Doola vs Firstbase? An In-depth Comparison

Napoleon

— 13 min read
Doola vs Firstbase? An In-depth Comparison

An entrepreneur who dreams of being incredible in the business industry has a thought or two about starting a business in the US. Launching a business in the international market is a big shoe to wear, let alone fit. But should that scare you from engaging? NO. If other entrepreneurs establish businesses in vast markets like the US or the UK, why not yourself? 

There’s no law barring foreigners from starting companies in the US. Hence, you can choose a favorable business structure, register it, join the US business community, and become a global trader. 

As a new entrepreneur in the international market, it’s wise to seek the guidance of a formation company to help you do the heavy lifting. The internet floods with business formation service companies like Doola and Firstbase from which to choose. But are they convenient? Do they deliver all expectations and promises? How do you settle for the most excellent formation platform among the two? 

Don’t scratch your head trying to find answers to these questions because we got you. Today, our guide will put the two against each other, leaving you to make a wise decision for your international business. We’ll have an in-depth comparison between Doola Vs. Firstbase. By the end of this insightful post, you’ll know which of the two is cost-effective, reliable, and convenient for your new business venture. 

What is Doola?

Doola is an online platform that offers startups all the necessary tools to start, grow, and run a business. The platform provides step-by-step guidance into the formation procedure to help entrepreneurs create legal, operational business structures. 

Doola has various features that help with compliance monitoring, e-signature options, and document storage. These features are all designed to simplify the business landscape for global startups, making it easier for them to manage their businesses.

You can launch a business in the US through Doola from any part of the world and manage it seamlessly. Among the services Doola offers are: 

  1. Company formation or registration
  2. Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  3. A US bank account without a Social Security Number (SSN)
  4. Free tax consultation
  5. A US phone number
  6. Tax support 

Besides company formation, Doola has aided thousands of business founders in starting, growing, and maintaining their US businesses. Doola ensures that the companies formed under its services comply with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), making it a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs.

How Doola Works

You can form your US company with Doola by providing your company name, a valid email address, and a personal address. After establishing your company, Doola works on your EIN by applying to the IRS, for which you’ll need to open a US bank account. 

Once your EIN is ready, you can use your passport to apply for a US Bank Account. After setting up your bank account, Doola will assist you in connecting it to your payment processor to allow you access to payments sent to your account.

Doola does not only help businesses start and get off the ground but also manage and grow. The platform allows you to monitor your business compliance easily, develop growth strategies, and automate business processes. 

With help from the tools Doola provides, entrepreneurs run their businesses comfortably and find investment sources suitable for their businesses. Doola monitors critical performance metrics in your business so you know how you’re performing and what needs improvement. 

What is Firstbase?

Firstbase is a one-stop company OS designed to assist global founders in starting, managing, and growing a US-based business. The platform offers almost the same services to customers as Doola, including:

  1. Company formation 
  2. Registered agent services
  3. Convenient virtual mailbox where you can view and manage company mail online

Firstbase has a user-friendly dashboard that’s easy to navigate, and you can access all the features needed to manage a fast-growing business. It allows business owners to choose the kind of enterprise they wish to launch by offering various options. Incorporating your business with Firstbase means they’ll assist you with the following:

  1. Company formation
  2. Setting up banking
  3. Obtain your EIN
  4. Process payments
  5. Manage payroll 
  6. Compliance with the law 
  7. Reducing your business administration tasks frees time for you to focus on other development aspects

After incorporating your business, Firstbase doesn’t stop at that. The platform will process your paperwork and apply to all relevant state agencies intended to receive your application. As your application is being processed, Firstbase will keep you informed. They will also organize your legal documents, file the paperwork, and create post-incorporation documents. You view and access all of these documents on your Firstbase dashboard.

Having served thousands of founders, Firstbase has become a household name. Everyone who wants to incorporate a business in the US searches online. Firstbase goes beyond incorporation to solve some of the most challenging problems associated with startups. They keep the focus on:

  1. Making financial infrastructure accessible
  2. Automating repetitive tasks a founder might face when running a business
  3. Availing tools and resources to everyone, everywhere
  4. Building integrated solutions and removing friction for founders
  5. Offering an opportunity to founders and companies who are overlooked to shine
  6. Providing access to uncommon knowledge

Doola Features

Doola is excellent for small businesses because its features help entrepreneurs start and build a company from the ground up. The platform is user-friendly and secure and can be navigated from a single dashboard. It provides users with all the necessary features to create, manage, and grow their businesses. Let’s look into Doola’s main features in detail:

1. User-friendly Interface

What makes Doola an easy-to-use platform is its user-friendly interface for business formation. Doola’s website is easy to navigate, with an intuitive guide throughout the process of forming your business. 

