Head-to-Head

BetterLegal

Fastest Business Formation in 2 Days

VS

Firstbase

All-in-One US Business Platform for Global Founders

Side-by-side comparison. Data as of 2026-02-16.

Founded
BetterLegal: 2017
Firstbase: 2019
Rating
8.0/10
8.4/10
First Year Cost
~$419+ (formation + RA)
~$399 + $299 (Start + Agent; full One ~$2,388/yr)
Formation Speed
2 business days standard
1-3 business days (automated + expedited)
RA Annual
$120/year ($10/month); add-on only
$99-$299/year (Agent Autopilot; bundled in One)

Company Background

BetterLegal

HQ: Austin, Texas (1003 Rio Grande St)

Ownership: Private (founder-owned; Chad Sakonchick)

Employees: 7

Formations: 20,000+ businesses formed

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2017 in Austin, TX
  • Grew to $4.1M revenue with 7-person team
  • Pivoted to no-code (Bubble) in 2022 for rapid features
  • Expanded to full one-stop shop (formation + partners)
  • Hit 20k+ formations; AI tools launched

Firstbase

HQ: New York, NY (51-200 employees)

Ownership: Private (YC-backed; founder-led)

Employees: 51-200

Formations: 30,000+

Key Milestones

  • Founded 2019 in NYC by Mark Milastsivy
  • YC Winter 2021 batch
  • Hit 30k+ companies formed
  • Launched Firstbase One (all-in-one bundle)
  • Expanded Agent Autopilot to all 50 states

Core Services

BetterLegal Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp, S-Corp)
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • 2-business-day formation (fastest standard)
  • No upsells; one simple package
  • AI-powered legal translator (Chrome extension)
  • Freebies: website, tax analysis, insurance eval
  • All essentials included (EIN, docs, resolutions)

Firstbase Services

Formation types:

  • LLC
  • Corporation (C-Corp)
  • Foreign Qualification (all states)
  • Change of Registered Agent

Differentiators:

  • All-in-one: formation + compliance + bookkeeping + taxes
  • Bank account for non-residents (no SSN needed)
  • Agent Autopilot (own entities in 50 states)
  • $350k in founder perks (Stripe credits, legal, etc.)
  • 24/7 human support from anywhere

Both offer nationwide RA coverage. Compare differentiators above to see where each shines.

Pricing & Value

Category BetterLegal Firstbase Winner
First Year Total ~$419+ (formation + RA) ~$399 + $299 (Start + Agent; full One ~$2,388/yr) Firstbase
RA Annual Fee $120/year ($10/month); add-on only $99-$299/year (Agent Autopilot; bundled in One)
Value Score 8.2/10 8.5/10 Firstbase

Speed & Performance

BetterLegal

Avg formation: 2 business days standard

Expedited: Included (2 days); same-day in select cases

Firstbase

Avg formation: 1-3 business days (automated + expedited)

Expedited: Included in Start (fast processing)

Pros & Cons

BetterLegal — Pros

  • 2-day formation (fastest)
  • Simple $299 package
  • AI translator & freebies
  • All docs/EIN included
  • No-hassle onboarding

BetterLegal — Cons

  • ✗ RA $120/year extra
  • ✗ Support issues on RA
  • ✗ Billing complaints
  • ✗ Basic vs. full suites
  • ✗ Small team scale

Firstbase — Pros

  • All-in-one (formation to taxes)
  • Non-resident bank accounts
  • 50-state Agent Autopilot
  • 24/7 global humans
  • $350k perks

Firstbase — Cons

  • ✗ Premium pricing
  • ✗ Bundle-heavy
  • ✗ Limited domestic focus
  • ✗ Payroll setup variability
  • ✗ Newer (2019)

The Verdict

Choose BetterLegal if: Ideal for founders who prioritize speed over hand-holding—form fast, then layer RA. Watch reviews on ongoing service.


Choose Firstbase if: The ultimate platform for non-US founders—handles everything from formation to taxes in one place. Perfect if you're building remotely and want zero hassle.

Higher rating: Firstbase (8.4/10)