Firstbase and Bizee both form US LLCs, but they target completely different founders and the cost structures look almost nothing alike. Firstbase is the non-US founder specialist, purpose-built for entrepreneurs incorporating from abroad with EIN registration without an SSN, premium US business address, international banking partners (Mercury, Relay, Brex), Form 5472 compliance, and a $350,000+ rewards marketplace, having formed over 30,000 businesses across 191 countries. Bizee (formerly Incfile) is the US-focused budget formation service that has operated since 2004 and helped form over 1 million businesses, with a $0 Silver formation tier plus state fees, $199 Gold, $299 Platinum, and free first-year registered agent on every tier.
For non-US founders, this is not a close comparison: Firstbase is built for the exact workflow Bizee treats as an edge case. For US-based founders, Bizee’s $0 formation tier looks like the cheapest option on the surface, but the honest analysis points to a third platform that beats both on long-term cost for straightforward US formation. This comparison breaks down where each platform wins, the real cost picture for US founders, and which founder profile should pick which. For the broader context on how LLC formation fits into ecommerce operations, my Ecommerce Paradise coverage and the complete business formation checklist cover when LLC structure choices matter for high-ticket dropshipping.
My 2026 Pick For Non-US Founders: Firstbase
$399 one-time LLC or C-Corp formation, EIN registration without SSN, faster EIN turnaround (8-12 business days), premium US business address, multi-banking partners (Mercury, Relay, Brex), payroll tax automation, and $350,000+ rewards marketplace for 30,000+ businesses across 191 countries.
The Core Difference In Approach
Firstbase is purpose-built for non-US founders forming US companies. According to recent independent Firstbase analysis, the platform was founded in 2020 specifically to remove the friction international entrepreneurs face when incorporating in the US: getting an EIN without a Social Security Number, securing a US business address, opening US business banking from abroad, and handling ongoing compliance like Form 5472 that foreign-owned LLCs must file. By 2025 it had formed 30,000+ businesses across 191 countries with customers raising $3 billion+ in capital. Every feature assumes the founder is operating from outside the US.
Bizee, founded as Incfile in 2004 and rebranded to Bizee in 2023, is the US-focused budget formation service. According to independent Bizee analysis, the platform has helped form over 1 million businesses with a free Silver formation tier (you pay only state filing fees), $199 Gold tier (adds EIN, operating agreement, business banking account), and $299 Platinum tier (adds expedited processing, business contract templates, domain name). All tiers include free first-year registered agent service, with year 2+ registered agent at $119/year. Bizee’s customer base is overwhelmingly US-based founders looking for the cheapest legitimate path to a US LLC.
The structural difference is the whole story. Firstbase bundles the international workflow a non-resident needs (US business address, faster EIN without SSN, international banking, Form 5472 compliance) and charges accordingly. Bizee strips formation to the essentials at a low price for US founders who already have a US address, US banking, and a Social Security Number. Neither is wrong; they serve different people. The mistake is a US founder paying for Firstbase’s international features they will never use, or a non-US founder choosing Bizee and discovering it does not solve the EIN-without-SSN or international banking problems they actually have.
Firstbase vs Bizee At A Glance
| Feature | Firstbase | Bizee |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Customer | Non-US founders forming US companies | US-based founders wanting cheap formation |
| Formation Price | $399 one-time + state fees | $0 Silver / $199 Gold / $299 Platinum + state fees |
| Year 1 Registered Agent | Included free | Included free on every tier |
| Year 2+ Registered Agent | $299/year | $119/year |
| EIN Without SSN | Core service, faster turnaround (8-12 business days) | EIN included on Gold/Platinum but not specialized for non-residents |
| US Business Address | Mailroom Premium ($349/year, effectively required for non-US) | Not bundled |
| Banking Partnerships | Mercury, Relay, Brex (built for non-US founders) | US banking account introduction (Gold/Platinum) |
| Form 5472 Filing | $899/year (foreign-owned LLC tax filing) | Not a core service |
| Payroll Tax Registration | Nationwide automation included | Not offered |
| Rewards Marketplace | $350,000+ in partner perks | Not offered |
| Multi-Language Support | English, Russian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic | English and Spanish |
| Track Record | 30,000+ companies in 191 countries (since 2020) | Over 1 million businesses formed (since 2004) |
| Best For | Non-US founders needing the full international workflow | US founders wanting the cheapest entry tier |
Where Firstbase Wins For Non-US Founders
1. Purpose-Built EIN Registration Without SSN
This is the decisive differentiator for non-residents. Non-US founders cannot use the standard online IRS EIN process because it requires a Social Security Number or ITIN. The workaround is submitting Form SS-4 by fax or mail, and the IRS turnaround can stretch to 20-30 business days. According to recent independent Firstbase analysis, Firstbase has developed specific expertise in this process and delivers EIN turnaround in 8-12 business days for non-residents.