The User Interface (UI) is straightforward and provides a smooth User Experience (UX) that makes the incorporation process for your business entity seamless. As you create your company, you encounter legal jargon you need clarification on. But not to worry because the website explains everything to help you interpret each step, understand, and navigate.

2. Business Consultation Services

As an entrepreneur, Doola offers comprehensive business consultation services to aid you in making informed decisions for your company. These knowledgeable services are provided by experts who specialize in business formation. 

They provide valuable insights that guide you to make the best business choices. Doola Business Formation understands that each business is unique and treats each founder according to their needs. Hence, offering personalized consultation services to meet the specific needs of every client.

3. Expedited Business Formation Process

Once you provide all the necessary steps, Doola Business Formation expedites your business formation process to ensure your business is up and running fast. 

Expediting the service ensures your business is formed efficiently (LLC, Corporation, or DBA). As a result, you save time and resources to attend to other business matters. Your business will be formed in a few days, depending on your requirements.

Although Doola’s international customers appreciate their comprehensive services, there are still mixed reviews about the platform. Customers are happy with these services: 

  • Business Formation
  • Bookkeeping 
  • Tax help 
  • Dedicated account managers 

Business owners doing massive business with the US are happy with the above services yet disgruntled with the following: 

  • Unresponsiveness after payment 
  • Delays in services like EIN registration
  • Reliance on chat over phone support 

In some states like Delaware, incorporation takes a day, meaning there’s no need to pay to expedite the process, but Doola might still charge for it. 

4. Affordable Packages and Pricing

Doola’s Business Formation services are affordable to suit your small business’s Budget. The service pricing is transparent, allowing you to customize a package that meets your needs. The prices are straightforward, with no hidden fees or costs, making it easy to Budget and plan for the business expenses ahead. 

5. Topnotch Customer Support

A company that offers exceptional customer support is more likely to retain and attract customers than one with bogus backing. Fortunately, Doola Business Formation is committed to excellent customer support and assisting business founders anytime. 

Doola’s customer support team is knowledgeable, and the representatives are available throughout the business formation process. The support team is highly responsive, friendly, and always willing to go the extra mile to meet customer needs. Whatever kind of help you need in your business formation, the Doola customer support team will assist you. 

Doola Pricing

Doola will help you form a US company effortlessly without SSN. They have two plans: a Starter ($297), Premium ($897), and Total Compliance pack ($2,397 - $1,999 + state fee). Here is what each plan covers. 

  • Company formation
  • Formation document filing
  • EIN Compliance
  • Registered agent service
  • Operating agreements for LLCs only
  • Annual state filing 
  • Tax support 
  • CPA filing
  • Tax filing at the IRS 
  • Financial management 
  • Customer service
  • Bookkeeping software 
  • Dedicated account manager 

The starter plan enjoys all the above services, but the founder needs to top them up to enjoy five. They include:

  • Annual state filing +$199/year
  • Tax support +$300/hour
  • Tax filing at the IRS +$1200/year
  • Bookkeeping software +$300/year
  • Dedicated account manager +$600/year

Firstbase Features

Firstbase is an all-in-one formation platform that simplifies starting, managing, and growing a business. With a comprehensive list of features, Firstbase enables founders to create, start, and manage their businesses. 

The platform has an easy-to-use user interface, allowing even the least tech-savvy users to navigate smoothly. Its dashboard is well organized, and you can access all the main features from the menu. 

Firstbase is a modern, founder-friendly platform that offers the best business-in-a-box services.  The platform provides a streamlined and secure formation process for your business in the US, allowing you to reap the benefits of the world’s robust economy. These benefits include: 

  • Venture capital 
  • Tax benefits 
  • Favorable liability arrangements 
  • Access to a highly qualified workforce

Let’s discuss Firstbase features in detail:

1. Freedom to Choose Company Type and State

Firstbase users can choose the type of company they want to start and the state to incorporate in the US. Once the founder decides on the business structure (LLC, corporation, partnership), Firstbase forms the legal entity. They’re sure to create the business in the chosen state while informing the entrepreneur every step of the way.

