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SolutionNon-US persons can form and own a US LLC or Delaware C-Corp. You do not need a US address, US SSN, or US citizenship. You DO need an EIN, US banking, and ongoing compliance.
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For non-US persons forming US businesses
Built for International founders · all 51 jurisdictions

Form a US business from anywhere in the world.

Non-US persons can own US LLCs and Delaware C-Corps without restriction. We form the entity in your chosen state (typically Wyoming for asset protection or Delaware for VC compatibility), obtain your EIN via paper SS-4 (no SSN required), connect you to US banking partners that open accounts for foreign owners, and handle ongoing compliance including Form 5472 for foreign-owned LLCs.

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14,000+
International founders
90 days
Avg EIN delivery (foreign)
Stripe
Atlas alternative
Wyoming
or Delaware
Why international founders pick File.Business

Built around how international founders actually operate.

Three things you will not get from a generic formation site.

01

EIN without an SSN

SS-4 filed via fax/IRS direct. We handle the non-US founder path end-to-end.

02

ITIN filing assistance

W-7 preparation guidance via a Certified Acceptance Agent partner.

03

Banking partners that accept non-US founders

Mercury, Brex, Relay all open accounts without a US passport.

How we set international founders up

From abroad to operating in the US.

01
Choose state + entity

Wyoming LLC: asset protection, anonymous, low fees. Delaware C-Corp: VC compatibility, QSBS. We help you pick.

Week 1
02
Articles filed

Wyoming: 1-2 days. Delaware: 1-3 days. Our address used for state filings if you do not have a US one.

Week 1
03
EIN obtained

Paper Form SS-4 filed by fax to IRS. Most foreign-owned EINs issued in 1-3 weeks.

Weeks 1-3
04
US business banking

Matched to partner bank that opens accounts for non-US persons. Documents needed: passport, formation docs, EIN letter.

Weeks 2-4
05
Compliance tracked

Wyoming/Delaware annual reports. Form 5472 + 1120 for foreign-owned single-member LLCs (due April 15). BOI for FinCEN.

Ongoing
06
US tax + state expansion

When you have US employees or offices, foreign qualification + state employer registrations. International tax CPA handles US returns.

At scale
In their own words

How customers like you use the platform.

"Two of us founded a Delaware C-Corp from London. We did not have SSNs. File.Business had our EIN in nine days by fax. The bank account followed a week later."
MP
Mira PatelCo-founder, Halftide AI (UK-based)
"Wyoming LLC, EIN in 11 days, Mercury account in 16. The whole stack ready in less than a month from across the world."
TM
Theo MbekiCo-founder, Kingfisher Robotics (South Africa)
"I needed a US presence to take payments from US enterprise customers. Wyoming holding LLC + Delaware operating C-Corp. They handled the structuring and our lawyer signed off."
SP
Sasha PetrovFounder, Vector Cloud (Cyprus)
FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Can a non-US person own a US LLC?
Yes. There is no citizenship or residency requirement for LLC ownership. Non-US individuals and non-US entities can both own US LLCs.
Can a non-US person own a US C-Corp?
Yes. No restrictions on C-Corp ownership by non-US persons. (S-Corps are restricted to US individuals; non-US persons cannot be S-Corp shareholders.)
Do I need a US address?
For state formation: most states allow any address; we offer our address as a service. For banking: most US business banks now accept foreign addresses with proper documentation.
How long does an EIN take for foreign founders?
Without a US SSN, the IRS requires paper Form SS-4 submitted by fax. Typical timeline: 1-3 weeks (vs same-day for US founders with SSN). We file the SS-4 for you.
Which state should I form in?
Wyoming: low fees, anonymous ownership permitted, strongest US asset-protection laws. Delaware: standard for VC-backed C-Corps, mature corporate law. New Mexico and Nevada: alternatives. For most non-US founders without VC plans, Wyoming is the default.
Do I need a US tax ID for myself personally?
For most operations, no. Foreign owners of US LLCs file via the LLC entity (Form 5472 + 1120 for single-member LLC). If you sell into the US and qualify for treaty benefits, you may need an ITIN.
What is Form 5472?
A required IRS filing for US LLCs (single-member, disregarded) owned by foreign persons. Reports transactions between the LLC and the foreign owner. Due April 15. Penalty for failure: $25,000 per filing.
Can I open a US business bank account from abroad?
Mercury, Relay, Bluevine, and select traditional banks open US business accounts for foreign owners. Required: passport, formation documents, EIN letter, sometimes proof of US business activity.
What about US tax on profits earned by my US LLC?
Depends on the source of income and the LLC type. Effectively-connected income (ECI) is taxed by the US. Passive income may be subject to withholding (typically 30%, reduced by treaty). Specialty international CPAs from our partner network handle this.

Form your US business.

Tell us a few details. We file with the state, obtain your EIN, and set up the bundle.

File.Business does not service cannabis, adult-content, or firearms industries. See our Acceptable Use Policy.

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How it works

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.

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

Start your business in the next 5 minutes.

No state-fee markup. Pay only the state fee. 60-day money-back guarantee.

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