident, wants to pick services individually, or already has an accountant and only needs the entity and agent.
Neither provider changes the two hard constraints of being a non-resident. First, the EIN goes in on Form SS-4 by fax or phone and takes as long as the IRS takes, whatever either site implies. Second, a foreign-owned single-member LLC generally files Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120 each year - even when dormant - with penalties starting at $25,000. Both companies can handle this; only one of them bundles it by default.
Banking support: the honest comparison
This is where founders most often expect a difference and there genuinely is not much of one. Both provide banking introductions and partner routes. Neither can approve you, because approval belongs to Mercury, Relay or whichever provider you apply to.
Those providers run their own KYC on your residence country, business model, documents and website consistency. Applicants from certain countries are declined regardless of who formed the company or how complete the paperwork looks. Treating either service as a route to guaranteed US banking is the single most expensive assumption a non-resident can make.
So do the check in the opposite order to the marketing. Confirm a bank or payment provider actually onboards residents of your country, then choose a formation service. An entity you cannot bank is a recurring cost with no upside.
- Check eligibility for your residence country before paying either provider.
- Never mask your location or use an address you do not actually use.
- Keep a second receiving option, such as Wise or Payoneer, in reserve.
Support, cancellation and getting out
Both companies attract similar criticism in founder communities, and it is worth knowing before you commit rather than after. The pattern is slower support than the marketing suggests once you are past the sale, and upward pressure toward higher tiers or more add-ons.
On cancellation, the mechanics differ slightly because the models differ. doola is subscription-shaped, so the critical date is your renewal - cancel before it, in writing. Firstbase bills more per item, so the trap is a renewal you forgot you had, such as the registered agent.
The step people miss with both: if you cancel a registered agent, you must appoint a replacement with the state. The service ending does not end the legal requirement, and a company without an agent drifts toward losing good standing. File the change, confirm it is recorded, then stop paying.
The third option neither company will mention
You can file directly with the state and buy the pieces separately. Wyoming charges $100 to file and a minimum $60 annual report; Delaware charges $110 with a $300 flat franchise tax. A standalone registered agent costs a fraction of a bundled plan, and you can apply for the EIN yourself on Form SS-4.
Pair that with an independent cross-border CPA for the annual federal filings and you have covered the same substance as a mid-tier bundle, usually for less, with a named human who knows your file. For a straightforward single-member LLC this is a genuinely sensible route.
The case for either doola or Firstbase is coordination, not capability. You are buying a guided sequence and someone else holding the calendar. That is worth real money to plenty of founders - just be clear that is what you are buying, because the company you end up with is legally identical either way.
A three-year cost model you can copy
Take a Wyoming single-member LLC owned by a non-resident, because it is the most common shape. The state charges $100 to file and a minimum $60 annual report, and those numbers are identical no matter who you buy through. Everything above them is service cost.
Now model three columns rather than comparing headline prices. Column one is doola on the tier you would actually pick, multiplied by three years. Column two is Firstbase formation, plus the registered agent renewal, plus each add-on you would keep, again over three years. Column three is the direct route: $100 state filing, an independent registered agent, and a cross-border CPA fee for the annual Form 5472 with pro forma 1120.
When founders do this honestly, the ranking usually changes. Column three is often cheapest and column one is often the most predictable, while column two lands in the middle but with the widest variance, because it depends entirely on how disciplined you are about declining add-ons. Whichever you pick, write the year-two number on a note somewhere, because that is the figure that surprises people.
One more line item people forget: exit. Dissolving properly means a state filing, settling any outstanding franchise tax or report, and a final federal filing. Neither provider includes that by default in an entry tier. If there is a realistic chance this company is a twelve-month experiment, price the shutdown before you price the setup.
- State fees are identical across all three routes - never a differentiator.
- Multiply the year-two figure by three, not the year-one figure.
- Add a line for dissolution if the company may be short-lived.
Switching between them later
You are not locked in. The company is yours, registered with the state, and the provider is a supplier you can replace. Founders switch in both directions - usually from a bundled tier they have outgrown, or toward one after missing a filing.
