For founders outside the US

A real US company, run from anywhere

You do not need to be a citizen, a resident, or even set foot in the country. Form a US LLC or Delaware C-corp, get your EIN with no Social Security number, and stay on the right side of the filings that trip up foreign owners, including the one with a large penalty.

Start your US company Find your setup
EIN without an SSN US registered agent included Form 5472 tracked
US companies formed for founders in dozens of countries SOC 2 Type II audited EIN with no SSN required 4.9 from 8,200+ reviews Form 5472 filed on time
No SSN
Needed to get your company an EIN as a non-resident
No visit
Required to form your US company from your home country
0
States plus DC where a US registered agent is included
Form 5472
The foreign-owned filing we track so you never miss it
The traps that catch foreign owners

Forming is easy. Staying compliant is the catch

Spinning up a US LLC looks simple from abroad, and it is. The hard part comes after: the online EIN tool rejects you without a Social Security number, a bank asks for a US address you do not have, and a single-member LLC owned from overseas owes an annual federal filing that carries a large penalty if it is missed, even in a year with no revenue at all.

We handle the parts built for US residents so a founder abroad is not surprised by them. The EIN comes through without an SSN, a US registered agent gives you the required address, and the foreign-owned filings are tracked and prepared, so your US company is genuinely compliant, not just registered.

On your own from abroad
  • The online EIN tool rejects you with no SSN
  • No US address for banking or filings
  • Form 5472 missed, and the penalty is steep
  • Unsure whether to pick Delaware or Wyoming
  • Registered as a company, but not compliant
Handled on File.Business
  • EIN by SS-4, no SSN required
  • US registered agent gives you the address
  • Form 5472 tracked and prepared each year
  • Entity and state matched to your plan
  • A US company that is truly compliant
Not sure how to structure it?

Answer two questions, see your US setup

The right entity and state depend on your plan. Tell us yours and we will show the setup that fits.

Your plan
Recommended setup
Wyoming LLC
WYOMING

No state income tax, low fees, and strong privacy make Wyoming a favorite for bootstrapped non-resident owners who want something simple to run.

  • US registered agent, required in your state, included.
  • EIN without an SSN, filed on Form SS-4.
  • Form 5472 each year if you are the sole owner.
Form this entity

This is general guidance, not legal or tax advice. A cross-border tax professional can confirm the best structure for your country and situation.

The whole US setup

Everything a founder abroad needs, in one place

Each piece handled with the non-resident path in mind, so nothing stalls on a US requirement.

US entity

LLC or Delaware C-corp

Registered agent

The required US address

EIN without an SSN

Filed on Form SS-4

ITIN, if you need one

Your personal US tax ID

US business banking

A company account from abroad

Form 5472

Foreign-owned annual filing

Foreign qualification

Register in other US states

Compliance calendar

Every US deadline, tracked
How you get a US company

From your country to a compliant US company

Five steps, in the right order. Select one to see the detail.

Step 1

Match the entity and state to your plan

An LLC is simple and flexible, while a Delaware C-corp is what venture investors expect. Wyoming suits bootstrapped owners who want low cost and privacy, and Delaware carries global recognition. Our recommender points you to the fit, and we form it.

LLC or C-corp, in Wyoming or Delaware, matched to your goal.
Founder: OUTSIDE THE US
Entity and state chosen
No citizenship required
Step 2

Form the company and appoint your agent

We file the formation and appoint a US registered agent in your state, which satisfies the requirement for a physical US address to receive legal and state mail. You never need a US address of your own, and state fees are passed through at cost.

Registered agent gives you the required US address.
Formed: UNITED STATES
Registered agent active
Formation documents issued
Step 3

Get your EIN without a Social Security number

The online EIN tool requires an SSN or ITIN, so as a foreign founder we file Form SS-4 by fax or mail, entering Foreign where a US tax ID would go. A faxed application is typically processed in a few business days, and then you have your federal tax ID.

SS-4 by fax, no SSN or ITIN needed to get the EIN.
Method: SS-4 BY FAX
Responsible party: Foreign
EIN in a few business days
Step 4

Open US business banking from abroad

With the company formed and the EIN in hand, you can open a US business bank account. Requirements vary by bank, and some allow remote opening while others ask you to appear in person, so we guide you to the option that fits a non-resident owner.

A US company account, opened as a non-resident.
EIN: ISSUED
Business banking opened
Company money kept separate
Step 5

File Form 5472 and stay compliant

A single-member LLC owned from abroad must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even with no income, and missing it carries a large penalty. We prepare and track it, along with state reports and any franchise tax, so your company stays clean.

Annual Form 5472 and every deadline tracked.
Form 5472: PREPARED
State reports tracked
Compliant, year after year
How this compares for a founder abroad

Built for non-residents, not adapted for them

The usual options either assume you are in the US or stop at formation. Here is the difference.

