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LLC formation
Form your US LLC, from anywhere in the world.
The LLC is the structure most online sellers choose: simple to run, flexible, and open to non-US owners. We prepare and file the paperwork with you, step by step.
At a glance
What is included.
Name availability check
We check that your company name is available in the state you chose before anything is filed.
Articles of Organization
We prepare the formation document with you and file it with the state.
Registered agent
An official address in the state of formation to receive government mail for your company.
Operating agreement
A standard template that sets out who owns the company and how it is managed.
EIN application
We prepare your federal tax ID application so you can open bank and payment accounts.
Your company file
Every document issued in your company name, stored in your member area.
The basics
What a US LLC is
A limited liability company, or LLC, is a legal entity created under the law of one US state. It exists separately from the people who own it, who are called members. The company can sign contracts, hold a bank account, own a brand and sell to customers in its own name. In general, the members’ personal assets are kept apart from the debts and obligations of the business.
An LLC comes into existence when a state accepts a document called the Articles of Organization. The filing is made remotely, and the state does not ask the owners to hold a visa, a Social Security number or a US address of their own. Non-US residents can own an LLC in full. Every LLC must keep a registered agent with a physical address in its state of formation.
For federal tax purposes an LLC is a pass-through entity by default, which means the company itself does not pay federal corporate income tax and the result is attributed to its members. How that result is taxed depends on where the members live and where the business operates. That question belongs to an independent licensed tax professional, and the answer differs from one founder to the next.
Why founders use it
What an LLC makes possible
A US legal identity for the store
The LLC gives your business a US company name, a state registration and, once the EIN is issued, a federal tax number. Suppliers, marketplaces and service providers deal with the company and no longer with you personally.
Access to US business banking
With formation documents and an EIN, the company can apply for US business accounts that can be opened remotely. The bank reviews each application and makes its own decision.
Eligibility to apply for payment processing
Stripe and Shopify Payments are available to US companies, subject to each provider’s own verification. A properly documented LLC with a compliant store is the starting point for that application.
Simple ownership and management
An LLC has no board of directors, no share classes and no required shareholder meetings. One person can own and run it, and additional members can be added through the operating agreement.
Separation between you and the business
Contracts, refunds, chargebacks and supplier disputes sit with the company. Keeping the company’s money and records separate from your own is what preserves that separation in practice.
Before we start
What we need from you
Formation begins once your file is complete. Most founders gather everything below in a single sitting.
The process
How your LLC is formed
You complete the intake file
You send the information listed above through a single form. A filing specialist reviews it, raises any question the same day where possible and confirms the name is available in your chosen state.
We file the Articles of Organization
We prepare the Articles and submit them to the state with the registered agent’s details. The state reviews the filing and returns the stamped document once it is accepted. Processing speed depends on the state. The operating agreement is prepared for your signature at the same time.
We apply for the EIN
We prepare Form SS-4 for your signature and submit it to the IRS. Where the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN, the application goes by fax or mail, and the IRS sets the pace.
You apply for a business bank account
With the Articles, operating agreement and EIN letter, we prepare the application with you for a US business account that can be opened remotely. You are the applicant and account holder.
You apply for payment processing
We review your store against what providers check, including contact details, refund policy, shipping information, terms and privacy policy. You then submit the Stripe or Shopify Payments application in the company’s name.
Set by the government, not by Atiko
Government fees in the United States.
| Official fee | Paid to | When | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming LLC, Articles of Organization | $100 | Wyoming Secretary of State | At formation |
| Wyoming LLC, annual report license tax (minimum) | $60 | Wyoming Secretary of State | Every year, anniversary month |
| Delaware LLC, Certificate of Formation | $110 | Delaware Division of Corporations | At formation |
| Delaware LLC, annual tax | $400 | Delaware Division of Corporations | Every year, by June 1 |
| Delaware C Corp, Certificate of Incorporation (minimum) | $109 | Delaware Division of Corporations | At formation |
| Delaware C Corp, minimum franchise tax + annual report | $175 + $50 | Delaware Division of Corporations | Every year, by March 1 |
| New Mexico LLC, Articles of Organization | Confirmed before filing | New Mexico Secretary of State | At formation |
| EIN (Employer Identification Number) | Free | IRS | After formation |
Official fees were checked in October 2026 on the website of each authority. They are the same whoever files, they change from time to time, and they are shown separately from Atiko’s own fee on your written quote.