Bizee includes EIN registration in its Gold and Platinum tiers, but the platform is built for US founders who typically already have an SSN. The non-resident EIN workflow is not Bizee’s specialty, and the turnaround is not specifically optimized for the fax-based non-SSN process. For a non-US founder whose entire US business launch depends on getting an EIN to open banking and payment processing, Firstbase’s faster, specialized handling is genuinely decisive.
2. US Business Address Built Into The Workflow
Non-US founders need a valid US business address to incorporate, open banking, and operate. According to independent Firstbase analysis, Firstbase Mailroom Premium ($349/year) provides a premium US business address with virtual mailbox, mail scanning, and forwarding, and it is applied by default to Firstbase formations because incorporating without a valid US address is not legally workable for non-residents.
Bizee does not bundle a US business address as a core formation feature because its US-based customers already have one. A non-US founder using Bizee would need to separately source a virtual address from a third-party provider and manually integrate it, adding vendor coordination overhead that Firstbase eliminates by building it into the default path.
3. Banking Partnerships Built For Non-Residents
Opening US business banking as a non-resident is one of the hardest parts of the workflow. According to independent Firstbase analysis, Firstbase partners with Mercury, Relay, and Brex, all of which work with non-US founders, and the multi-partner approach means a rejection from one bank does not end the process. Bizee offers a US banking account introduction on Gold and Platinum tiers, but these are oriented toward US-based customers and do not specifically solve the non-resident banking challenge the way Firstbase’s partnerships do.
For a non-US founder, banking access is a make-or-break issue. Mercury rejection happens for specific countries, business models, or KYC documentation gaps, and having Relay or Brex as backup options through Firstbase removes the single-point-of-failure risk. This is infrastructure Bizee simply was not built to provide.
4. Form 5472 Compliance For Foreign-Owned LLCs
Foreign-owned single-member US LLCs must file Form 5472 every year, and the IRS penalty for not filing is $25,000. Firstbase offers Form 5472 tax filing at $899/year as a core service for its non-US founder base. Bizee does not treat Form 5472 as a primary service because the filing requirement is specific to foreign-owned entities, which are not Bizee’s core customer. For non-US founders, having this compliance handled by the same platform that formed the company is meaningful risk reduction.
5. The $350,000+ Rewards Marketplace
According to independent Firstbase analysis, Firstbase includes a rewards marketplace with $350,000+ in partner perks: Stripe fee waivers, Carta equity tools credits, AWS infrastructure credits, Mercury banking benefits, and legal credits with US law firms. Bizee does not offer a comparable startup rewards marketplace. For a founder who will actually use AWS, Stripe, or Carta, the marketplace value can exceed Firstbase’s entire formation cost. The constraint is real: you have to use the partner tools to capture the value, but for tech-enabled operating businesses this is a genuine edge over Bizee.
6. Payroll Tax Registration And Multi-Language Support
Firstbase automates state and city payroll tax registration nationwide for US hiring, which Bizee does not offer. Firstbase also supports six platform languages (English, Russian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic) versus Bizee’s English and Spanish. For non-US founders hiring US employees or operating primarily in a non-English language, both differences reduce friction in ways that matter to the specific international operator profile.
Where Bizee Is Genuinely Better
Bizee is not the wrong choice for everyone. For specific profiles, it is the better fit and the budget pricing delivers genuine value:
If you are a US-based founder who specifically wants the cheapest legitimate path to LLC formation. Bizee’s $0 Silver tier (you pay only state fees) is the lowest entry-tier price in the formation industry. According to independent Bizee analysis, the platform has formed over 1 million businesses since 2004, so the track record at the budget price point is genuine.