Capability File.Business DIY from abroad Local agent overseas Generic US filer
EIN without an SSN, handledOn your ownVariesExtra fee
US registered agent in every stateNot availableSometimes
Form 5472 tracked and preparedNot availableRarelyNot available
US banking guidance for non-residentsNot availableLimitedAdd-on
Ongoing US compliance in one placeNot availablePartialPer filing
Transparent, published pricingVariesPer filing

The honest version. If your structure is complex, spanning several countries, treaty questions, or significant US income, a cross-border tax advisor is worth every cent, and nothing here replaces one. What File.Business does is make the standard non-resident setup work correctly, the EIN, the agent, the 5472, so your advisor spends time on strategy, not paperwork. Compare on the comparison hub.

BosAI for international founders

An operator who knows the non-resident path

Ask in plain English. BosAI knows the parts of US formation that assume you are American, and how to route around them.

BosAIFounder workspace, formed from abroad

I live outside the US and have no SSN. Can I still own a US LLC?

Yes. You do not need US citizenship, residency, or a US address to own a US LLC or C-corp. The one requirement is a US registered agent in your state, which we include, so the company has a physical US address for official mail.

Then how do I get an EIN with no Social Security number?

By Form SS-4, filed by fax rather than the online tool, which requires an SSN or ITIN. We enter Foreign where a US tax ID would go, and a faxed application is usually processed in a few business days. No SSN or ITIN is needed for the company's EIN.

My LLC made no money last year. Do I still file anything?

Yes, and this one matters. A foreign-owned single-member LLC must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even with no income, because your initial funding is a reportable transaction. Missing it carries a large penalty, so I have it on your calendar and prepared. See the Form 5472 guide.
From a founder overseas

A US company, without a single flight

I run my company from another continent and needed a US entity to sign US customers. The EIN was the part everyone warned me about, and it just happened. What I did not know was the Form 5472 filing, and that is the one that would have cost me. It was flagged and filed before I even asked. I never had to travel.
Founder
US company owned from abroad
No SSN
needed to get the company's EIN
0 flights
to form the US company
Form 5472
filed on time, no penalty

Representative composite based on international-founder outcomes. Nothing here is legal or tax advice; consult a cross-border professional for your situation.

Guides for founders abroad

The EIN, the 5472, and the ITIN

Practical resources for the parts that trip up non-residents. All free to read.

Guide

EIN without an SSN

How the SS-4 path works when you have no US tax ID.

Read the guide Guide

Form 5472

Why foreign-owned LLCs file it, even with no income.

Read it Guide

ITIN application

When you personally need a US tax ID, and how to get it.

Read it Service

Registered agent

The US address every state requires, explained.

Learn more
For the questions founders abroad actually ask

Straight answers on owning a US company from overseas

Can a non-US resident own a US company?
Yes. You do not need to be a US citizen or resident, and you do not need a US address, to own a US LLC or C-corporation. The one firm requirement is a US registered agent in your state of formation, which provides the physical US address the state needs, and which we include. See registered agent.
Do I need to travel to the US to form the company?
No. Forming the company and getting the EIN are done entirely remotely from your home country. Opening a US bank account is the only step where some banks ask you to appear in person, while others allow it remotely, so we guide you to an option that works for a non-resident.
Can I get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?
Yes. The online EIN tool requires a US tax ID, but a foreign founder can file Form SS-4 by fax or mail, entering Foreign where an SSN or ITIN would go. A faxed application is typically processed in a few business days. See get an EIN.
What is the Form 5472 requirement?
A US single-member LLC owned by a non-US person is a foreign-owned disregarded entity, which must file Form 5472 together with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even in a year with no income, because the owner's funding counts as a reportable transaction. The penalty for missing it is large, so we track and prepare it. See the Form 5472 guide.
Do I need an ITIN?
Not to get the company's EIN. An ITIN is a personal US tax identification number for individuals who are not eligible for an SSN, and you may need one if you personally have to file a US tax return or for certain banking. It is separate from the company's EIN. See ITIN application.
Should I form in Delaware or Wyoming?
Wyoming is popular with bootstrapped non-resident owners for its low fees, lack of state income tax, and privacy, while Delaware carries global recognition and is what venture investors expect for a C-corp. The recommender above matches a state and entity to your plan, and you can change form later as you grow.
Can I open a US bank account from abroad?
Usually yes, though it depends on the bank. With the company formed and an EIN in hand, some banks let a non-resident open a US business account remotely, while others require an in-person visit. We help you find and prepare for the route that fits. See business banking.
How am I taxed, and does this replace my accountant?
It depends on your entity, your country, and any tax treaty, so this is not tax advice. A C-corporation pays US corporate tax and dividends to foreign owners can face withholding that a treaty may reduce, while an LLC passes through differently. We handle the filings and keep the calendar, and we work alongside your cross-border tax professional rather than replacing them. Talk to us.
A US company, from anywhere

Own a US business without leaving home

Form your entity, get your EIN with no SSN, open US banking, and stay ahead of the foreign-owned filings, all from your own country. Start now, or talk with our team.

Start your US company See how the EIN works
SOC 2 Type II · Not a law firm · State fees passed through at cost