You only need to register a company when you start accepting payments, signing contracts, hiring people, or exposing yourself to legal or tax risk.
For idea validation, MVP development, and early testing, a registered company is usually not required and often creates unnecessary compliance obligations.

If you registered an LLC but never used it, you usually still need to file state-level annual reports and, in some cases, federal informational forms.

For example:

• In Florida, an LLC formed even in December must file an Annual Report by May 1 of the following year.
• In Wyoming, the first Annual Report is due one year after formation, not immediately.
• If you want to avoid future filings, the only way is to formally dissolve the LLC with the state.

Our company works according to the principle of individual approach to every client. This method allows us to succeed in tasks of any level.

In many states, you can register an LLC at the end of the year and delay actual business activity until January.
This often helps avoid income and operational reporting for the current year.

However, state-level filings are based on registration date, not activity date.
For example, some states still require an Annual Report in the next calendar year even if the LLC had no activity.

Waiting until January is usually the simplest way to avoid short-year compliance, unless there is a specific reason to register earlier.

The right state depends on your situation:

• If you plan to move to the US, it usually makes sense to register in the state where you expect to live.
• If you have real presence (office, employees, warehouse), the LLC should generally be formed in that state.
• If you want fast setup and low maintenance, states like Wyoming or New Mexico are commonly used.
• If you plan to raise venture funding or build a startup, Delaware is typically preferred.

For most online businesses and marketplaces, the state often does not matter unless there is physical presence or investor requirements.

Yes. Using a virtual address is generally allowed in all US states and is commonly used to receive business correspondence and list an official business address.

Separately, every LLC must have a registered agent in the state of formation. A registered agent receives legal and government documents and is not the same as a business address.

Virtual addresses are often used for registrations and accounts (such as Stripe, Amazon, or TikTok Shop), but banks and payment providers may require additional verification beyond a basic virtual address.

Yes — but it depends on the type of bank.

Traditional US banks (such as Chase or Bank of America) usually require in-person presence in the US and often an SSN or ITIN to open a business account.

Online banks and fintech platforms (Mercury, Wise, Revolut, Payoneer) allow remote account opening for a US LLC, even if the owners are non-US residents. These providers may not require an SSN, but they still verify the non-resident owner as the controlling person using identity documents and proof of residential address.

Most fintech platforms operate online and partner with FDIC-insured US banks, meaning funds are held with regulated institutions.

As part of the Know Your Customer (KYC) process, banks and payment providers usually require verifiable proof that you control the address, not just a mailing location.

Most commonly accepted documents include: a utility bill (electricity, water, internet), a lease agreement or office contract, or a bank statement issued in your name.

Basic mail-forwarding or low-cost virtual addresses often fail verification, especially for banking and payment platforms such as Stripe.

Stripe usually rejects non-resident LLCs when it cannot reliably verify control over the provided address or when the address does not match the business activity and risk profile.

Common reasons include the use of low-quality virtual or mail-forwarding addresses, inconsistencies between the address and supporting documents, or insufficient KYC documentation for the non-resident owner.

These rejections are typically risk and compliance-related, not an indication that the LLC itself is invalid.

Stripe eligibility is based on where your legal entity is registered, not your personal country of residence.
If your company is incorporated in a Stripe-supported jurisdiction, you may use Stripe even if you personally live elsewhere, provided all KYC and address verification requirements are met.

Using VPNs or misrepresenting your location violates Stripe’s terms and often leads to account suspension.

Non-residents owe US taxes only if the LLC has US-source income or effectively connected income (ECI). Owning a US LLC by itself does not create a tax obligation.

However, even with no taxable income, informational filings may still be required, depending on the ownership structure and how the LLC is classified for tax purposes.

Most LLCs must file an Annual Report at the state level, even if the company has no activity. The deadline and fee depend on the state of formation.

In addition, federal filings may be required depending on the LLC’s tax classification and ownership.
For non-US owners, informational filings are common even when there is no taxable income.

Failing to file required reports can lead to penalties, loss of good standing, or administrative dissolution.

By default, a single-member LLC is treated as a disregarded entity, meaning income is reported at the owner level, not at the company level. For non-US owners, this often triggers personal US tax reporting, even if the LLC itself has limited activity.

Depending on the structure and activity, common filings may include Form 5472 with Form 1120, and a personal Form 1040-NR. Filing a US personal tax return usually requires obtaining an ITIN, and any US-source income may be taxable in the US.

If there is no tax treaty, or if the tax rate in the owner’s country of residence is higher, additional taxes may still be due locally. This is why non-US owners often need advice in both the US and their home country.

No. Changing an LLC name (or even the address) does not change the company’s EIN, which remains the same except in very limited cases.
Because the EIN stays unchanged, the company is still treated as the same legal and tax entity.

Platforms like Stripe and Amazon track verification and risk primarily at the entity and EIN level, so renaming the LLC does not bypass previous rejections or compliance issues.

It depends on your goals.

An LLC is usually better for non-US founders who want flexibility, pass-through taxation, and simpler operations, especially for online businesses and early-stage projects.
A C-Corporation is typically chosen when planning to raise venture capital, issue shares, or work with US investors who expect a corporate structure.

The key difference is not residency, but tax treatment, investor requirements, and long-term growth plans.

A C-Corporation can be more tax-efficient when profits are reinvested, including investments in US financial markets. The corporation pays a flat 21% federal corporate tax, and no additional tax applies at the owner level until profits are distributed.

By contrast, a single-member LLC is usually treated as a disregarded entity, with income reported on Form 1040-NR at progressive personal tax rates, which can reach 30–37%.

When the owner’s effective LLC tax rate exceeds 21% and profits are not withdrawn, a C-Corporation structure may be more efficient.

Before dissolving an LLC, first confirm that the company is in good standing.
If any Annual Reports are overdue, they must be filed and state fees paid to restore the LLC to active status before dissolution is accepted.

Next, make sure there are no outstanding obligations: terminate employees or contractors, settle debts, and confirm there are no ongoing disputes or legal claims.

After that, file Articles of Dissolution with the state (online or by mail, depending on the state) and pay the required fee. Once approved, obtain the Certificate or confirmation of dissolution.

Finally, file any final IRS returns or informational forms, send a request to the IRS to close the EIN, and close all business bank accounts.