Head-to-Head

incorporate.com

Long-Established Business Formation & Compliance

VS

Firstbase

All-in-One US Business Platform for Global Founders

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

Founded
incorporate.com: 1899
Firstbase: 2019
Rating
7.2/10
8.4/10
First Year Cost
~$334+ (formation + mandatory RA; state fees extra)
~$399 + $299 (Start + Agent; full One ~$2,388/yr)
Formation Speed
1-5 business days standard
1-3 business days (automated + expedited)
RA Annual
$235/year (mandatory; no free year; can't opt out easily)
$99-$299/year (Agent Autopilot; bundled in One)

Company Background

incorporate.com

HQ: Wilmington, Delaware (2711 Centerville Road)

Ownership: Private (subsidiary of Corporation Service Company - CSC)

Employees: 100+

Formations: 750,000+ businesses

Key Milestones

  • Founded 1899 as The Company Corporation
  • Rebranded to incorporate.com
  • Expanded to 50 states + DC
  • Integrated with CSC Navigator compliance tools
  • Served Fortune 1000 & law firms

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

incorporate.com Services

Formation types:

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

Differentiators:

  • 120+ years legacy (CSC)
  • CSC Navigator compliance platform
  • Corporate Veil Guarantee ($75k)
  • Mandatory RA integration
  • Full-service for law firms & corps

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 incorporate.com Firstbase Winner
First Year Total ~$334+ (formation + mandatory RA; state fees extra) ~$399 + $299 (Start + Agent; full One ~$2,388/yr) Firstbase
RA Annual Fee $235/year (mandatory; no free year; can't opt out easily) $99-$299/year (Agent Autopilot; bundled in One)
Value Score 6.8/10 8.5/10 Firstbase

Speed & Performance

incorporate.com

Avg formation: 1-5 business days standard

Expedited: Same-day (add $20)

Firstbase

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

Expedited: Included in Start (fast processing)

Pros & Cons

incorporate.com — Pros

  • Longest track record (1899)
  • 750k+ formations
  • Enterprise compliance tools
  • All 50 states coverage
  • Corporate Veil Guarantee

incorporate.com — Cons

  • ✗ RA $235 mandatory
  • ✗ No free Year 1 RA
  • ✗ High overall costs
  • ✗ Mixed reviews
  • ✗ Restrictive policies

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 incorporate.com if: The granddaddy of formation services—reliable for complex needs, but overpriced and restrictive for most founders. Use only if you need full CSC ecosystem.


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)