Firstbase
Business formation and compliance platform for US companies.
About Firstbase
Firstbase handles the full US business formation stack: state incorporation filings, registered agent services, EIN acquisition, and annual compliance filings. Day-to-day, it keeps a company's registered address active, receives and digitizes state mail, and tracks annual report deadlines across jurisdictions. Corporate documents live in a central dashboard your client can access without calling a lawyer. For accountants, the practical use case is referral, not adoption. When an international founder or domestic entrepreneur asks how to set up a Delaware LLC before you can onboard them as a tax client, Firstbase is the service you point them toward. It handles the formation paperwork you're not licensed to provide and keeps the entity compliant so you inherit a clean corporate record. The gaps are real. Firstbase does not replace a business attorney for complex multi-member agreements or regulated industries. The $399 per month starting price is steep for a single-entity client compared to filing directly with a state or using a one-time service like Stripe Atlas or Clerky. It also has no native connection to tax preparation software, so you'll still need to pull documents manually into your workflow.
Best for
Entrepreneurs and international founders wanting US business formation with ongoing compliance
Key Features
- Automated business incorporation filings
- Registered agent services with mail forwarding
- Annual compliance filing management
- EIN and tax ID acquisition
- Corporate document storage and management
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Files incorporations in all 50 states, not just Delaware, which matters for clients whose home state has lower franchise tax exposure
- Registered agent address is maintained continuously with automatic mail scanning, so state notices do not get missed between client address changes
- EIN acquisition is bundled, which eliminates a common bottleneck that delays account openings at Mercury or Brex
- Annual compliance calendar tracks multi-state filing deadlines and sends reminders before penalties accrue
- Corporate document vault stores formation certificates, operating agreements, and resolutions in one place your client can share directly with banks or investors
- Integrates with Mercury Bank and Brex, so a client can go from formation to funded business account in a single onboarding flow
- Supports international founders who cannot appear in person, handling ITIN-adjacent workflows and foreign ownership structures
Cons
- At $399 per month, the ongoing cost is hard to justify for clients with a single, low-activity LLC versus paying state filing fees directly each year
- No free trial or evaluation tier, so you cannot test the workflow before committing a client to the service
- No integration with QuickBooks, Xero, or any tax preparation software, meaning documents require manual transfer to your practice tools
- Registered agent services create geographic lock-in: switching providers mid-year triggers state amendment filings and temporary compliance risk
- Customer support is primarily asynchronous, which creates problems when a client faces a hard state deadline or a bank rejects a formation document
- Not a substitute for legal counsel on operating agreements, equity structures, or state-specific regulatory requirements
Ledger Brief Take
This is primarily a business formation service that happens to serve accountants' clients rather than accounting practices themselves. While the compliance tracking features could complement your client advisory work, you're essentially recommending a third-party service provider rather than adopting a practice management tool. Best positioned as a referral partner for clients needing Delaware or other state incorporations with ongoing registered agent services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions accountants ask about Firstbase.
What does the $399 per month plan actually include?
The base plan covers registered agent service, mail forwarding and scanning, one state's annual compliance filing, and access to the document vault. EIN acquisition and incorporation filings in additional states are typically billed separately. Pricing is published on their site but can increase with multi-state compliance needs.
Does Firstbase integrate with QuickBooks or Xero?
No. Firstbase connects to Stripe, Mercury Bank, Brex, and Zapier, but has no native integration with accounting or tax software. You will pull formation documents and corporate records manually into your workflow or build a Zapier bridge for document notifications.
How does Firstbase compare to Stripe Atlas or Clerky?
Stripe Atlas and Clerky charge a one-time formation fee, roughly $500 and $800 respectively, and do not provide ongoing registered agent services. Firstbase is the right choice when a client needs continuous compliance management across multiple years or states. For a simple Delaware C-Corp with no ongoing support needs, Atlas is cheaper.
Is Firstbase appropriate for clients in regulated industries like finance or healthcare?
No. Firstbase handles standard incorporation and compliance filings. Clients needing state licenses, money transmitter registrations, or healthcare entity structures require a business attorney alongside or instead of Firstbase.
How secure is the corporate document storage?
Firstbase stores documents in a cloud vault accessible via login credentials. They do not publish detailed security certifications on their public site. For clients with sensitive cap table documents or investor agreements, confirm data handling terms directly with Firstbase before uploading.
Which firm types get the most value from recommending Firstbase to clients?
Practices with a meaningful share of international founder clients or startup advisory clients benefit most. If your client base is primarily established domestic small businesses, the ongoing monthly cost rarely makes sense versus handling annual state filings ad hoc.