Pick your structure, form it through a vetted partner, and keep a registered agent on file — the one thing every state requires for the life of your company.

Some links below are partner links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — always labeled. For official filings you can always use your state's .gov registry directly.

01Form an LLCLiability protection, pass-through taxes, minimal paperwork.Partner→ 02Form a CorporationIssue stock, raise capital — built to scale.Partner→ 03Form a Nonprofit501(c)(3) eligible, tax-exempt fundraising.Partner→

Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Form your company via Northwest Compare with Bizee $0 + state fee

Registered-agent service renews annually — it's what keeps your company in good standing and your home address off the public record. We tell you who charges what before you click.

LLC formation services for U.S. residents

Service	Formation fee	Registered agent /yr	Free RA year 1	Best for	Link
Northwest	$39 + state	$125	unconfirmed	Privacy & no-upsell	Visit
Bizee	$0 + state	$119	Yes	Lowest first-year cost	Visit
ZenBusiness	$0 + state	$199	unconfirmed	Polished dashboard	Visit
LegalZoom	unconfirmed	$249	No	Attorney access / legal	Visit

No. 02 — Non-Resident Formation

A U.S. company, from anywhere.

You don't need to live in America to own an American company. You do need a few things done right — and one of them you're legally required to have.

Some links below are partner links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — always labeled. This isn't legal or tax advice.

01

Choose your state & form the LLC

Most non-residents choose Wyoming, Delaware, or New Mexico — no state residency required. Filing fees and timelines vary by state.

Form as a non-resident via doola

02

Get an EIN — without an SSN

Foreign founders can't apply online. The EIN is obtained by filing Form SS-4 with the IRS by fax or mail. The easiest route is a partner that bundles the EIN with your bookkeeping and tax filing, so it's handled end-to-end — or a faster stand-alone service if speed is what you need.

Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

EIN + bookkeeping bundled via doola Faster EIN via Firstbase · 8–12 days

03

Open a U.S. business bank account

Remote-friendly fintechs let non-residents open a U.S. account without flying in — no SSN required. Which one you can use depends on your country of residence, so we show more than one rather than pushing a single option.

Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Wise Business Easiest · 170+ countries Mercury Startup-friendly · country-gated Revolut Business Needs US presence proof

Most non-residents settle on Wise for receiving and operating, adding Mercury as a second account once there's activity to show. Revolut can work too, but it asks you to prove U.S. presence, so eligibility is narrower.

U.S. business banking for non-residents (no SSN)

Provider	Ease for non-residents	Key requirement	Best for	Link
Wise Business	Easiest	Accepts registered-agent address	Receiving & operating, multi-currency	Visit
Mercury	Country-gated	Effectively needs US address	Startups, Stripe, second account	Visit
Revolut Business	Narrower	Must prove US presence	Multi-currency ops in eligible countries	Visit

04

Appoint your registered agent

This is the part you cannot do yourself from abroad — every U.S. LLC must have a registered agent with a physical in-state address. It renews every year, and it's the backbone of staying compliant.

Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Get a registered agent via Northwest

05

Stay compliant — Form 5472 & bookkeeping

Foreign-owned single-member LLCs must file Form 5472 every year — the IRS penalty for missing it is $25,000. Choose an all-in-one plan that bundles bookkeeping with the filing, or a cheaper option if you only need the 5472 handled.

Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Bookkeeping + tax bundled via doola · recurring Just the 5472 filing via Firstbase · cheaper

We're a private publisher, not a law or tax firm — this is general information, not legal or tax advice. Figures marked are confirmed against IRS.gov and each partner before they go live.

Formation services for non-U.S. residents

Service	Formation	EIN (no SSN)	US banking	Bookkeeping + 5472	Best for	Link
doola	from $297/yr	Included	Wise/Mercury referral	Bundled, Total Compliance	All-in-one, hands-off	Visit
Firstbase	~$399 once	Faster, 8–12 days	Wise/Mercury referral	5472 add-on ~$899/yr	Cheaper if books DIY	Visit
Northwest	$39 + state	$25–50 add-on	Referral	Not bundled	Registered agent + privacy	Visit

No. 03 — The State Register

Fifty-one volumes. One desk.

Every jurisdiction keeps its own book. Open any state for its office, official search, and filing.

Rather have someone check the name for you? Check availability via Northwest · partner link

● gold — the Secretary of State is the wrong office in these 10

No. 04 — The Document Office

Made official.

State-specific templates, free as PDF or Word — built to hold up where it counts.

01LLC Operating AgreementOwnership, roles, profit splits, management.→

02Corporate BylawsDirectors, officers, meetings, share governance.→

03Partnership AgreementContributions, decisions, profit, exit.→

No. 05 — A Note on Method

Weighed in the open.

What we show, and what we earn, on the same set of scales.

—Not a government agencyWe organize public information and link to official .gov registries. We never imply official status.

—Partner links are labeledWhen we earn a commission we say so, at no extra cost to you — and we show who charges what before you click.

—We recommend more than oneNo single partner owns our verdict — so the comparison stays honest.

—Search & templates stay freeNo account, no cost, ever.