doola vs Firstbase for non-residents: which one should you choose?
Choose on the full cost, what is actually included, and how much support you need — not on the headline price. Here are the differences to check before you pay, with the official sources.
The short version
- If you have no US address (most non-residents), both services make you pay for one: doola includes it in its yearly plan, Firstbase sells it separately. Compare totals, not entry prices.
- If you want the US tax filings handled, compare doola Tax and Compliance with Firstbase One: neither entry plan includes them.
- If you need a state other than Delaware or Wyoming, only doola offers it.
Help me choose: 3 questions
Your scenario: B · you need a US address
| doola | Firstbase | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $297 | $1,013 |
| Year 2 | $297 | $614 |
Before state fees, at regular prices. Nobody files your federal return in this scenario: add a US tax preparer.
Check the current price at doola Check the current price at Firstbase
Side-by-side comparison
| doola | Firstbase | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Yearly subscription | One-time formation fee + yearly modules |
| Formation | Starter: $297/yr + state fee | Start: $399 one-time (regular price) + state fee* |
| States | Any US state | Delaware or Wyoming |
| EIN without SSN | Included | Included |
| Registered agent | Included in every plan | Required before filing: Agent Autopilot $299/yr |
| US business address | Virtual address included in every plan | Required before filing if you have no US address: Mailroom Basic $315/yr |
| Annual state report | From Tax and Compliance | Filed by Agent Autopilot (state fees extra) |
| Federal tax filing (Form 1120 + 5472) | Tax and Compliance: $1,999/yr | In Firstbase One ($2,388/yr) |
| Bookkeeping | Business-in-a-Box: $2,999/yr (dedicated bookkeeper) | Accounting add-on, or in Firstbase One |
*On November 5, 2026 the Firstbase pricing page showed a limited offer: Start at $99 instead of $399 (“Formation is on us. Pay only your state fee.”). We use the regular price in our totals because offers change; check the conditions on Firstbase's page.
Is the US address really comparable?
Not exactly, and it matters if you plan to open a bank account or sell on marketplaces.
| doola (Starter) | Firstbase Mailroom Basic | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Virtual mailing / business address | Physical business address in your state, with a virtual mailbox |
| Mail visible in the doola dashboard | Unlimited incoming mail and scans; forwarding for an extra fee | |
| Activation | Set up with your formation | Address must be notarized to activate |
| Limit to know | doola itself notes that virtual mailbox addresses are often refused by banks and e-commerce platforms; it offers a separate physical-address product | Mailbox-type address: check your bank's and platform's rules before relying on it |
Neither provider guarantees bank or marketplace approval. Sources: doola on virtual vs physical addresses, Firstbase Mailroom.
What you really pay: year 1 and year 2
Like-for-like scenarios, at regular prices, before state fees:
| Scenario | doola | Firstbase |
|---|---|---|
| A. Minimum to form and stay compliant, you already have a US address | ||
| Year 1 | $297 | $698 (Start $399 + Agent $299) |
| Year 2 | $297 | $299 (Agent) |
| B. Same, but you need a US address (most non-residents) | ||
| Year 1 | $297 | $1,013 (Start $399 + Agent $299 + Mailroom $315) |
| Year 2 | $297 | $614 (Agent + Mailroom) |
| C. Address + US federal tax filing handled by the provider | ||
| Year 1 | $1,999 (Tax and Compliance) | $2,787 (Start $399 + Firstbase One $2,388) |
| Year 2 | $1,999 | $2,388 |
Scenario C counts Firstbase Start separately from Firstbase One; Firstbase answers in its One FAQ whether Start is included, so check before adding both. In scenarios A and B, nobody files your federal return: add the cost of a US tax preparer. With the Firstbase $99 offer, year 1 drops by $300 in every scenario; year 2 does not change.
US filings: what is included, and what is not
A foreign-owned single-member LLC usually has a yearly federal filing (Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120), on top of state obligations. Your situation may add others, and your home country may tax the income too.
| doola Tax and Compliance | Firstbase One | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal filing (1120 + 5472) | Included | Tax filing services included |
| State filings | State tax filing and annual compliance included | Annual report and franchise tax filings (via Agent) |
| Advice | 1:1 tax consultation | Accounting included |
| Not included | State fees and taxes owed, sales tax collection, payroll, and any tax in your country of residence | |
Check each provider's current scope before you buy: plan contents change more often than prices.
doola: everything bundled in one yearly price
doola's Starter covers formation in any state, the EIN, the registered agent, a virtual US address and an operating agreement. Tax and Compliance adds federal and state tax filings and a tax consultation; Business-in-a-Box adds a dedicated bookkeeper and monthly statements. Without an SSN, the EIN goes through the slower IRS route, so allow several weeks.
Strengths
- Agent and address included from the first plan
- Any state, including cheaper ones to maintain
- One provider can handle the yearly filings
Limits
- You pay every year, even for the basics
- Large jump from Starter to the tax plan
- Virtual address may not suit every bank
Check the current price at doola
Firstbase: modules you assemble
Firstbase charges a one-time Start fee for formation in Delaware or Wyoming, with the EIN and post-incorporation documents. It will not file your company until you have a registered agent and a US address, so Agent and, for most non-residents, Mailroom are part of the real price. Firstbase One bundles accounting, agent, a premium address and tax filing services.
Strengths
- Annual report filings handled by Agent
- Physical address with full mail handling
- Complete bundle for companies with heavier needs
Limits
- Delaware or Wyoming only
- Required modules multiply the entry price
- Mailroom activation requires notarization
Check the current price at Firstbase
Which one fits your needs?
| Your main need | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest recurring cost, you will hire your own US tax preparer | doola Starter | $297/yr already includes agent and address (scenario B) |
| One provider for formation and the yearly US filings | doola Tax and Compliance | Lower yearly price than Firstbase One for the same need (scenario C) |
| A physical address with full mail scanning and forwarding | Firstbase Mailroom | Physical address and unlimited scans, rather than a virtual address |
| Bookkeeping, accounting and compliance in one bundle | Compare doola Business-in-a-Box and Firstbase One | Similar scope; check bookkeeping limits and what tax work is included |
| A state other than Delaware or Wyoming | doola | Firstbase forms only in those two states |
Still unsure? See our comparison of five services and run your own numbers with the cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is doola or Firstbase better for a non-resident?
It depends on your needs. doola bundles the registered agent and a virtual US address in one yearly price and works in any state. Firstbase sells formation, agent and a physical-address mailroom separately, in Delaware or Wyoming. Compare the totals in the scenario that matches you.
Which one is cheaper in the first year?
At regular prices, yes for doola if you need a US address: $297 against $1,013 in year 1 and $297 against $614 in year 2, before state fees. If you already have a US address, Firstbase costs $698 in year 1 and $299 in year 2.
Do doola and Firstbase file Form 5472?
Not on their entry plans. doola includes the federal filings (Form 1120 and Form 5472) in Tax and Compliance ($1,999/yr); Firstbase includes tax filing services in Firstbase One ($2,388/yr). Other obligations may apply depending on your situation.
Can I use either service from Morocco?
Both accept founders from outside the US. Before paying, check that your card or payment method works for a foreign subscription and read our guide for Moroccan residents on banking and foreign-exchange rules.
Do I still need an accountant?
If you choose an entry plan, yes: someone must prepare your yearly federal filing. A US tax professional is the right person for US tax advice.