US Stripe account. For non-US founders.
International founders forming US LLCs typically need US Stripe for payments. Stripe requires a US entity, US EIN, US bank account, and verification documents. This guide walks through the setup and common rejection reasons.
Start here.
US entity (LLC or C-Corp), US EIN, US bank account, identity verification.
Stripe Atlas + US Stripe both work for non-US founders. Atlas handles incorporation; US Stripe handles payments after.
Identity verification (passport + selfie), business verification (EIN letter + Articles), bank verification (US account).
1-3 business days typical after submission of complete documents.
Mismatched names; incomplete EIN; non-US bank account; prohibited industries.
The full picture.
Required entity
US Stripe requires a US business entity. LLC or C-Corp both work. International founder forms a US LLC (typically Wyoming or Delaware) or C-Corp (Delaware), with EIN issued via Form SS-4.
EIN requirement
Stripe requires a federal EIN. For foreign founders without SSN, the EIN comes from paper Form SS-4 filed with the IRS (1-3 weeks typical timeline). EIN letter (CP-575 or 147C) is the verification document.
US bank account
Stripe requires a US business bank account. Partner banks (Mercury, Relay, Wise Business, Bluevine) open accounts for foreign-owner US LLCs with proper documentation: passport, formation documents, EIN letter, sometimes notarized affidavits.
Identity verification
Stripe requires identity verification of all beneficial owners and authorized representatives. Passport is the standard document for non-US founders. Selfie verification typically required. Address proof from your home country.
Business verification
Stripe verifies the business vian EIN letter, Articles of Organization/Incorporation, and operating agreement (LLC) or bylaws (corp). Stripe Atlas customers have simplified verification; standalone US Stripe applicants submit each document.
Restricted industries on Stripe
Stripe prohibits: adult content, certain types of gambling, virtual currency (some), certain pharmaceuticals, illegal goods. File.Business does not service cannabis, adult content, or firearms regardless of Stripe policy.
Common rejection reasons
(1) Name mismatch between Stripe profile and entity name. (2) EIN letter not yet received (apply for EIN before Stripe). (3) Non-US bank account on file (must be US). (4) Address inconsistencies between passport and Stripe profile. (5) Prohibited industry classification.
Setup timeline
LLC formation: 1-3 days (Delaware) to 1 week. EIN via paper SS-4: 1-3 weeks. US bank account: 1-2 weeks. Stripe account: 1-3 days from submission. Total: typically 4-6 weeks end-to-end.
Multi-currency considerations
US Stripe accepts payments in USD primarily but supports many currencies. Funds settle in USD to your US bank account. International transfers to your home country incur wire fees and FX conversion.
Common questions.
Do I need a US LLC for Stripe?
Can I use Wyoming LLC for Stripe?
How long does the EIN take for non-US founders?
Which US bank accepts foreign owners?
What about Stripe Atlas?
Can I get rejected?
Do I need to be a US tax resident?
What about taxes on Stripe income?
Cost of setup?
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.