If you want a recognized US-focused formation brand with two decades of operating history. Bizee operated as Incfile from 2004 to 2023 and rebranded but kept the same underlying service. The longevity is real and the customer base is overwhelmingly US-based small business owners.
If you specifically want bundled extras on the higher tiers without paying separately. Gold ($199) adds EIN registration, operating agreement, and business banking introduction. Platinum ($299) adds expedited processing, business contract templates, and a free domain name. For US founders who want these specific extras bundled at a low total price, the Gold or Platinum tiers are competitive.
If you prefer a free Silver tier with $119/year registered agent ongoing cost. The Bizee Silver-to-year-2+ pricing structure (you pay only state fees up front, then $119/year for RA) is genuinely budget-friendly for US founders who do not need any of the bundled extras.
For these specific US-based budget profiles, Bizee is a reasonable choice. For non-US founders needing the international formation workflow, Firstbase is the clear better fit. For US founders who want privacy protection and even cheaper long-term pricing, see the verdict section below for the better US option.
Before you pick any LLC formation service, get the full framework for evaluating your business infrastructure the right way. Grab my free beginner guide → so you know which tools actually matter at your stage and which are nice-to-have.
The Pricing Comparison
| Cost Component | Firstbase (Non-US Wyoming) | Bizee Silver (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Formation Service | $399 | $0 (Silver) |
| Year 1 State Filing Fee (Wyoming) | $100 | $100 |
| Year 1 US Business Address | $349 Mailroom (effectively required) | Not bundled |
| Year 1 Registered Agent | Included free year 1 | Included free year 1 |
| Year 1 EIN | Included, faster turnaround | Not on Silver (Gold tier $199 includes EIN) |
| Year 1 Total | $848 | $100 |
| Year 2+ Registered Agent | $299/year | $119/year |
| Year 2+ Mailroom | $349/year | Not needed (US founder) |
| Year 2+ State Recurring (Wyoming) | $60/year | $60/year |
| 5-Year Total (basic) | $3,680 | ~$816 |
The honest read on pricing: Bizee Silver at approximately $816 over 5 years (formation + 4 years of registered agent + state recurring fees, ignoring the EIN add-on cost) is dramatically cheaper than Firstbase’s $3,680 over 5 years. But the comparison is not apples to apples for non-US founders. Bizee Silver does not include EIN registration (only on Gold and Platinum), does not bundle a US business address (not needed for US founders but required for non-residents), does not include international banking partnerships, and does not handle Form 5472 compliance.
For a US-based founder who only needs basic formation, Bizee Silver at ~$816 over 5 years is genuinely competitive. For a non-US founder, Firstbase’s higher headline price reflects the bundled international workflow that Bizee does not provide. The pricing trap to avoid: a non-US founder choosing Bizee Silver to save money will end up paying separately for a virtual US business address ($100-$350/year), an EIN add-on, third-party international banking research, and independent Form 5472 filing through a CPA ($400-$800/year), which can eliminate the apparent savings while adding vendor coordination overhead.
Who Each Platform Is Built For
Firstbase Is The Right Choice If You:
Are a non-US founder forming a US LLC or C-Corp from abroad and need EIN registration without an SSN handled by specialists.
Need a US business address, virtual mailbox, and mail handling bundled into formation rather than sourced separately.
Need US business banking access through partners (Mercury, Relay, Brex) that work with non-residents.
Must file Form 5472 as a foreign-owned LLC and want that compliance handled by your formation platform.
Will use the $350,000+ rewards marketplace (Stripe, Carta, AWS, legal credits) to extract value beyond formation.
Need faster EIN turnaround (8-12 business days) to set up payment processing and banking on a deadline.
Plan to hire US employees and want payroll tax registration automated across states.
Operate primarily in Russian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Arabic and want native-language platform support.
Bizee Is The Right Choice If You:
Are a US-based founder who specifically wants the cheapest legitimate path to LLC formation ($0 Silver formation fee plus state fees).
Want a recognized US-focused formation brand with over 1 million businesses formed since 2004.