2. Application Processing

After completing an application for business formation, all the entrepreneur can do is sit back and wait for Firstbase to complete the process. Each formation application is treated differently depending on the founder’s objectives and sent to relevant states and federal agencies. From the Firstbase website, you can track the progress of your business’s application. 

3. Streamlined Business Registration

Firstbase is a modern house that provides an all-in-one formation process in the US. They ask you for the registration data and then handle the entire process. Firstbase will ask you to complete the requisite forms and then procure your Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the IRS. The team will register your business, create a mail address with a physical location, link you to a compliance agent, open a US business bank account, and meet any other requirement your business might need. 

4. Tax ID

Firstbase will apply for your tax ID or an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS during the incorporation process. A tax ID is how the IRS identifies all businesses in the US and also how they collect tax.

Virtual Inbox 

Once you decide on a Firstbase package, they provide the tools you need to run your business effectively and a virtual inbox. The virtual mailbox is registered at a physical address to ensure all company mail is received and acted upon promptly. You’ll also have access to a support team and a registered agent who will receive the official company correspondence. 

After incorporation, Firstbase will keep your new company healthy by providing various support services. They include compliance management, reward programs, and accounting. 

5. Bookkeeping Services

Besides, Firstbase will keep your business financially healthy by providing continuous bookkeeping services and opening a bank account for the company. As a result, it will be easy for your business to manage cash flow and monitor expenses. 

6. Transparency 

Firstbase operates on a rule of thumb: what you see is what you get. They’re committed to providing transparent services; what you pay for is exactly what you get. Subscription fees, operational procedures, and deadlines are disclosed up-front, giving you complete insight into what is to come, and there will be surprises down the line. 

7. Perks and Rewards

Once Firstbase sets up your business and is up and running, you’re eligible for a wide range of benefits that can save you thousands of dollars. Firstbase will introduce you to other app services like Wix, Mercury, Notion, Salesforce, slack, and Payoneer to help you streamline your business operations. With the help of these tools you can run your business and facilitate your business’s long-term growth.

Firstbase Pricing

Firstbase will charge you a one-time fee of $399 to cover the initial services your startup requires. The one-time fee covers the following: 

  1. Company formation
  2. Setting up a US business bank account
  3. Expert support
  4. EIN set up
  5. Post-incorporation documents
  6. Physical address in the US
  7. Lifetime expert opinion

Depending on your needs, you’ll pay separately for any additional components and services Firstbase offers. Firstbase will charge you for these additional services:

  1. A Registered Agent. Depending on your plan (light, autopilot, payroll), you can choose a registered for $99, $299, or $599 per year. They’ll ensure your business is compliant in your state of choice and a registered agent in your state of choice. 
  2. Mailroom. You pay $35 or $50 monthly for a primary or premium plan monthly. The premium plan offers a physical address and a virtual mailbox. 
  3. Insurance. The plan starts at $26 monthly to provide comprehensive protection for your enterprise.
  4. Payroll. Pay a $599 annual fee for payroll registration service and hiring of employees from any other state, regardless of where the business was incorporated.
  • Loop. A set of free tools to help grow your business.

Doola Vs Firstbase: Similarities

Doola and Firstbase are service platforms that help entrepreneurs and startups launch, manage, and grow their businesses. Besides getting your business off the ground, both platforms provide professional business support. Both platforms offer the following services:

  1. Essential services a business owner requires from the beginning of a business
  2. Choose a state to register your business
  3. They apply and set you up with EIN
  4. Registered agent services
  5. Setting up a US business bank account for your company
  6. You obtain a US street address and mail service
  7. They are excellent platforms for non-US residents seeking to explore and access global payment gateways. 
  8. Founders have the freedom to choose a plan that works for them
  9. There’s freedom of choice in the state of incorporation

Doola Vs Firstbase: Differences

Both Doola and Firstbase offer business founders an opportunity to invest in the world’s robust economy by providing tools, counsel, and support. However, despite their similarities, their services also differ, as we detail below: 

  1. Doola helps entrepreneurs start, manage, run, and grow a US-based business. 
    • Firstbase is ideal for startups and entrepreneurs seeking to start and manage a business in the US. Both platforms offer the same services.
  1. Doola provides its services all over the US.
    • Initially, Firstbase offered a virtual address or mailroom for its entrepreneurs and startups in four cities: Delaware, Wisconsin, Florida, and New York. The mailroom is a virtual inbox only available to businesses that need a US street address. Firstbase will scan and store an infinite amount of mail, or you can pay a small amount for them to forward it to a domestic or foreign address. However, there’s an extra charge for this service.
  1. Doola is more affordable and startup-friendly in terms of pricing
    • Firstbase is more expensive, and some services are only available at an extra cost, which isn’t cheap.

