The Ultimate Guide to Starting a US Business for Non-Residents (2025 Edition)

Author's Bio: The Foreign Founder Team has helped over 500+ non-resident entrepreneurs from 40+ countries launch their US LLCs. We don't just write guides; we operate US companies from abroad ourselves.

Why Trust This Guide: Unlike generic legal blogs, we test every banking link, verify every credit card application rule, and monitor IRS processing times weekly. This guide is based on real 2025 data, not outdated theory.

A Non-Resident US LLC is a limited liability company formed by a founder who is not a US citizen and does not live in the US. It allows you to access the US banking system, payment processors like Stripe, and the global venture capital market.

You have a great product. You have customers waiting. But you are stuck.

You are stuck because you can't get a Stripe account in your home country. You are stuck because PayPal froze your funds again. You are stuck because global clients don't trust an IBAN from a small local bank.

If you don't fix this, your business will effectively remain a "hobby." You will lose sales to competitors who look more "American." You will never access the cheap capital and credit card rewards that US founders take for granted.

Here is the good news: You can fix this in about 30 days.

This guide is your battle plan. We will show you exactly how to form a US LLC, open a bank account, and build a credit score that rivals a US resident—all without ever boarding a plane.

The Master Blueprint: 3 Phases to Success

Most people fail because they do things out of order. They try to apply for a Chase credit card before they have an ITIN. Or they open a bank account but forget the BOI report and get fined.

We have structured this process into three logical phases. Follow them in order.

graph TD
    subgraph Phase 1: Foundation
    A["Form LLC"] --> B["Get EIN Tax ID"]
    B --> C["Open Business Bank Account"]
    C --> D["Critical Compliance: BOI & 5472"]
    end

    subgraph Phase 2: Operations
    C --> E["Setup Stripe/PayPal"]
    E --> F["Get US Phone & Address"]
    F --> G["Apply for ITIN"]
    G --> H["Build Personal Credit Score"]
    end

    subgraph Phase 3: Growth
    H --> I["Get Business Credit Cards"]
    I --> J["Scale with 0% Funding"]
    end

    style A fill:#e0f2fe,stroke:#0284c7,stroke-width:2px
    style B fill:#e0f2fe,stroke:#0284c7,stroke-width:2px
    style C fill:#e0f2fe,stroke:#0284c7,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#fecaca,stroke:#dc2626,stroke-width:2px
    style G fill:#f0fdf4,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:2px
    style I fill:#fff7ed,stroke:#ea580c,stroke-width:2px

Phase 1: The Foundation (Entity & Banking)

This phase is about legal existence. You are building the shell of your company. By the end of this phase, you will have a company name, a tax ID, and a bank account.

Step 1: Choose Your State (The "Big Three")

Don't overcomplicate this. While there are 50 states, only three matter for non-residents.

Feature	Wyoming (WY)	Delaware (DE)	New Mexico (NM)
Best For	E-commerce, Solopreneurs, Privacy	Startups raising VC money	Budget-conscious Privacy
State Income Tax	0%	0% (for non-residents)	0%
Annual Fee	$60	$300 (Franchise Tax)	$0
Privacy	High (Anonymous)	Medium	High (Anonymous)
Prestige	Medium	High (Standard)	Low

Our Recommendation:

Choose Wyoming if you are a bootstrapper, freelancer, or Amazon seller. It is cheap, private, and simple.
Choose Delaware ONLY if you plan to convert to a C-Corp and raise millions from investors.
Choose New Mexico if you want to save the $60/year Wyoming fee, but be aware it's less "famous" with banks.

Wyoming Landscape

Deep Dive: LLC in Wyoming vs Delaware

Step 2: Form the LLC & Get the EIN

You do not need to fly to the US to do this. You should use a professional formation service. They act as your "Registered Agent" (a legal requirement) and handle the filing.

The Process:

Name Search: Check if your desired company name is available.
File Articles of Organization: The service sends this to the state. (Time: 2-5 business days).
Get EIN (Employer Identification Number): This is your company's "Social Security Number."

⚠️ The EIN Bottleneck: This is where patience is tested. Since you do not have an SSN, your EIN application (Form SS-4) must be faxed to the IRS.

Processing Time: 15 to 30 business days.
Expedited Service: Some agents claim to do it faster, but the IRS timeline is the ultimate limit.

Pro Tip: Do not pay extra for "24-hour EIN" unless the service has a specific verified method. Most are lying.

Action: Compare the Best LLC Formation Services

Step 3: Remote Business Banking

Once you have your Articles of Organization and your EIN Letter (CP 575), you can open a bank account.