Want bundled extras on Gold or Platinum tiers (EIN, operating agreement, banking introduction, expedited processing, contract templates, domain name) without paying separately for each.
Already have a US SSN, US address, and US banking relationships, so you do not need the non-resident infrastructure.
Specifically value Bizee’s lower $119/year ongoing registered agent cost over Firstbase’s $299/year.
The Honest Verdict
For non-US founders, this comparison is not close: Firstbase is purpose-built for the exact workflow that Bizee treats as an edge case. The non-resident EIN specialization, bundled US business address, international banking partnerships, Form 5472 compliance, faster EIN turnaround, and multi-language support directly serve the international founder. Bizee can technically form an LLC for a non-US founder, but it was not designed for that customer and the gaps show up exactly where they matter most.
For US-based founders, Bizee’s $0 Silver formation tier is genuinely competitive at the entry price point. But there is a better long-term option for US founders that beats both Bizee and Firstbase on total cost and adds genuine privacy protection: Northwest Registered Agent at approximately $539 over 5 years. Northwest charges roughly $39 plus state fees to form and $125/year for registered agent, with a hard-earned reputation for not selling customer data and answering the phone with real Corporate Guides. For US founders comparing budget options, Northwest beats Bizee on multi-year TCO ($539 vs $816 over 5 years), adds real privacy protection that Bizee does not match, and offers real-person phone support that Bizee does not provide.
The honest decision framework is straightforward: non-US founder, choose Firstbase because Bizee was not built for your workflow. US founder who specifically values Bizee’s brand longevity or wants the bundled Gold/Platinum extras, Bizee is a reasonable choice. US founder who just wants the cheapest, most private, longest-running US formation service, Northwest is the better pick.
Non-US Founder? Firstbase Is Built For Your Exact Situation
EIN without SSN, premium US business address, international banking partners, Form 5472 compliance, faster EIN turnaround, and $350,000+ rewards marketplace. $399 one-time formation + $349/year Mailroom + $299/year registered agent after free first year.
What To Pair With Your LLC Formation
The LLC is one piece of your broader ecommerce operation. Here is what I run alongside on most of my own stores.
For your ecommerce platform, Shopify is the foundation that handles order management, payment processing, and customer communication. Shopify Payments requires a US-registered entity, which is one of the reasons non-US founders form US LLCs through Firstbase.
For your theme, Turbo by Pixel Union is what I run on most of my own stores. Fast-loading themes with clean schema markup compound your conversion rates because Google rewards page speed and customers convert better on fast sites.
For email marketing, Omnisend handles the post-traffic side. Welcome sequences, cart abandonment flows, and post-purchase automation turn website visitors into repeat customers.
For bookkeeping, FreshBooks works for most ecommerce operators in their first few years and keeps your financials tax-ready.
For business phone, Phone.com delivers business VoIP starting at $11.99 monthly with SOC 2 plus HIPAA-ready compliance. For non-US founders, having a US business phone number makes the operation feel more legitimate to US customers.
For US-based founders, Northwest Registered Agent is my primary LLC formation recommendation because the pricing is meaningfully cheaper than both Firstbase and Bizee over multi-year ownership, the privacy protection is genuine, and US residents do not specifically need the bundled international features Firstbase provides.
For broader business infrastructure context, pair this with my complete guide to high-ticket dropshipping for the operational framework. For supplier relationships specifically, my complete guide to finding suppliers covers the upstream side. And for niche selection, my high-ticket niches list covers the categories where serious business infrastructure matters most.
The Bottom Line
Firstbase and Bizee both form US LLCs, but they serve completely different customers. Firstbase is the non-US founder specialist: EIN without SSN, premium US business address, international banking, Form 5472 compliance, faster turnaround, and a $350,000+ rewards marketplace, built for entrepreneurs incorporating from abroad. Bizee is the US-focused budget formation service: $0 Silver tier, over 1 million businesses formed since 2004, and bundled extras on Gold and Platinum tiers, built for cost-conscious US-based founders.
For 2026, my recommendation for non-US founders is Firstbase without hesitation. The platform is built for your exact situation, and Bizee’s gaps appear precisely where the international workflow matters most. Compare the full picture through my complete Firstbase review and Firstbase pricing deep-dive.