The sequence matters more than the paperwork. Appoint the new registered agent with the state first and confirm the change is recorded, then move your documents, then cancel the old subscription in writing and keep the confirmation. Reversing that order is how companies end up without a registered agent and drift out of good standing.
Collect your formation certificate, EIN letter, operating agreement and any filed federal returns before you cancel anything. Access to a provider dashboard usually ends with the subscription, and re-obtaining an EIN confirmation from the IRS is slow. Ten minutes of downloading now saves weeks later.
Do these three checks before you pay either
- Banking eligibility first. Neither provider can guarantee a US account. Check which banks accept your country.
- Model the three-year cost. Year two is where founders get surprised. See the full cost breakdown.
- Know your filing obligations. Foreign-owned LLCs generally file Form 5472 even when dormant. Check your obligations free.
Buyer questions
doola vs Firstbase FAQ
doola vs Firstbase - which is better for foreign founders?
doola is built more explicitly around non-residents and bundles ongoing compliance into annual tiers, which suits founders who want the filings owned by someone else. Firstbase has a lower entry price and a modular add-on model, which suits founders who want to buy selectively or already have an accountant. Both form legally identical companies.
Which is cheaper, doola or Firstbase?
Firstbase is usually cheaper in year one for formation only, since doola's entry tier is an annual subscription. doola can be cheaper if you want bookkeeping and tax filing bundled rather than stacking Firstbase add-ons. Compare year two, when only renewals bill, and multiply by three.
Do doola or Firstbase guarantee a US bank account?
Neither can. Both offer introductions and partner routes, but approval belongs to the bank or fintech, which applies its own country policies and risk checks. Confirm that a provider onboards residents of your country before you pay either service to form a company.
Can both get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?
Yes. Both handle EIN applications for non-residents using Form SS-4 submitted by fax or phone, which does not require an SSN or ITIN. Neither can speed up IRS processing, which commonly runs several weeks for international applicants.
Which one supports C-corporations?
Firstbase supports C-corp formation alongside LLCs, which matters if you plan to raise from US venture investors. doola focuses more on LLCs though corporate options exist. If fundraising is the primary goal, also compare Stripe Atlas, which is purpose-built for a Delaware C-corp.
Is doola's Total Compliance tier better value than Firstbase's tax add-on?
Benchmark both against an independent cross-border CPA quote for the filings you actually need - usually Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120 for a foreign-owned single-member LLC. Bundles buy convenience and enforced discipline; a specialist CPA often costs less and knows your specific position.
Can I switch from one to the other later?
Yes. Your company belongs to you, not the service. To switch, appoint a new registered agent with the state, move your documents, and cancel the old subscription in writing. Always file the agent change with the state before cancelling, or the company can fall out of good standing.
What does a doola or Firstbase company actually cost in year two?
Year two carries no formation fee, so you pay renewals only: doola's subscription renews at your tier, while Firstbase bills the registered agent plus any add-ons you kept. State costs are identical either way - in Wyoming a minimum $60 annual report, in Delaware a flat $300 franchise tax. Model year two and multiply by three.
Do I still need an accountant if I buy doola's compliance tier?
Often not for routine filings, which is the point of the tier. But complex positions - multiple owners, US inventory or FBA, treaty questions, or an unclear effectively-connected-income analysis - still warrant an independent cross-border CPA. Bundled tiers are built for standard cases.
Which is better if I am dormant or pre-revenue?
Usually neither at full price. A dormant foreign-owned LLC still files Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120, so you cannot simply ignore it, but direct state filing plus a standalone registered agent plus a one-off CPA fee is typically the cheapest way to stay compliant while you have no income.
Do either handle dissolution if I want to close the company?
Closing properly means a state dissolution filing, clearing outstanding reports or franchise tax, and a final federal filing. This is generally not included in entry-level packages at either provider and is charged separately or left to you. Price the exit before you form if the company may be short-lived.