8-step LLC. For non-US residents.
Step-by-step guide for non-US residents forming a US LLC. Covers state choice, formation, EIN, banking, Stripe, BOI, Form 5472, and ongoing compliance.
Start here.
Choose state (Wyoming for asset protection + privacy, Delaware for VC, others contextual).
File Articles of Organization (we handle).
Get EIN via paper Form SS-4 (1-3 weeks).
Open US bank account (Mercury, Relay, Wise Business).
Set up US Stripe (or other payment processors).
File BOI with FinCEN (within 30 days of formation).
Form 5472 + 1120 (pro forma) annually for foreign-owned single-member LLCs.
Ongoing compliance: annual reports, registered agent renewals, tax filings.
The full picture.
Step 1: Choose state
Wyoming: low fees ($100 formation, $60 annual), anonymous LLCs, strongest charging order protection, no state income tax. Delaware: standard for VC-backed; Court of Chancery; $110 formation, $300 annual. New Mexico: cheapest ($50 formation, no annual), anonymous. Most non-US founders choose Wyoming.
Step 2: File Articles of Organization
We file Articles with the chosen state. Articles include: LLC name, registered agent, principal office, management structure. We can use our address as principal office and act as your registered agent. Filing takes 1-3 days (Wyoming, Delaware) to 7-10 days (some other states).
Step 3: Get EIN
File paper Form SS-4 with the IRS via fax. Designate yourself as Responsible Party. EIN issued in 1-3 weeks. EIN letter (CP-575) is your proof for banking and Stripe.
Step 4: Open US bank account
Apply to Mercury, Relay, Wise Business, or Bluevine. Submit: passport, formation documents, EIN letter, address proof. Decision typically 1-2 weeks. Account active for receiving funds.
Step 5: Set up Stripe
Submit Stripe application with EIN, formation documents, and US bank account info. Verification typically 1-3 days. Once approved, start accepting payments.
Step 6: File BOI
FinCEN requires Beneficial Ownership Information filing within 30 days of formation (for entities formed 2024+). Submit online at fincen.gov. Penalty $500/day for non-compliance.
Step 7: Form 5472 + 1120
Foreign-owned single-member LLC must file Form 5472 (information return) + Form 1120 (pro forma, blank for disregarded entity) annually by April 15. Penalty for failure: $25,000.
Step 8: Ongoing compliance
Annual reports to state (Wyoming $60; Delaware $300). BOI updates within 30 days of any change. Form 5472 + 1120 annually. State and federal tax obligations as applicable. We handle all of this.
Common questions.
Can I really form a US LLC from abroad?
Which state should I pick?
Do I need to come to the US?
How long does the full setup take?
What does it cost?
Do I owe US taxes?
Can I take US Stripe payments?
What about Form 5472?
What about BOI?
Form your US LLC.
From abroad. Wyoming or Delaware. EIN, US banking, Stripe, ongoing compliance handled.
This guide is educational. International tax and compliance require specialty CPA and attorney advice.
How we deliver, end-to-end.
Four-step path from request to confirmation. State and IRS turnaround varies; our steps run in parallel where possible to compress the timeline.
Intake + scope
You tell us what you need through a short intake form (or a call for complex matters). We confirm scope, surface any gating issues (deadlines, missing documents, entity status), and quote any state fees that pass through at cost.
Prepare + verify
Our specialists draft the filing, verify entity details against state databases, run internal QA, and route any items needing your sign-off. You see drafts before anything gets submitted.
File with the authority
We submit directly to the state Secretary of State, FinCEN, IRS, USPTO, or whichever authority your filing requires. We pay state fees at cost and track the submission identifier in your account.
Confirmation + vault
Stamped certificate, IRS notice, or filing receipt arrives in your SOC 2 encrypted document vault the moment we receive it. Next filing deadline auto-added to your compliance calendar where applicable.
Built on the same infrastructure used by 220,000+ businesses.
SOC 2 Type II audited
Independent annual security audit covering access control, change management, incident response, and data handling. Current report on request.
All 51 US jurisdictions
Every state plus DC plus Puerto Rico - direct filings, not third-party reseller. We hold registered-agent qualifications in every state we operate.
Deadline guarantee
If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. Specific to each plan and the filings it includes.
4.9 from 8,200+ verified reviews
Independently verified by Trustpilot + Google + our own NPS infrastructure. Customer success team within reach by email, chat, or phone.
60-day money-back promise
Change your mind in the first 60 days and we refund our service fee in full. State filing fees pass through at cost and are non-refundable once paid to the state.
E&O insured
Errors and omissions coverage protects you from service errors. Carrier and certificate available on request for enterprise clients.
Recommended add-ons
Most customers add these to keep their business compliant year-round.
Registered Agent
Most orderedRequired for every registered business entity in every state.
Compliance Monitoring
Best valueTrack every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline.
Annual Report Filing
RecommendedAuto-file your state annual report. Never miss a deadline.
Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.
Trust you can verify
SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.
A compliance partner, not a transaction
Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.
Premium experience competitors cannot match
Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.