How to start a US LLC as a non-resident

You do not need to live in the US, hold a visa, or have a Social Security number to own a US company. Here is the whole process — including the two parts almost every other guide skips: the bank account, and the one tax form that trips people up.

Founders outside the US set up American companies every day — to bill US customers, take Stripe or PayPal, hold funds in dollars, or simply operate under a structure investors and partners recognize. The rules genuinely allow it: a non-resident, non-citizen can own 100% of a US LLC, with no US visa or Social Security number required.

What the popular guides gloss over is everything after the filing — getting a tax ID without an SSN, actually opening a bank account from abroad, and the annual paperwork. This guide covers the full path so you can decide with your eyes open.

Can a non-resident really own a US LLC?

Yes. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to be the owner (member) of a US LLC. You can form and own one from anywhere. The two things that take extra steps as a non-resident are (1) getting a tax ID number, since you likely have no SSN, and (2) opening a US bank account, since most banks want an in-person visit — both solvable, and covered below.

Step 1 — Choose the state

You can form in any of the 50 states, and as a non-resident you are not tied to where you live. In practice most non-resident founders weigh three:

If you plan to raise venture money later, Delaware is the safe pick (though many funds ultimately want a Delaware C-corp, not an LLC — see the LLC-vs-C-corp question in the FAQ). If you are bootstrapping and want the cheapest thing to run, Wyoming or New Mexico are hard to beat. Do not pick a state just because you found a customer there; for a fully remote, non-resident business it rarely matters where your buyers are.

Step 2 — Appoint a registered agent

Every US LLC must have a registered agent — a person or company with a physical address in the state of formation who can receive legal and government mail on the company's behalf. As a non-resident you almost certainly need a commercial registered-agent service; it is inexpensive (typically a modest annual fee) and required for the filing to go through.

Step 3 — File the formation documents

You (or a formation service acting for you) file the LLC's formation document — called the Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation depending on the state — with that state's business registry, and pay the state filing fee. This is the step that legally creates the company. You will also want an operating agreement (the internal rulebook of the LLC); it is not always filed with the state but banks and partners often ask for it, and it matters even for a single-member LLC.

Step 4 — Get an EIN (without an SSN)

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your company's federal tax ID — you need it to open a bank account, connect Stripe, and file taxes. US residents get one instantly online, but that online form requires an SSN or ITIN. As a non-resident without either, you use a different, well-trodden path:

• File Form SS-4 with the IRS by fax or mail, leaving the responsible-party SSN/ITIN field blank (write "Foreign" where appropriate).
• Processing typically takes a few weeks by fax and longer by mail — plan for it rather than being surprised by it.

Step 5 — Open a US business bank account

This is where many DIY attempts stall. Traditional US banks usually want the owner to appear in person, which is impractical from abroad. The realistic options for non-residents are:

• Fintech business accounts that onboard non-residents remotely once you have a formed company and an EIN (the market changes, so verify current eligibility for your country before committing).
• Payment processors (e.g. Stripe) which, with a US LLC + EIN, let you accept cards even before a full bank account is in place.

The prerequisites are almost always the same: a formed LLC, an EIN, your operating agreement, and your ID. Get those in order first and the account application is straightforward.

Step 6 — Stay compliant (the part people forget)

Owning the company is not the end — a US LLC has ongoing obligations, and missing them is how people rack up penalties:

• State annual report / franchise tax — most states want a yearly filing and/or fee to keep the LLC in good standing.
• Registered-agent renewal — an annual cost.
• Federal filings — this is the big one for non-residents, next.

Whether the LLC's income is actually taxable in the US depends on your specifics (whether you have US "effectively connected income," a US trade or business, employees or a dependent agent in the US, and any tax treaty). That is a real tax question for a professional — this guide is not tax advice — but the filing obligations above generally apply regardless of whether tax is owed.

What it costs, roughly

Exact numbers depend on the state and providers, but the buckets are: a one-time state filing fee, an annual registered agent fee, an annual state report / franchise cost, and — the one people underbudget — accounting for the annual federal filing. The EIN itself is free from the IRS; anyone charging you a large fee "for the EIN" is charging for the paperwork, not the number.

The honest summary

Forming the LLC is the easy part. The friction as a non-resident is concentrated in three places — the EIN without an SSN, the bank account from abroad, and the annual Form 5472 — and all three are solvable if you know they exist going in. Do it in the order above, keep the compliance calendar, and a US company is entirely within reach from anywhere in the world.

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and your situation is specific — confirm the details for your country and state with a qualified professional before you act. StarterFuel is not a law firm, accounting firm, or bank.