If you're a developer outside the US building a SaaS, taking freelance clients, or running any kind of online business — at some point you'll hit the question: do I need a US LLC?
I went through the entire process as a non-resident. Here's what I learned, what surprised me, and what I wish someone had told me upfront.
Why I needed a US LLC
When my project started generating revenue, I ran into a wall: Stripe wouldn't onboard me without a US business entity. PayPal had limits. International wire transfers ate into margins. And some B2B clients simply wouldn't pay invoices to a non-US individual.
A US LLC solved all of these — but forming the company turned out to be the easy part. Everything after registration is where it gets complicated.
The good news: yes, foreigners can own 100% of a US LLC
No US citizenship required. No green card. No visa. No SSN. A non-resident can set up a fully owned Wyoming or Delaware LLC entirely online.
But here's the critical distinction most guides gloss over: company registration eligibility and financial account eligibility are two completely separate things. Banks, Stripe, and PayPal each run their own KYC reviews independently of your LLC status.
Wyoming vs Delaware — what actually matters for indie devs
Everyone says "Delaware" because it sounds prestigious. Here's my take:
| Wyoming | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Bootstrapped SaaS, solo founders | VC-backed startups, equity structuring |
| Real cost | Generally lower | Can be more expensive for small businesses |
| Key advantage | Friendly toward small online businesses | Mature corporate law framework |
Don't just compare registration fees. The real cost is: registration + registered agent + annual report + state/franchise tax + banking fees — all added up. For most indie developers, Wyoming wins.
Getting an EIN — the part nobody warns you about
As a non-resident, you cannot use the IRS online EIN application. Your options:
- 📞 Call: 267-941-1099 (Mon–Fri, 6am–11pm ET)
- 📠 Fax: 304-707-9471
- 📮 Mail: IRS, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999
A few things that will save you trouble:
- No SSN? Enter "foreign" in that field — don't fake it
- You must be the Responsible Party, not your formation agent (the IRS explicitly prohibits nominees)
- Same person can only apply for one EIN per day
Stripe and banking — this is where developers get stuck
Having an LLC doesn't mean Stripe will approve you. I learned this the hard way. Before applying for any payment processor, make sure your website has all of these ready:
- ✅ About Us page
- ✅ Contact information
- ✅ Privacy Policy
- ✅ Terms of Service
- ✅ Refund / Return Policy
- ✅ Shipping Policy (if physical goods)
- ✅ Real product/service pages
Your company details, website content, banking info, and actual business model need to be consistent across everything. One mismatch and you'll get flagged.
Also: never use your registered agent's address as your personal address on bank applications. That's a compliance red flag.
The tax surprise: "no revenue" ≠ "no filing"
A single-member LLC owned by a non-resident defaults to a "disregarded entity." Sounds like it means nothing to worry about, right?
Wrong. If you have any related-party transaction — even just a capital contribution to your own LLC — you may need to file Form 5472 + Pro Forma 1120 with the IRS.
The penalty for not filing? Starts at $25,000. Don't skip this.
TL;DR for developers
- ✅ You CAN own 100% of a US LLC — no SSN needed
- ✅ Wyoming is usually the best choice for bootstrapped projects
- ⚠️ Budget $500–800+ for Year 1 total cost (ignore "$0 LLC" headlines)
- ⚠️ EIN: call the IRS international line, don't try the online form
- ⚠️ Get your website 100% built before applying for Stripe/PayPal
- ❌ Don't use your registered agent's address as your residence
- ❌ Don't assume zero revenue means zero tax obligations
Full step-by-step guide
This post covers the highlights. I wrote a much more detailed walkthrough covering every step — state selection, documents, three types of addresses, EIN application, banking, taxes, annual compliance, and the most common mistakes:
👉 How to Form a US LLC Online for Non-Residents — Complete Guide (2026)
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I write about cross-border ecommerce infrastructure, payment processing, and building online businesses from outside the US. Follow for more → kuajingbase.com
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