How a non-resident opens a US LLC
You don't need to be American, hold a visa, or have a Social Security number to own a US company. Thousands of founders abroad run US LLCs they formed entirely online. Here is how the process actually works — and where it tends to trip people up.
In this article
1. Decide why you want a US LLC
A US LLC makes sense if you sell to US customers, want US payment processors, or simply want the credibility of a US entity. If your goal is mainly tax, the answer depends on your activities — worth checking first.
2. Choose your state: Delaware or Wyoming
Delaware suits companies that expect to raise investment; Wyoming suits owner-run businesses that value low cost and privacy. Both have strong, tested company law. You can form in a state without ever setting foot in it.
3. Form the company and appoint a registered agent
You file formation documents with the state and appoint a registered agent — a required local address that receives official mail. This is the step most providers handle for you.
4. Get an EIN — without an SSN
The EIN is your company's US tax ID, needed for banking and filings. Non-residents can obtain one without an SSN; it simply follows a different application path.
5. Open a US bank account
With your formation documents and EIN, you can open a US business account — through certain banks or compliant fintech providers open to non-residents. No firm can guarantee approval, but a clean, complete file makes a real difference.
6. Stay compliant
A US LLC has ongoing duties — annual filings and, for many foreign-owned LLCs, an information return (Form 5472). Missing these carries penalties, so build a simple compliance calendar from day one.
Where people go wrong
Choosing a state on price alone; assuming "no US tax" without checking their activities; underestimating bank onboarding; and forgetting Form 5472. Each is avoidable with the right plan.
How MLF helps
As a law firm, we form your LLC, obtain the EIN, prepare your operating agreement, guide your bank account and keep you compliant — at a fixed fee agreed before we begin.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is formed by reading it. Program, tax and filing rules change; we confirm the specifics for your situation at consultation.
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