Comparison
LLC and C Corporation side by side
| LLC | C Corporation | |
|---|---|---|
| Formation document | Articles of Organization | Certificate or Articles of Incorporation |
| Owners | Members | Shareholders |
| Management | Members or appointed managers | Directors and officers |
| Internal rules | Operating agreement | Bylaws |
| Default federal tax | Pass-through to the members | Corporate income tax, currently a flat 21% |
| Distributions to owners | Attributed to members under pass-through rules | Dividends, taxed separately |
| Outside investment | Possible, less familiar to venture investors | Standard for venture capital |
After formation
What your LLC must do each year
An LLC has obligations at two levels. At state level, the requirements depend on where the company was formed. A Delaware LLC pays a flat annual tax of $400. A Wyoming LLC files an annual report with a minimum fee of $60. A New Mexico LLC has no annual report requirement. In every state the registered agent must be kept in place without interruption.
At federal level, a foreign-owned single-member LLC generally must file Form 5472 together with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even when it owes no US tax. The penalty for not filing starts at $25,000, so this is the obligation founders can least afford to overlook. The return is prepared by an independent licensed professional, and Atiko tracks the deadlines and coordinates the documents with them.
Avoidable problems
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming no tax means no filing
Many non-resident owners believe an LLC with no US tax due has nothing to file. Form 5472 is an information return and is generally required regardless, with a penalty that starts at $25,000.
Mixing personal and company money
Paying personal expenses from the business account, or taking store revenue into a personal account, weakens the separation between you and the company. It also makes the yearly filings harder to prepare.
Skipping the operating agreement
A single-member LLC still needs one. Banks and payment providers frequently request it, and without it there is no written record of who owns and controls the company.
Letting the registered agent lapse
If the agent is not renewed, the company can lose good standing with the state. Restoring it takes time and can interrupt banking and payment reviews.
What Atiko does not decide
Atiko is a formation and administrative service. We are not a law firm, an accounting firm or a bank, and we do not give legal or tax advice or choose your state or structure for you. The state, the IRS, banks and payment providers each make their own decisions, and we cannot guarantee an approval or a date.
Questions founders ask about LLCs
Can I own a US LLC if I do not live in the United States?
Yes. Non-US residents can own an LLC in full, and neither a visa nor a Social Security number is required. The company is filed remotely with the state, so you do not need to travel. Atiko does not serve residents of comprehensively sanctioned countries.
How long does formation take?
At Atiko the company is typically formed within 24 hours of a complete file, although the exact time depends on the state’s processing. The EIN takes from several days to a few weeks, and bank accounts typically open within a week of applying. None of these timings can be guaranteed, because each authority works at its own pace.
Which state should I choose?
The decision is yours. Delaware, Wyoming and New Mexico are frequently considered by non-resident founders, and they differ in yearly cost and reporting. We explain the factual differences between them, and a licensed professional can tell you how each fits your situation.
Will my LLC pay US tax?
An LLC is a pass-through entity by default, so the question is how its result is taxed in the hands of the members. That depends on where you live, where the business operates and other facts specific to you. Only an independent licensed tax professional can answer it, in the United States and in your home country.
Can I have more than one member?
Yes. An LLC can have several members, and they can be individuals or companies. A multi-member LLC is treated differently for federal tax purposes from a single-member one, so the yearly filings change, and the operating agreement should set out each member’s share.
Is approval by Stripe or Shopify Payments certain once I have an LLC?
No. Both are available to US companies, but each provider runs its own verification of the company, the people behind it, the bank account and the store. Atiko is independent of Stripe and Shopify and helps you prepare a complete application.
Who owns the company and the bank account?
You do. You are the member of the LLC, the applicant on every form and the holder of the bank account. Atiko prepares and files documents on your instruction and never holds client funds.
Can I convert my LLC into a C Corporation later?
In most cases, yes. Founders sometimes convert when investors ask for a corporation. The conversion is a separate legal filing with tax consequences, so it should be reviewed by a licensed professional before it is made.
Related pages
This page is general information, last reviewed in October 2026. It is not legal or tax advice and may not reflect the latest rules in every state. Atiko is not a law firm or an accounting firm. Please consult a licensed attorney or tax adviser about your own situation.
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