Firstbase Review 2026: How to Incorporate a US LLC or Delaware C-Corp from Europe
What is Firstbase.io?
Firstbase (firstbase.io) is a US company formation and lifecycle compliance platform designed for international founders who want to incorporate a Delaware C-Corporation or a Wyoming / Delaware LLC without visiting the United States or holding a US Social Security Number (SSN). For a $399 one-time incorporation fee (inclusive of state filing fees), Firstbase Start handles state registration, corporate bylaws or operating agreements, IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) procurement, and direct onboarding intros to US business banking via Mercury and Brex.
Who is Firstbase built for?
- European & DACH SaaS Founders Raising Venture Capital: US accelerators (Y Combinator, Techstars) and tier-1 US venture funds frequently require a Delaware C-Corp parent entity ("Delaware Flip" or day-one C-Corp).
- Global B2B Agencies & Software Creators Selling into the US: Having a US entity, US EIN, and Mercury USD checking account removes W-8BEN withholding friction with US enterprise procurement teams and unlocks US Stripe/payment processing.
- Location-Independent Entrepreneurs: Founders who are not tied to a single high-bureaucracy civil-law jurisdiction and want a clean Wyoming LLC structure.
Firstbase Pricing & Modular Products (2026)
Unlike all-in bundles that force you into a $2,000/year subscription on day one, Firstbase unbundles formation from ongoing services:
| Product Module | Price | What Is Included |
|---|---|---|
| Firstbase Start | $399 (one-time) | Delaware or Wyoming LLC / C-Corp state filing, EIN application, Operating Agreement / Bylaws, banking setup |
| Firstbase Agent | From $149 / year | Mandatory Registered Agent in Delaware/Wyoming + compliance calendar reminders |
| Firstbase Mailroom | From $35 / month | Premium US physical business address with digital mail scanning & check handling |
| Firstbase Accounting & Tax | Custom / Tiered | Bookkeeping and federal/state corporate tax filings (Form 1120 / Form 5472) |
Firstbase vs doola vs Stripe Atlas vs Xolo
| Platform | Supported Entities | Upfront Cost | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firstbase | Delaware & Wyoming LLC / C-Corp | $399 one-time (+ annual Agent) | Modular US formation + physical mailroom |
| doola | US LLC & C-Corp (all 50 states) | $297/yr Starter | $1,999/yr Total Compliance | Founders wanting bundled IRS Form 5472 CPA tax filing |
| Stripe Atlas | Delaware C-Corp & LLC | $500 one-time | Venture-track tech startups wanting standard YC equity templates |
| Xolo | Estonia OÜ (EU) | From €89/month (includes accounting) | EU-based solo founders needing an EU VAT ID & 0% retained earnings tax |
Critical Tax Caveat for German & EU Residents
Editorial Disclaimer: The following is general operational context, not legal or tax advice.
If you personally live and work in Germany, Austria, Spain, or France, incorporating a US LLC or Delaware C-Corp via Firstbase does not exempt your income from domestic taxation:
- Place of Effective Management (Ort der Geschäftsleitung): If you manage the US company from your apartment in Berlin or Munich, German tax authorities (Finanzamt) generally treat the company as having a domestic permanent establishment (Betriebsstätte) and unlimited corporate tax liability in Germany.
- US LLC Classification Mismatch (Rechtstypenvergleich): Germany often classifies a US LLC Either as a corporation or a transparent partnership depending on its Operating Agreement, creating severe double-taxation traps if not structured with a cross-border tax advisor (Steuerberater).
- IRS Form 5472 Penalty ($25,000): Every foreign-owned single-member US LLC must file Form 5472 + pro-forma Form 1120 with the IRS every year—even with $0 revenue. The statutory IRS penalty for late or missing filing is $25,000.
FAQ
How long does it take to get an EIN through Firstbase if I don't have a US SSN?
State registration in Delaware or Wyoming usually completes in 2–5 business days. For founders without a US SSN, the IRS processes faxed Form SS-4 EIN applications in roughly 2 to 4 weeks depending on IRS backlog.
Can I open a Mercury bank account after incorporating with Firstbase?
Yes. Once your company formation and EIN are approved, Firstbase connects directly to Mercury so you can apply for your US business checking account online.
Miguel Santos leads software evaluations and founder operations research at Quota Engine. With 8+ years of hands-on experience auditing B2B sales stacks, CRM architectures, European business banking, and cross-border company setups across DACH and US markets, he tests tools against real operator workflows and verified vendor pricing.