Firstbase Pros and Cons

PROS:

  1. A seamless and intuitive business registration system.
  2. The formation process is smooth.
  3. A highly responsive customer support team that offers immediate solutions to problems.
  4. A smooth registration process of a US business bank account.
  5. The entire registration process is transparent and organized.
  6. Comprehensive support to grow the business.
  7. Substantial rewards to access other networks aimed at growing and managing your business.
  8. Quick processing and expedition of the process.
  9. Save in rewards and deals.

CONS:

  1. Sometimes, the process can take longer. 
  2. Some users have complained about slow response times on emails. 
  3. Founders still keep getting automated formation messages even after they start a business. 
  4. Some of their network apps, like Mercury Bank, have rejected many users when Firstbase is opening their US bank account.
  5. Price is high-end

The Pros and Cons of Doola

Doola is a comprehensive company formation service suitable for non-US residents and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). The platform offers different plans at varying prices, covering a range of services.

However, more feedback needs to be given from customers who have used the platform. Doola has no mobile app, and there might be additional costs besides the primary plan. Here are more benefits and downsides of using Doola: 

PROS

  1. Specializes in forming non-US LLCs
  2. Founders enjoy comprehensive business compliance packages
  3. CPA consultations 
  4. Integrated bookkeeping software

CONS

  1. Mixed customer reviews on communication delays
  2. No mobile app 
  3. Additional hidden costs

FAQS

Why choose Doola companies?

Doola is a formation service company that favors non-US residents who want to join global entrepreneurs by establishing businesses in the US. The platform helps customers to incorporate, stay compliant with state laws throughout the year, and access US payment systems. Doola doesn’t abandon business owners after company formation, but they continue to offer support, guidance, and annual filing for their business according to their plan.

Can I launch a business in any state with Firstbase?

Firstbase will help you incorporate your company in your state of choice. They’ll ask for incorporation requirements and then do the rest for you. You can access all their services and growth tools on their website and the dashboard with one click from anywhere. Start and run your US business effortlessly with Firstbase. Stay compliant with the laws in your state, and manage your business online.

What payment methods are eligible on Doola?

You can use payment methods to pay for Doola services, including credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers. 

Which is preferable: Doola or Firstbase?

Both platforms offer similar services to entrepreneurs and startups. Firstbase is a modern, founder-friendly alternative to Doola, offering similar services at varying prices. As a cloud-based service, Firstbase offers excellent business-in-a-box services in the current market. These platforms allow non-US residents to venture into the world’s most robust economy and reap the benefits. 

What does Doola money entail?

Doola Money facilitates transactions worldwide in local currencies with the added advantage and convenience of receiving payments in USD. They offer services like LLC formation, setting up US business bank accounts, ongoing compliance, accepting payments, and tax filings.

In summary

Entrepreneurs looking to realize their entrepreneurial dream will find Doola and Firstbase an appealing formation solution. The two platforms offer an investment opportunity to a minority group that dares to dream big. 

Hopefully, this insightful guide will compare Doola vs. Firstbase, which has provided the information you need from a company in the US. These platforms have the experience and knowledge of US formations, and all you have to do is furnish them with relevant information, pay the fee, and do the rest.

Establishing a business in the US is a challenging feat, but it can be achieved with the proper support, guidance, and effort. Both Doola and Firstbase are user-friendly platforms and extensive resources that provide services that simplify starting a business in the US. 

Joining the international market can be exciting, especially for non-US residents, and these platforms make it look like an everyday task. They have knowledgeable professionals, and well-rounded formation features that address most startup needs. 

While Doola offers business founders an opportunity to start and grow, Firstbase targets entrepreneurs and startups. Doola is secure. It minimizes stress and reduces workload by automating repetitive tasks. So, if you’re willing to take your business to the next level, these two platforms will help you get there seamlessly. 

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