Firstbase's headline is $399 and OpenEntity's is $499 — but the real question is what's actually included. Here's an honest, like-for-like breakdown for non-resident founders.
Disclosure: OpenEntity is our own service, so we have an interest in your decision. We've tried to keep this comparison fair — Firstbase is a strong, well-regarded product and we credit its genuine advantages below. All Firstbase figures are as of June 2026 and may have changed; please verify current pricing on firstbase.io before deciding.
Firstbase Start advertises a $399 one-time formation fee, which is $100 cheaper than OpenEntity's $499. But that $399 covers formation only: a registered agent (Firstbase Agent, from $299/yr) and a US business address (Mailroom, from $35/mo) are sold separately. OpenEntity's $499 is all-inclusive — formation, EIN, one year of registered agent, a US address, and a banking introduction are bundled in. Once you add the pieces every non-resident actually needs, a like-for-like year-1 comparison usually puts OpenEntity at or below Firstbase's true total. If you specifically want à-la-carte modularity and don't need an address, Firstbase can still come out ahead. Both work without an SSN or ITIN.
| What you get | OpenEntity | Firstbase (Start) |
|---|---|---|
| Headline price | $499 one-time | $399 one-time |
| State filing | Included | Included |
| EIN (no SSN/ITIN) | Included — expedited 3–5 business days | Included — expedited via IRS-authorized third party |
| Operating agreement | Included | Included |
| Registered agent | Included — 1 full year | Not included — Firstbase Agent from $299/yr |
| US business address | Included | Not included — Mailroom from $35/mo |
| Banking introduction | Mercury / Relay / Wise (95%+ approval, subject to criteria) | Mercury application included (approval not guaranteed) |
| Compliance calendar | Included | Not in Start tier |
| Non-resident tax filing | Available as add-on | From $899/yr (separate) |
| Support | Lifetime support | Standard support |
| Guarantee | Money-back guarantee | — |
| Year 2+ maintenance | ~$209/yr | Registered agent + address billed separately |
| Non-resident friendly | Yes — no SSN required | Yes — 191 countries, no SSN/ITIN |
A fair comparison has to put the same things on both sides of the table. Almost every non-resident founder needs four things in year one: state formation, an EIN, a registered agent, and a US business address. Here's what each provider costs once you add the pieces that a real, operational company requires. We've used Firstbase's lowest published add-on prices, so this is a conservative, Firstbase-favorable estimate.
| Year-1 component | OpenEntity | Firstbase |
|---|---|---|
| Formation + state filing + EIN + operating agreement | Included in $499 | $399 |
| Registered agent (1 year) | Included | +$299 (Firstbase Agent, from) |
| US business address (1 year) | Included | +$420 (Mailroom @ $35/mo × 12) |
| Banking introduction | Included | Included (Mercury application) |
| True year-1 total | $499 year 1 | ~$1,118 year 1 |
The takeaway isn't that Firstbase is expensive — it's that a $399 headline and a $499 headline aren't comparing the same product. Firstbase's $399 is a clean, low formation-only price; OpenEntity's $499 is a bundle. If you don't need a US address (some founders use their own), Firstbase's true cost drops substantially and the two get much closer. Run the numbers for your own situation — and double-check Firstbase's current add-on pricing on firstbase.io, since these figures are as of June 2026.
For non-residents, two things make or break a US company: getting an EIN without an SSN, and actually opening a bank account. Both providers handle these well, with slightly different strengths.
OpenEntity obtains your EIN on an expedited basis, typically in 3–5 business days, with no SSN or ITIN required. Banking is handled as a guided introduction to Mercury, Relay, or Wise, with a 95%+ approval rate among eligible applicants (approval always depends on your profile, country, and business activity — no provider can guarantee a bank's decision). Because the registered agent, address, and compliance calendar are all in the same package, there are fewer moving parts to coordinate after formation.
Firstbase has a genuinely strong EIN process: it acts as (or works through) an IRS-authorized third party to obtain your EIN with no SSN/ITIN, and its Mercury banking application is tightly integrated into onboarding. Officially the EIN takes "a few days," though some customer reviews report longer waits, with at least one founder describing a delay beyond 45 days — turnaround for foreign owners can vary with IRS workload. Note also that Mercury tightened its eligibility and review criteria across 2025–2026, so approval is not guaranteed for either provider. Firstbase's modular add-on model is a real advantage if you want to pick exactly what you pay for.
We don't think Firstbase is the wrong choice — for many founders it's an excellent one. A fair comparison means naming what it genuinely does well alongside the trade-offs of the Start tier. Here's our honest read.
None of these are dealbreakers — they're simply the shape of an unbundled product. If you want à-la-carte control, they're features, not flaws. If you'd rather have everything in one predictable package, that's where OpenEntity's bundle is designed to help.
There's no universal winner. The right pick depends on whether you value a single all-inclusive price or à-la-carte flexibility — and whether you need a US address.
Bottom line: if you need a fully operational company — formation, agent, and address — OpenEntity's all-inclusive $499 is usually competitive with or cheaper than Firstbase's true year-1 total. If you only need bare formation and will add the rest yourself, Firstbase's $399 is hard to beat on headline price. Both are legitimate, non-resident-friendly choices.
On the headline number, yes: Firstbase Start is $399 one-time versus OpenEntity's $499. But Firstbase's $399 is formation only — a registered agent (from $299/yr) and a US address (from $35/mo) are extra. Once you add the registered agent and address that most non-residents need, OpenEntity's all-inclusive $499 is typically competitive with or cheaper than Firstbase's true year-1 total. Verify current Firstbase pricing on firstbase.io, as figures here are as of June 2026.
Yes. Both OpenEntity and Firstbase are built for non-residents and obtain your EIN without an SSN or ITIN. Firstbase serves founders in 191 countries; OpenEntity also forms LLCs for non-residents with no SSN. The EIN is obtained through an IRS process designed for foreign owners.
OpenEntity targets 3–5 business days on an expedited basis. Firstbase officially quotes "a few days," though some reviews report longer waits — in one reported case more than 45 days. EIN turnaround for foreign-owned entities can vary with IRS processing times regardless of provider.
OpenEntity is our own service, so treat this as our perspective and verify the details yourself. We've tried to be fair: Firstbase is a strong product with a low transparent formation price, excellent no-SSN/ITIN EIN handling, integrated Mercury banking, and flexible modular add-ons. The main caveat we raise — that its $399 covers formation only — is a pricing-structure observation, not a criticism of quality.
Everything you need in one all-inclusive package — formation, EIN, registered agent, US address, and a banking introduction.
Start My US LLC — $499