doola vs Firstbase: pricing and features compared
Data last updated: Apr 21, 2026doola starts at $222 plus state fees. Firstbase starts at $399 plus state fees. Sticker-price differences between LLC formation services rarely tell the full story, since the cheapest tier usually excludes the EIN filing and operating agreement most filers need.
The registered agent renewal is the line item that actually matters over time: doola is $197 per year, Firstbase is $299. Over five years that delta adds up to $408, which is typically a larger swing than the formation-tier sticker price.
For most filers, the decision between two services is decided by three things: whether you need a $0 tier or can absorb a mid-tier to get the EIN and operating agreement bundled, how much the registered agent will cost you in year two and onward, and whether the support quality matters to you (it matters more if you're paying $200+ for the service in the first place).
Key differences at a glance
- doola is $177 cheaper at the starting tier (both charge upfront).
- doola has the cheaper registered agent renewal ($197/yr vs $299/yr). Over five years that is a $408 difference.
- Firstbase includes mail scanning (physical mail delivered to the registered agent gets scanned and forwarded digitally). The other does not.
Where each service fits
Pick doola when
Pick doola when you want the lowest possible day-one sticker price; you're optimizing for lower long-term cost (RA renewal is cheaper).
Pick Firstbase when
Pick Firstbase when you need mail scanning bundled with the registered agent.
What each service offers that the other does not
Only Firstbase
- Mail scanning
Both services
- EIN included free
- Operating agreement included free
- Compliance dashboard
- Banking partner integration
- Non-US founder support
- Live chat support
What it costs under your specific situation
Running the same LLC through three common scenarios. Year-1 and 5-year totals exclude state fees, which are identical for both services.
| Scenario | doola Year 1 | Firstbase Year 1 | doola 5-year | Firstbase 5-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just the basics: state filing, RA year 1, nothing else You file the EIN yourself at irs.gov and skip a written operating agreement. | $222 | $399 | $1,010 | $1,595 |
| You want EIN and operating agreement handled too Most new LLCs end up here. Assumes $70 EIN and $99 OA add-ons where the service charges for them. | $222 | $399 | $1,010 | $1,595 |
| Standalone registered agent only (no formation) You already formed the LLC elsewhere. Just swapping to this service's RA. | $197 | $299 | $985 | $1,495 |
Full feature comparison
| Dimension | doola | Firstbase |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price Cheapest tier, excludes state fees | $222 | $399 |
| Registered agent year 1 | Included | Not included |
| Registered agent renewal Year 2 onward, annual | $197/yr | $299/yr |
| Free $0 tier | No | No |
| EIN application | Included free | Included free |
| Operating agreement | Included free | Included free |
| Compliance dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Mail scanning | No | Yes |
| International founders | Yes | Yes |
| Banking partner | Mercury | Mercury |
| Phone support | No | No |
| Live chat | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.6/5 (2,005 reviews) | 4.8/5 (1,045 reviews) |
Pricing tiers side by side
doola
- Starter — $222 · renews $222/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $197/yr - Tax and Compliance — $1,499 · renews $1,499/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $197/yr - Business-in-a-Box — $2,249 · renews $2,249/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $197/yr
Firstbase
- Start — $399
- One (Start bundle) — $399 · renews $2,388/yr
Includes RA year 1 · renews $299/yr
Support and ratings, interpreted
doola offers email, live chat. Firstbase offers email, live chat. Trustpilot: doola is 4.6 across 2,005 reviews; Firstbase is 4.8 across 1,045. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.
doola
No phone support.
Email: yes.
Live chat: 24/7 per vendor, via in-app chat and help center.
Trustpilot: 4.6/5 from 2,005 reviews.
Firstbase
No phone support.
Email: yes.
Live chat: Firstbase markets 24/7 global support for founders; no public phone number is listed..
Trustpilot: 4.8/5 from 1,045 reviews.
Before you pick either service
A few things apply no matter which one you choose. These catch enough first-time filers to be worth stating plainly.
The state fee is identical. Whether you use doola, Firstbase, or neither, your state charges the same formation fee. Nothing a service does lowers that number. The fee ranges from $35 in Montana to $500 in Massachusetts depending on where you form. See the state-by-state guide for exact numbers.
You can get an EIN for free at irs.gov in five minutes. Both doola and Firstbase either bundle EIN filing or sell it as a paid add-on. You're never required to pay for EIN filing; the IRS charges nothing and the online form takes about five minutes. If a service is pitching "we'll handle your EIN" as a headline feature, that's convenience pricing, not necessity.
The registered agent renewal is what matters long-term. The formation fee is a one-time cost. The registered agent is what recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC open. Over five years, the RA renewal cost usually exceeds the formation fee. Compare on that number, not just the day-one sticker.