Traditional banks like Chase or Bank of America require you to visit a branch physically. This is impossible for most remote founders. Instead, use "Fintech" banks.

Top Choices for Non-Residents:

Mercury: The gold standard. Great UI, $0 fees, wire transfers included.
- Requirement: You must show a "US footprint" (e.g., US customers or vendors).
Relay: excellent for teams. Allows multiple debit cards and sub-accounts.
- Requirement: Easier approval than Mercury for some business types.

The KYC Interview (Know Your Customer): They will ask: "Do you have US customers?"

If you say "No," they might reject you.
If you say "Yes," be ready to prove it (website, invoices, emails).
The Truth: You are opening a US bank account to get US customers. Be honest but professional.

Guide: How to Open a US Bank Account from Abroad

Step 4: Compliance (Avoid the $25k Fine)

This is the most dangerous part of the guide. If you ignore this, you will be fined.

1. Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI)

What: A report telling the US government (FinCEN) who owns the LLC.
When: Within 90 days of formation (for 2024/2025 companies).
Cost: Free to file yourself.
Penalty: $500/day for late filing.

2. Form 5472 & 1120

What: An informational tax return for foreign-owned Single-Member LLCs.
When: By April 15th every year.
Penalty: $25,000 for failure to file.
Note: Even if you have $0 profit and owe $0 tax, you MUST file this form.

Must Read: The Non-Resident Compliance Guide

Phase 2: Operations (Identity & Access)

Your company is legal. Now let's make it functional. This phase connects the business to the real world and to you personally.

Step 5: The "Real" US Address

You used a Registered Agent address to form the LLC. That address is for legal mail only. Banks and Amazon often blacklist those addresses.

You need a CMRA (Commercial Mail Receiving Agency).

Virtual Post Mail: Premium, accepted by most banks.
Anytime Mailbox: cheaper, many locations.

Why it matters:

Banks: Need a physical street address, not a P.O. Box.
Credit Cards: Will mail your physical card here. You then pay the service to forward it to your home country.

Step 6: US Phone Number

Do not use Google Voice. Banks (especially Chase and Capital One) label Google Voice as "VoIP" and will not send 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) codes to it.

The Solution:

Tello / Ultra Mobile: Buy a cheap physical SIM card (or eSIM) plan ($10/mo).
Usage: Activate it on your phone via Wi-Fi Calling. You can receive SMS codes anywhere in the world.

Guide: Get a Valid US Address & Phone

Step 7: The ITIN Strategy

This is the secret weapon. Most foreigners stop after getting an EIN. But the EIN is for the business. The ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is for you.

Why you need an ITIN:

PayPal/Stripe: Often ask for SSN/ITIN to lift limits.
Personal Credit: You cannot build a personal credit score without one.
Business Credit: Chase and Amex rely on your personal score to approve business cards.

How to get it: You need to file Form W-7 with the IRS.

Method A: Wait until tax season and file a tax return.
Method B (Recommended): Use an IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA). They can verify your passport via video call (in some cases) or mail, so you don't have to send your original passport to the IRS.

Phase 3: Growth (Capital & Scale)

This is where the magic happens. This is why you started a US company instead of a UK or Estonian one.

Step 8: Building Personal Credit (Remote)

You have your ITIN. Now you need a credit score. Since you have no history, no one will lend to you. You must "buy" your first reputation.

Secured Credit Card: Open a card (like the Capital One Platinum Secured) where you deposit $200. That $200 is your limit.
The Usage Hack: Spend $10 on a subscription (like Netflix) every month. Set it to auto-pay.
Wait: After 6 months, you will generate a FICO score.
Result: You will likely start with a score of 680-700.

Strategy: How to Build US Personal Credit

Step 9: The "Big League" Business Cards

Once your personal FICO is >680, you can apply for premium business cards. These cards rely on "Personal Guarantee" (PG). They check your personal credit to approve the business limit.

The Targets:

Chase Ink Business Preferred: The holy grail. High points, flexible travel rewards.
Amex Business Gold/Platinum: Charge cards with no fixed limit. Great for ad spend.

The "No-PG" Alternative: If you have high revenue ($50k+ in bank) but no credit score, you can apply for Brex or Ramp. They underwrite based on your cash flow, not your FICO score.

Blueprint: Mastering US Business Credit

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Final Thoughts

Starting a US business as a non-resident is not a "hack." It is a legitimate, legal path to accessing the world's best financial infrastructure.

The path is clear:

Form the LLC (Wyoming/Delaware).
Wait for the EIN.
Open the Bank Account.
Build Credit.

Don't let paperwork scare you. The benefits—Stripe access, dollar banking, and credit rewards—are worth every minute of effort.

Start Phase 1: Form Your LLC Now →