The Firstbase $999 base price
Firstbase advertises $999 as the headline price for non-resident LLC formation. That base price includes Wyoming/Delaware LLC formation, EIN application, basic operating agreement, and 12 months of registered agent. Sounds reasonable until you realize most founders need add-ons that Firstbase sells separately at premium prices.
The add-on ladder (real prices)
| Add-on | Firstbase price | WyomingLLC equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Pro (annual) | $600/year | $99/year (Form 5472 + 1120) |
| Tax software / Tax-Loop | $300/year | $0 (you use Wave free or QuickBooks) |
| Registered agent year 2+ | $200/year | ~$100/year |
| Stripe integration setup | $100 one-time | $0 (we coach you free) |
| Banking application app | $100/year | $0 (we coach you free) |
| BOI filing (when re-instated) | $199 | ~$50 if we file |
| ITIN | $450 | $297 |
Real-world cost comparison
Typical Firstbase customer year 1 spend with realistic add-ons:
- Base formation: $999
- Compliance Pro: $600
- Tax software: $300
- Stripe app: $100
- Banking app: $100
- State fee: $100
- Total year 1: $2,199
vs WyomingLLC:
- Full package: $297
- State fee: $100
- Optional Form 5472 add-on: $99 (most customers buy)
- Total year 1: $496
Difference: $1,703 year 1.
When Firstbase is the right choice
- You want a polished dashboard with bundled tools (Firstbase has invested in product UX).
- You are doing high-volume formations (Firstbase has good enterprise tooling).
- You specifically want their Tax-Loop integration with QuickBooks.
- You value brand recognition (Firstbase is well-known in US startup circles).