Operating agreements are separately priced at most services. Any LLC with more than one member, and any LLC relying on its liability shield, should have a written operating agreement. It governs ownership percentages, profit splits, management structure, and dissolution. California, Maine, Missouri, and New York require it by statute; every other state treats it as strongly recommended. Don't skip it to save $99.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Which is cheaper, doola or Firstbase?
doola is cheaper at the starting tier ($222 vs $399). Over 5 years including RA renewals, the gap is about $585.
-
Does doola or Firstbase have better support?
doola offers email, live chat. Firstbase offers email, live chat. Trustpilot: doola is 4.6 across 2,005 reviews; Firstbase is 4.8 across 1,045. A high-volume sample with a 4.5+ rating is the strongest signal; a small sample with either extreme rating is the weakest.
-
Should I just file the LLC myself instead of using doola or Firstbase?
You can. The state fee is identical whether you use a service or not. What these services sell is convenience: a handled registered agent (which you can also buy standalone), a bundled operating agreement, compliance reminders, and in some cases banking and tax integrations. If your time is worth more than $50 an hour and you would rather not research your state's specific filing quirks, a service pays for itself. If you like DIY administrative work, file directly at your state's Secretary of State portal.
-
How much does the registered agent cost with each service from year 2 onward?
doola renews at $197/yr. Firstbase renews at $299/yr. This number matters because it recurs every year for as long as you keep the LLC. Over a five-year window, the registered agent renewal cost typically exceeds the formation fee, so it's worth more attention than most reviews give it.
Full reviews
Sources
- Pricing: www.doola.com/pricing/ · verified April 21, 2026
Three tiers: Starter $222/yr (from $297), Tax and Compliance $1,499/yr (from $1,999), Business-in-a-Box $2,249/yr (from $2,999). All tiers are annual subscriptions. State fees not included. - Features: www.doola.com/llc/ · verified April 21, 2026
doola forms LLCs in any US state. Bundle includes EIN, registered agent (year one), operating agreement, and bank account guidance. Dashboard provides bookkeeping and compliance. - Banking partner: www.doola.com/pricing/ · verified April 21, 2026
Mercury is the named banking partner surfaced on the pricing page (fintech services via Choice Financial Group and Column N.A.). - International: www.doola.com/llc/ · verified April 21, 2026
Doola is built primarily for non-US founders needing a US LLC, EIN, and US bank account for Stripe, Shopify, and Amazon access. - Founded: www.ycombinator.com/companies/doola · verified April 21, 2026
Y Combinator profile confirms doola founding year 2020, founders Arjun Mahadevan and JP Pincheira. - Headquarters: www.crunchbase.com/person/arjun-mahadevan · verified April 21, 2026
Crunchbase and LinkedIn place CEO Arjun Mahadevan and doola HQ in New York. - Support: help.doola.com/ · verified April 21, 2026
Help center routes to a web form and ticket tracker. No public phone number on contact or help pages. Vendor markets 24/7 chat support. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/doola.com · verified April 21, 2026
Trustpilot shows doola.com rated 4.6/5 across roughly 2,005 reviews as surfaced by Trustpilot search result snippet on 2026-04-21. - Price usd: www.trustpilot.com/review/doola.com · verified April 21, 2026
Customer reviews on Trustpilot reference a $197 charge for registered agent renewal. Vendor does not publish a separate RA-only pricing card. - Pricing: www.firstbase.io/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Start is a one-time $399 formation fee. Firstbase One bundles Start with Mailroom Premium, Agent, Accounting, and Tax Filing at $199/month billed annually ($2,388/yr). - Registered agent renewal usd: www.firstbase.io/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Firstbase Agent is $299 annually per state, sold as a standalone subscription and covered within Firstbase One. - Features: www.firstbase.io/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage states: 'Form your LLC or C-Corp. No paperwork or legal headaches. Our platform automates the entire company formation process.' Mailroom product offers mail scanning; Agent product offers compliance dashboard and annual report filings. - Banking partner: www.firstbase.io/pricing · verified April 21, 2026
Firstbase lists banking account opening assistance as part of Start. Mercury is the named partner surfaced consistently across the product pages and founder reviews. - International: www.firstbase.io/ · verified April 21, 2026
Marketed for founders in 188 countries; the $899/yr tax filing tier for single-member LLCs non-US owned is explicit on the pricing page. - Founded: www.ycombinator.com/companies/firstbase-io · verified April 21, 2026
Y Combinator profile and Crunchbase both place Firstbase's founding in 2019. Some sources cite 2018. - Headquarters: www.firstbase.io/about · verified April 21, 2026
About page references NYC and Sao Paulo offices; Crunchbase and LinkedIn list 447 Broadway, New York as HQ. - Support: www.firstbase.io/ · verified April 21, 2026
Homepage advertises 24/7 global customer support. No public phone number listed on the homepage or pricing page; support routed through help.firstbase.io. - Ratings: www.trustpilot.com/review/firstbase.io · verified April 21, 2026
Trustpilot shows Firstbase.io at 4.8/5 across approximately 1,045 reviews per the 2026 snapshot. Review count has grown from 650+ earlier in the year.