Why is it beneficial to open a company in the USA?
In recent years, more and more entrepreneurs from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and other CIS countries have shown interest in opening businesses in the USA. This is explained by a wide range of strategic advantages: you can not only get an American company with a bank account but also additional opportunities for development and entry into international markets.
attractiveness
of business in the USA
What's better to register in the USA –
corporation or LLC?
In the United States, the most common business structures are private companies, partnerships, corporations, and LLCs. For non-residents, the optimal registration options remain corporation (C-corporation) or limited liability company (LLC)
Corp
(Corporation)
LLC
(Limited Liability Company)
As a general rule, founders are not personally liable for the corporation's obligations
Liability
As a general rule, founders are not personally liable for the LLC's obligations
Double taxation. Company income is taxed, and all profit distributions (dividends) to shareholders are subject to additional tax
Taxation
Taxation
Pass-through taxation. When doing business in the USA, each owner pays tax on turnover. If there is no income from US sources, no tax obligations arise in the USA
More attractive to investors than LLC from the point of view of strict organizational form. Also, raising investments is possible through the sale of shares
Investments
Raising funds is only possible through increasing the authorized capital
Many formalities. Management is carried out by a board of directors, which is elected by shareholders
Company Management
LLC management process is more flexible. Carried out by members or appointed manager
Mandatory annual shareholder meetings
Meetings
No mandatory company meetings
Suitable for both medium and large businesses with many shareholders
Company Size
Suitable for small businesses with a limited number of members
A corporation is considered the most prestigious and secure form of business. This type is beneficial for attracting investments, as even non-US residents can become shareholders of the corporation. When doing business outside the USA, this form can be partially used as an offshore mechanism.
LLC (Limited Liability Company) is one of the most common forms of doing business for non-residents. This form combines the limited liability of a corporation with the flexible possibilities of a partnership.
Which state to register your company in?
States can be roughly divided into two categories: those that require state-level reporting and tax payments, and those that exempt from these obligations. Your company's office must be in the state where it is registered. Therefore, it's important to decide in advance whether you're ready to do business in, for example, Wyoming with low taxes, or prefer California with its developed economy and mild climate, but higher tax burden
How to open a company in the USA as a non-resident
from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and other CIS countries
Submit application
To remotely open a business in the USA, it's enough to fill out a form on our website: choose the registration state, determine the business structure, and suggest several options for the future company name.
The registration agent will handle all other steps - document preparation, tax service registration, opening a bank account, and, if necessary, providing a nominee director. After registration is complete, you can immediately start doing business, with no hidden fees or additional costs required.
Consultation with a specialist
The specialist will contact you to clarify the details of the registration process, as well as inform you about the available company names in the jurisdiction you have chosen.
In addition, the specialist will provide a detailed explanation of the registration process in different states, help you choose the optimal organizational-legal form, and advise on the necessary documents. You will be able to ask any questions related to opening a business in the USA and receive individual recommendations for a successful launch of your company.
Company registration
The applicant is required to have a minimum set of documents:
- Personal data about one or more founders (copies of passports, address confirmation)
- Articles of incorporation (for corporations) or articles of organization (for LLC)
- General information about the company's activities
- Preliminary selection and verification of the company's name uniqueness
In some cases, it may be necessary to confirm the financial position of the founders and pay the initial contribution
Our specialists will prepare and verify all necessary documents, after which they will submit them for consideration to the Secretary of State. Documents are prepared in English, if necessary, certified translations are provided.
In most states, registration takes 2-3 business days. After submitting the documents, the company receives a certificate of registration (Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Formation), as well as a legal address in the USA.
Getting EIN number
The next step is to register with the IRS in the USA. The registration agent will prepare the necessary documents to obtain the EIN number - a unique identification number, without which it is impossible to open a bank account in the USA and maintain tax reporting.
Depending on the field of activity, your business may require a special license or permission. Our specialists will help determine which licenses are needed and prepare them in accordance with the requirements of the selected industry
Opening a bank account in an American bank
We will remotely open a bank account in the USA for conducting business transactions and storing funds. To open a bank account for a foreign client, a package of documents is required for the company, as well as a real physical address in the USA.
The bank may require the company's founding documents (for example, Certificate of Incorporation or Articles of Organization), a letter from IRS about assigning EIN, articles of incorporation or operating agreement, as well as identity and address confirmation of the director or company owners.
Usually, American banks require personal presence for customer identification and document verification, however, some financial institutions and non-banks provide the opportunity to open an account online or with a minimal visit. We will help choose the optimal bank for your business, prepare all necessary documents and advise on the requirements for address confirmation and minimum deposit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a company without visiting the USA?
You can open and run a business in the USA remotely from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and other CIS countries - personal presence is not required. For a non-resident to open a company, it's enough to choose a state, decide on the business structure (LLC or corporation), and suggest a company name. All necessary formalities and document submission are included in the registration agent's services, and the process is completely online.
How to open a bank account in the USA without registering a company?
It's impossible to open a bank account without registering a company in the USA. For doing business, you'll need to create a legal entity, as banks only work with registered companies and require confirmation of their status. Opening a corporate account is only available after registering an LLC or corporation, as US banks are cautious about foreign counterparties and require compliance with all formalities.
How long does it take to open a company in America?
The speed of company formation varies depending on the chosen state and company type. For example, on average, it takes 7 business days to open an LLC (limited liability company) in the USA. If your business project can't wait, it makes sense to use expedited registration. If necessary, we can help register a company in the USA within a few hours. Expedited business registration in the United States requires payment of an additional fee, which varies by state.
How to choose a state for US business?
Since tax legislation differs in each US state, company registration follows the laws of the chosen state, not uniform federal norms. Therefore, before choosing a jurisdiction for business registration, it's important to carefully study its tax system. In addition to federal taxes, state tax rates and types can vary significantly. For example, in California, the minimum tax is $800. Delaware, Nevada, or Wyoming are often chosen for registration, where there is no state income tax. If the company is focused on high technology and plans to work in Silicon Valley, California is preferable. Federal taxes are mandatory for all companies, regardless of registration state.
Can I change the company type after registration?
Conversion from LLC to Corp or vice versa is possible, but it requires a lot of paperwork with re-registration of all members, renegotiation of contracts, as well as financial costs - payment of additional taxes and fees. We recommend consulting with an expert before registration to help determine the business structure to avoid such problems in the future.
What's the difference between C-corp and S-corp?
Generally, there are two types of corporations for tax purposes: C-corporations and S-corporations. A C-corporation pays tax on its net income, then distributes dividends to its shareholders, who must pay income tax on these dividends in their tax returns, so the money is effectively taxed twice. But double taxation can be reduced, and in some cases avoided. S-corporations don't pay income tax. Instead, profits pass through to owners, who are then taxed on income at their personal rates in their tax returns. Losses also pass through to business owners, who also report them in their individual income tax returns.
How to open a company in the USA and get a visa?
Doing business in the USA opens up opportunities for obtaining various visa categories. The choice of visa depends entirely on your goal, qualifications, work experience, and so on. You can apply for O1 and EB1A visas for extraordinary people or visas such as L-1, E-2, EB-5, or EB1C for entrepreneurs or company executives.
