Guides
Running a US LLC from abroad, explained.
Short, factual guides for founders outside the United States. No legal or tax advice, just how things work.
How to start a US LLC as a non-resident
How a founder outside the US forms an LLC: who can own one, which state, registered agent, EIN, bank account and yearly filings.
7 min read
Stripe not available in your country? How founders get paid with a US LLC
Stripe only serves businesses in a limited list of countries. How a US LLC lets founders elsewhere apply for Stripe, PayPal and Shopify Payments.
6 min read
Can a non-American start a company in the US? Yes, and you never have to go there
No US citizenship, visa, residency or address is needed to own a US LLC. The myths that stop founders, and what you actually need.
5 min read
How to get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN
A foreign owner can get an EIN for a US LLC without a Social Security Number. What the IRS asks for, who the responsible party is, and how long it takes.
5 min read
Wyoming vs Delaware vs New Mexico: which state for your LLC?
The three states international founders compare most, plus Florida and Texas: filing fees, yearly cost, speed, privacy and when each one makes sense.
6 min read
Form 5472: the yearly IRS filing every foreign-owned LLC must make
Every foreign-owned single-member LLC files Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120, even with no income. Deadline, what to report, $25,000 penalty.
5 min read
Opening a US business bank account as a non-resident
Which banks open accounts for foreign-owned LLCs without a visit, what documents they ask for, and how to avoid a rejected application.
5 min read
What a US LLC costs per year
The yearly cost of a foreign-owned US LLC: registered agent, state annual report or tax, IRS filings and bookkeeping, cheapest states first.
4 min read
Form 5472 deadline: when the filing is due, and what happens if you miss it
The Form 5472 due date for foreign-owned LLCs: April 15, 2027 for the 2026 tax year, the six-month extension with Form 7004, first-year rules and the $25,000 penalty.
4 min read
ITIN or EIN: which one does a foreign LLC owner need?
The EIN is the company's tax number and every LLC needs one; an ITIN is a personal number most foreign owners never need. When an ITIN does matter.
4 min read
Do non-residents pay US tax on their LLC?
How a foreign-owned US LLC is taxed: disregarded entity, when income is US-taxable, sales tax, multi-member LLCs and your home country.
6 min read
Starting a US LLC from India: what Indian founders need to know
Can an Indian resident own a US LLC? The US side, sending money under the overseas investment rules, Indian tax and disclosure, and which state to choose.
7 min read
How to pay yourself from your US LLC as a non-resident
Owner's draws, not salary: how a foreign owner takes money out of a US LLC, what to record for Form 5472, and the mistakes that cause trouble later.
5 min read
Single-member or multi-member LLC: which one for a foreign owner?
What changes when a US LLC has two or more owners: Form 1065 and K-1s instead of Form 5472, withholding on foreign members, the operating agreement and the cost.
6 min read
What a registered agent is, and why your LLC needs one
Every US LLC must have a registered agent with a street address in its state. What the agent does, why you cannot do it from abroad, and what happens without one.
4 min read
Opening a Stripe account with your US LLC, step by step
How a non-resident founder sets up a US Stripe account for their LLC: what to prepare, how to fill in each part, website requirements, payouts, fees and avoiding holds.
6 min read
Should you own your US LLC personally, or through your company at home?
A US LLC can be owned by you or by your existing company abroad. How each choice affects US filings, your home-country tax, banking and paperwork.
6 min read
