sub panel or larger panel?

I have 100 amp panel with only 12 breaker spots. I am finishing my basement and will be adding lighting and outlets. I'm not popping breakers or anything right now and it isn't a large house so I was thinking a larger panel with more breaker spaces would suffice. But I was wondering if I could just get away with adding a subpanel to run the basement and skip getting the power company out to pull the meter. Which would you recommend?