Entity Formation Wizard — Form Your US LLC or C-Corp

Step 1 of 5

What entity type do you want to form?

This is the most important decision. Most international founders choose an LLC for flexibility. Choose C-Corp if you're raising VC funding.

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LLC

Best for most founders. Pass-through tax, flexible management, no VC complications.

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C-Corporation

Required for VC funding. QSBS tax benefit. Delaware is standard for C-Corps.

Step 2 of 5

Which state should you register in?

The state you choose affects annual costs, privacy, and investor perception. Delaware is standard for C-Corps. Wyoming is best for most non-VC LLCs.

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Delaware

Best for startups raising VC. #1 investor-recognized state.

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Wyoming

Lowest cost + strongest privacy. $60/yr annual fee.

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Florida

Best for LatAm founders. No personal income tax.

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Not Sure

Use our AI State Selector to find the right fit first.

Step 3 of 5

You need a Registered Agent

Every US entity requires a registered agent in the state of formation — a person or company who receives official legal and government mail on your behalf.

                    What a Registered Agent does: Receives official mail (legal notices, annual report reminders, state correspondence) at a registered address. You don't need to be physically in the state — your agent is your presence.
                

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Northwest Registered Agent

$125/year all-in. Best value. Used by thousands of international founders. Includes 1 year RA + document forwarding.

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Stripe Atlas ($500)

Includes Delaware C-Corp formation, RA, EIN, and legal docs. Best if you want all-in-one fast setup.

Step 4 of 5

Get your EIN and operating documents

Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your federal tax ID — required to open a US business bank account. As a non-resident, you apply via Form SS-4.

                    Non-resident EIN process: You cannot apply online without an SSN. You must file Form SS-4 by fax to the IRS (takes 4–6 weeks) or use a filing service that handles it for you ($149–249 for ~2 week turnaround).
                

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DIY via Form SS-4

Free. Fax Form SS-4 to the IRS. 4–6 weeks. Requires correct completion to avoid rejection.

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Filing Service (~$199)

Faster, handled for you. ~2 week turnaround. Worth it to avoid IRS rejection delays.

Step 5 of 5

Open your US business bank account

With your EIN and formation documents, you can open a US business bank account remotely. No US address required for these banks.

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Mercury Bank

Best for tech startups. FDIC-insured, no fees, API access. Accepts non-residents with EIN + formation docs.

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Relay Financial

Best banking alternative if Mercury rejects. Multiple accounts, strong for e-commerce.

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Wise Business

Best for receiving international payments. Multi-currency. Lower rates for FX.

                    You're ready. After bank setup, your US business is fully operational. Next steps: get your Stripe account, set up your accounting (Bench or Pilot), and file your annual reports on time.
                

Form your US business in minutes

Need help choosing?