Head-to-head
BCA vs Firstbase for non-resident US LLC formation
Last updated: August 2026
Firstbase is a SaaS-style LLC formation product targeting global founders. BCA is a smaller cross-border advisory practice that handles the same LLC plus the Paraguay residency + ITIN + Bali layer. Different products for different needs.
Bottom line
Pick Firstbase if you want a self-serve SaaS-style product with a polished dashboard, you are operating on the US side of the stack only, and you are comfortable buying compliance as an ongoing subscription. Pick BCA if you want a flat USD 1,000 setup (with Wise + Mercury + Stripe already included), a flat USD 1,000/year renewal that covers compliance without tiers, and a real human relationship with Axel.
Side-by-side
| Firstbase Dashboard-driven LLC SaaS | Better Call Axel Flat USD 1,000 all-in + a friend | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (LLC + EIN) | USD 399 + USD 100/yr Firstbase Agent (Wyoming flat) | USD 1,000 all-in, LLC + EIN + Wise + Mercury + Stripe + registered agent year 1 |
| Dashboard / self-service | Polished React dashboard with task tracking, doc storage, KYB pre-fill | BCA client portal with document storage + task tracking + magic-link access |
| States offered | Delaware, Wyoming | Wyoming, Delaware (other states on request) |
| Bank account intro | Mercury (partner) | Three rails included: Wise + Mercury + Stripe, full setup, not a referral |
| ITIN application | Add-on (~USD 499) | Bundled when the use case calls for it |
| Annual compliance | Compliance subscription (~USD 99/mo) covers reports + bookkeeping | USD 1,000/year flat renewal, annual report + Form 5472 + BOI + RA + Axel access. No tiered subscription. |
| Cross-border services | (US-focused) | Paraguay residency, ITIN-to-credit, Bali leasehold real estate |
| Direct founder contact | Support pool; no founder-level contact | Direct contact with Alessandro, a friend you can call before and after |
What each option actually fits
Firstbase
Dashboard-driven LLC SaaS
Firstbase is the right pick for founders who want a polished self-serve dashboard, want to file documents and track progress without conversation, and operate purely on the US side of the stack.
Visit Firstbase ↗Better Call Axel
Flat USD 1,000 all-in + a friend
BCA fits founders who want a real human running point on the whole stack. Flat USD 1,000 setup covers the LLC + all three banking rails (Wise, Mercury, Stripe). Flat USD 1,000/year renewal covers compliance. No tiered subscription, no per-add-on upsell, no hidden costs.
The honest take
So which one?
Pick Firstbase if you want a self-serve SaaS-style product with a polished dashboard, you are operating on the US side of the stack only, and you are comfortable buying compliance as an ongoing subscription. Pick BCA if you want a flat USD 1,000 setup (with Wise + Mercury + Stripe already included), a flat USD 1,000/year renewal that covers compliance without tiers, and a real human relationship with Axel.
See the canonical BCA service page →Common questions
How does Firstbase pricing compare to BCA over a 12-month window? +
Year-one total at Firstbase sits around USD 1,500·1,600 (formation + agent + compliance subscription). BCA year-one total is USD 1,000 setup. And the second year is USD 1,000 vs Firstbase's roughly USD 1,200/year ongoing. Three-year cumulative: BCA ~USD 3,000 vs Firstbase ~USD 4,000.
Does Firstbase include the bank-setup package? +
Firstbase refers clients to Mercury; Wise and Stripe are not part of their core product. BCA sets up all three (Wise + Mercury + Stripe) inside the USD 1,000 setup fee.
Can I switch from Firstbase to BCA mid-stream? +
Yes. Switching registered agent and migrating documents is straightforward. BCA handles the agent change filing as part of onboarding.
Keep going
The rest of the playbook
Most BCA clients stack two or three of these.
Residency
Get Paraguay permanent residency in 21 days
Reasonable tax base, no minimum stay requirement, and a path to cédula + RUC for international banking and contracts.
US Credit
Build US credit with an ITIN. No SSN required
Form W-7 → ITIN → Capital One Quicksilver Secured → 5 months → unsecured Discover. The decoded path most CPAs miss.
Real Estate
Invest in Bali leasehold real estate safely
Why leasehold beats nominee freehold for foreigners, the due-diligence checklist, and realistic 4·9% net yields.
Stay Compliant
Stay compliant with Form 5472, BOI, and annual filings
The annual cadence that keeps your non-resident LLC out of USD 25,000 IRS penalties and in good standing.
Banking
Open bank accounts in Georgia and Panama, 100% remotely
Official SOLO (Bank of Georgia) and Towerbank partner. Passport to start, video call to activate, tax ID added later, no flights required.