Company formation in the US

Company formation in the US for a non-resident is mostly paperwork, but it is paperwork in two systems at once: the state that registers the company and the IRS that issues its tax number. A formation provider handles both from start to finish, and the right one also sets you up for the filings that come every year after. This page covers what a provider does, what it needs from you, what a quote should list and how to compare firms. For the legal steps themselves, from choosing a structure to the EIN, read our guide to setting up a company in the US.

Firms offering company formation in the US

H&CO LLP

Accounting firm · International network

Miami, Florida

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +4 more

Languages: English · Spanish · Portuguese

View profile of H&CO LLP

167 more firms offering company formation in the US

What changed in 2026 for formation packages

FinCEN’s final beneficial ownership rule took effect on 14 August 2026. It exempts companies formed in the US from BOI reporting. Many formation packages sold in earlier years included a BOI filing as a line item. If a quote for a new US company still charges for one, ask why. The duty now applies to companies formed under another country’s law that register to do business in a US state, so it can still matter if your foreign parent company is registering a branch.

What a company formation provider does

A provider takes the steps you could do yourself and does them in the right order, with documents a US bank will accept. A typical engagement covers:

Some providers stop there. Others are accounting firms that carry on with bookkeeping, tax returns and payroll. Decide early which of the two you want, because moving the company to a new firm after the first year means handing over records and agent details.

The three kinds of firm you will meet

On Accountanty, 191 firms in the US offer company formation. They fall into three groups:

TypeFirms offering formationWhere they fit
Accounting firms158Formation plus the yearly accounts, tax returns and payroll in one place
Corporate services providers26Formation, registered agent, virtual office and company administration
Law firms7Formation alongside contracts, shareholder agreements and investment terms

A founder who needs a single-member LLC and a clean first tax year often does well with an accounting firm. A founder raising money for a C corporation may want a law firm for the share documents and an accountant for the books.

What the provider will need from you

Have these ready before you ask for quotes. Firms answer faster and more precisely when they can see the full picture.

  1. Identity documents for every owner and manager, usually a passport and proof of home address.
  2. The structure you want, an LLC or a C corporation, or a request for advice on it.
  3. The state of formation, or the facts that decide it: where you will have staff, stock, an office or customers.
  4. Ownership in percentages, and whether any owner is itself a company.
  5. The business activity, described in plain words. Banks and the IRS both ask.
  6. The responsible party for the EIN: the person who controls the company. If that person has no SSN or ITIN, the Form SS-4 instructions say to write “foreign” or N/A on line 7b.

Items a company formation quote in the US should cover

Ask every firm to split its quote into official fees and its own fees. Official fees are set by the state and are the same whoever files. As examples, Florida charges $125.00 for Articles of Organization with the registered agent designation, and New York charges $200 for Articles of Organization plus a newspaper publication and a $50 Certificate of Publication.

A complete quote lists:

Watch the first-year compliance line. In Delaware an LLC owes an annual tax of $400.00 by 1 June, and in Texas an LLC or corporation with Texas nexus files a Public Information Report each year. For a single-member LLC with a foreign owner, the quote should also cover Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120. The IRS sets a $25,000 penalty for failing to file Form 5472 when due, so a package that ends at formation leaves that filing to you.

How to compare formation providers

Price alone tells you little, because packages differ in what they leave out. Compare firms on these points:

Be cautious with any provider that promises a particular tax result before it has asked where you live and how the company will earn money. The tax outcome for a foreign owner depends on the owner’s home country and any treaty with the US, which a firm can only judge once it knows your situation.

Services you will need after incorporation

Formation is a one-off. The company then needs regular work, and the firms that offer formation on Accountanty also list:

If you only want firms that state experience with non-resident clients, start with the list of accountants for foreign clients. By city, Miami has 58 of the firms offering formation, New York 35, Dallas 21, Las Vegas 20 and Houston 19. Smaller groups work in Wilmington, Delaware (9), and in Cheyenne (5) and Sheridan (3), Wyoming.

Getting company formation in the US done

Settle the structure and the state, gather the owners’ documents, then ask two or three firms for quotes that split state fees from their own and price the first year of compliance. Choose the one that will still be filing for you in year two. To save time, send one free quote request through Accountanty: we review it and forward it to firms that handle company formation in the US for foreign owners.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open an LLC without visiting the U.S.?

Yes, the formation itself can be done from abroad. The state filing is usually online, the registered agent is hired remotely and the EIN is requested by fax, phone or mail. The step most likely to need a trip is the bank account, since each bank sets its own identity checks for non-resident owners.

What documents will I need to incorporate?

Expect to provide a passport and proof of address for each owner and manager, the ownership split, a short description of the business, and the name and details of the responsible party for the EIN. For a corporation, the provider will also need the number of shares and the first directors.

Do I need a physical address to incorporate in Delaware?

You personally do not, but the company does need a registered agent with an address in Delaware. Delaware law requires every business entity to have and maintain one there. A formation provider either acts as the agent or arranges one, and the yearly renewal should appear in the quote.

What is the biggest disadvantage of an LLC?

For a foreign owner, two points come up. A single-member LLC is disregarded for income tax but still has to file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120, which many owners overlook. And investors who want shares and stock options usually ask for a C corporation, so an LLC may need converting if you plan to raise money.

Can an UK citizen start a business in the USA?

Yes. A UK citizen can own a US LLC or corporation and use a US formation provider in the same way as any other foreign founder. Ownership of the company and permission to live or work in the US are separate questions, so plan any visa application on its own track.

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Setting up a company in the US: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.