doola vs Firstbase: which US LLC service is better for non-residents?
If you live outside the US and want a US LLC to reach Stripe, PayPal, and US banking, doola and Firstbase are two of the most popular ways to set one up without flying to America. They both handle the formation, your EIN, a registered agent, and bank introductions. The real difference is how they charge and what they bundle, and that decides which one is cheaper for you. Here is the honest version, with prices checked against each provider.
Pick Firstbase if
You want a simple one-time setup with state fees included, the lowest-cost route to just the required Form 5472 filing, and startup perks. Best for lean solo founders.
Pick doola if
You want one subscription built for non-US founders that can hold formation, bookkeeping, and US tax filing together as you grow, and you would rather not manage add-ons yourself.
Side by side
Prices as of mid-2026. Confirm the current figures on each provider's pricing page before you buy.
| doola | Firstbase | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ~$297 / year subscription | ~$399 one-time |
| State filing fee | Not included (paid on top) | Included |
| Registered agent | Included in subscription | ~$299 / year after year 1 |
| EIN (no SSN needed) | Included | Included |
| Operating agreement | Included | Included |
| US bank account help | Included | Included |
| Bookkeeping | Add-on (Pulse ~$300/yr) | Add-on |
| US tax filing (Form 5472) | Tax tier ~$1,999/yr | Add-on ~$899/yr |
| Best for | All-in-one for non-US founders | One-time setup, state fees included |
Sources: doola.com/pricing and firstbase.io/pricing.
How they bill
This is the core difference. doola is a yearly subscription, starting around $297 a year for its Starter plan, with your state's filing fee paid on top. Firstbase charges a one-time formation fee of about $399 with state fees included, then about $299 a year for the registered agent. Year one is close, and so is ongoing upkeep, roughly $297 versus $299 a year, so do not pick on maintenance cost alone. The deciding factors are what each one bundles and how you prefer to pay.
The part most founders underestimate: Form 5472
A foreign-owned single-member US LLC has to file Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 every year, even if it earned nothing, as long as there was a reportable transaction such as funding the company. The penalty for missing it is $25,000. Both services can handle this, and the pricing differs: doola folds it into its Tax tier at about $1,999 a year, which also covers bookkeeping and a tax consultation, while Firstbase sells a standalone non-resident tax filing for about $899 a year. If all you need is the 5472 filed, Firstbase is the cheaper path. If you want bookkeeping and tax handled as one managed service, doola's bundle is more complete.
Filing the form is not the same as owing tax
Worth knowing before you panic about US taxes: a non-resident who runs the business entirely from abroad, with no US office, no US inventory, and no US staff, generally owes 0% US federal income tax on that income, because it is not treated as effectively connected to a US trade or business. The Form 5472 is a reporting requirement, not a tax bill. Holding US inventory (for example in an Amazon FBA warehouse) or having US staff can change that, so confirm your own setup with a tax professional.
So which should you pick?
Firstbase
- Solo founder keeping costs lean and predictable
- You want state filing fees included in one upfront price
- You only need the required tax filing, at the lower standalone price
doola
- You want formation, bookkeeping, and tax under one provider
- You prefer a subscription built specifically for non-US founders
- You would rather not stitch together separate add-ons yourself
doola vs Firstbase FAQ
Is doola or Firstbase better for non-residents?
Both form a US LLC for non-residents and both include your EIN, a registered agent, an operating agreement, and bank-account help. doola is a yearly subscription built around international founders, with bookkeeping and US tax filing available as bundled tiers. Firstbase is a one-time formation fee with state filing costs included and a cheaper standalone tax-filing add-on. Pick by how you want to be billed and whether you want everything in one subscription.
Do I need an SSN to form a US LLC or get an EIN?
No. You apply for the EIN on IRS Form SS-4 and write "Foreign" where it asks for an SSN or ITIN. Both doola and Firstbase handle this for you as part of formation.
Will I owe US taxes on my LLC?
Usually not on income you earn running the business remotely from outside the US with no US office, inventory, or staff. That income is generally not effectively connected income, so no US federal income tax is due on it. You still must file the annual Form 5472. Confirm your own situation with an international tax professional.
Which one is cheaper?
Ongoing cost is close: doola renews at about $297 a year and Firstbase's registered agent is about $299 a year. The real differences are that Firstbase includes state filing fees in its one-time fee, while doola charges them on top, and that Firstbase's standalone non-resident tax filing (about $899 a year) is cheaper than doola's $1,999 tax tier, which bundles bookkeeping and consultation.
Do foreign-owned US LLCs still file the FinCEN BOI report?
As of 2026, US-formed companies (including foreign-owned ones) are exempt from FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information reporting after the 2025 interim rule. Only entities formed abroad and then registered to do business in a US state still file. Confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
Pricing reflects each provider's published rates as of mid-2026 and can change, so confirm the current figures before you buy. Tax and compliance rules for non-resident US LLC owners are nuanced. This is general information, not legal or tax advice, so confirm your own situation with a qualified international tax professional.