For US-based founders, Bizee‘s $0 Silver tier is a reasonable budget choice, but Northwest Registered Agent at roughly $539 over 5 years typically beats both on total cost, adds genuine privacy protection (does not sell customer data), and offers real-person phone support through Corporate Guides. For the other major Firstbase comparisons, see my Firstbase vs Stripe Atlas 2026, Firstbase vs Doola 2026, Firstbase vs LegalZoom 2026, and Firstbase vs Northwest 2026 breakdowns.
If you want me to build the whole Shopify operation for you on a proven niche with the right business infrastructure pre-configured, my done-for-you store build service handles it end-to-end. If you want one-on-one help working through your specific situation including LLC formation strategy and state selection, private coaching is the most direct path.
Ready To Form Your US Business With Firstbase?
$399 one-time formation in Wyoming or Delaware, EIN without SSN, faster turnaround (8-12 business days), premium US business address, multi-banking partner integration, and access to $350,000+ in startup rewards. 30,000+ businesses formed across 191 countries.
FAQ
Is Firstbase or Bizee better for non-US founders?
Firstbase is meaningfully better for non-US founders. Firstbase is purpose-built for the non-resident workflow: EIN registration without an SSN with faster turnaround (8-12 business days), bundled US business address, international banking partners (Mercury, Relay, Brex), and Form 5472 compliance for foreign-owned LLCs. Bizee can form an LLC for a non-US founder but is built for US-based customers and does not specialize in the international workflow.
How does Firstbase pricing compare to Bizee pricing?
Bizee Silver at $0 formation (you pay only state fees) looks meaningfully cheaper than Firstbase’s $399 formation fee, and Bizee’s $119/year ongoing registered agent is cheaper than Firstbase’s $299/year. But Bizee Silver does not include EIN registration (only Gold $199 and Platinum $299 do), does not bundle a US business address (required for non-residents), does not handle international banking, and does not offer Form 5472 compliance. Once those services are added for non-US founders, the apparent price advantage disappears. For full Firstbase pricing see my Firstbase Pricing 2026 deep-dive.
Can Bizee get an EIN for a non-US founder without an SSN?
Bizee includes EIN registration in its Gold and Platinum tiers, but the platform is built for US founders who typically already have an SSN, so the non-resident EIN workflow is not its specialty. Firstbase has developed specific expertise in the fax-based Form SS-4 process for non-residents and delivers EIN turnaround in 8-12 business days, faster than the typical 20-30 day wait. For non-US founders, Firstbase’s specialized handling is meaningfully better.
What happened to Incfile?
Bizee is the rebrand of Incfile. The company operated as Incfile from its founding in 2004 until rebranding to Bizee in 2023. The underlying service, customer base, and pricing structure remained the same. According to independent Bizee analysis, the platform has formed over 1 million businesses across its history under both names.
Should US-based founders use Firstbase, Bizee, or something else?
For US-based founders, neither Firstbase nor Bizee is the optimal choice for straightforward formation. Northwest Registered Agent at roughly $539 over 5 years typically beats both on total cost, adds genuine privacy protection (does not sell customer data), and offers real-person phone support through Corporate Guides. Bizee’s $0 Silver tier is competitive at the entry price point, but Northwest’s $125/year registered agent (vs Bizee’s $119/year) plus its privacy and support advantages make it the better long-term choice for most US founders. Firstbase is specifically the right choice for non-US founders.
Want a fully-built high-ticket dropshipping store with the right business infrastructure pre-configured? Skip months of setup and launch on a tested foundation. See the turnkey store build service →
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If you found this useful, these guides go deeper on related topics:
- Firstbase.io Review 2026
- Firstbase.io Pricing 2026
- Firstbase vs Stripe Atlas 2026
- Firstbase vs Doola 2026
- Firstbase vs LegalZoom 2026
- Firstbase vs Northwest 2026
- Firstbase vs Clerky 2026
- Bizee Pricing 2026
- 9 Best Bizee Alternatives 2026
- Northwest Registered Agent vs Doola 2026
- Complete Business Formation Checklist
- High-Ticket Niches List 2026
- Complete Guide to High-Ticket Dropshipping
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
