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<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n If you\u2019re not<\/em> American, this post is for you<\/strong>! I\u2019ll show you how to form a US LLC as a non-resident, what it costs, and what you have to file every year. I did it myself \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n Quick\u00a0Overview\n <\/p>\n \n Start your LLC today \u2192<\/a>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n If you are a digital nomad like me, freelancing from caf\u00e9s in Thailand, editing videos in Bali, or running an online business from South America, you\u2019ve probably wondered: How can I get paid \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n I had the same question a few years ago. After lots of research (and a few headaches), I set up my own US LLC in New Mexico<\/a> \u2014 completely online, as a non-US citizen \u2014 and it turned out to be one of the smartest business moves I\u2019ve made as a digital \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n In this post, I\u2019ll walk you through:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n When you work online and travel full-time, you quickly realize that running a borderless business comes with its own set of headaches: getting paid internationally, managing currencies, dealing \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n That’s why many digital nomads, freelancers and creators form US LLCs. It gives them access to the global financial system, credibility with clients, and a legal business structure that can be \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n 1. Access to Global Payment Platforms:\u00a0<\/strong>Platforms like Stripe, PayPal, Revolut<\/a>, and Mercury Bank<\/a> often require \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n 2. Professional Image:\u00a0<\/strong>A US\u00a0company gives you instant credibility. Clients and brands, especially in the US\u00a0and Europe tend to trust a company registered in the \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n 3. Limited Liability Protection:\u00a0<\/strong>Your LLC protects your personal assets. If your business gets sued, your personal savings stay safe, a must if you\u2019re doing international \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n 4. No Need to Live in the United States:\u00a0<\/strong>You can form and run everything online from anywhere, such as places like Chiang Mai, Lisbon, or Medellin. Wherever you want. No \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n 5. Flexible, Low-Cost Setup:\u00a0<\/strong>LLCs are simpler than corporations. They\u2019re affordable to start, easy to maintain, and have minimal reporting requirements, especially in states \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n 6. Access to the US Market:\u00a0<\/strong>With a US company, you can work with US brands, open affiliate accounts, or even sell on US marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy. You\u2019re no longer \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n Yes, absolutely. You don\u2019t need to live in the US\u00a0or have a visa or citizenship. Anyone in the world can form and own a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in the United States.\u00a0A \n That’s it.<\/strong>\u00a0And here\u2019s the best part: if you\u2019re not a US resident and you don\u2019t earn US-sourced income, you may not owe any US federal income tax. That\u2019s why so many \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n If you\u2019re wondering if a non-resident can form a US LLC remotely, the answer is yes<\/strong>. Non-US citizens can generally own a US LLC, and in many cases the entire formation process \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n \u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n After all the research I’ve done,\u00a0it was probably the cheapest way to form a US\u00a0LLC\u00a0remotely.<\/p>\n Here’s what each of the three best states costs to form with\u00a0Northwest Registered Agent<\/a>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n from Bali, entirely online, and I’ve run my LLC ever since. A US company let me invoice clients in dollars and open a US bank account. And for many non-residents, it can also mean paying no US
\n income tax at all.\n<\/p>\n\n
\n easily, look professional to clients, and pay less taxes or even none, without getting tangled in complex bureaucracy?<\/em>\n<\/p>\n
\n nomad.\n<\/p>\n\n
\n Why Digital Nomads Love the US LLC Structure
\n<\/h2>\n\n \u00a0
\n<\/h3>\n
\n with tax laws from multiple countries, and proving legitimacy to clients or partners.\n<\/p>\n
\n managed entirely online, often with no US income tax if their income is earned outside the US.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n a US entity to open a business account.\u00a0Having an LLC lets you send invoices in USD, get paid globally, and access banking tools that many local freelancers can\u2019t.\n<\/p>\n
\n States more than an individual abroad.\n<\/p>\n
\n work or contracts.\n<\/p>\n
\n visa, no travel, no red tape.\n<\/p>\n
\n like New Mexico.\n<\/p>\n
\n limited by geography.\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/image.jimcdn.com\/app\/cms\/image\/transf\/none\/path\/s9524a0afdc5b40b0\/image\/ic92c568c101fc831\/version\/1760695893\/image.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n Can Non-US Citizens Open a US LLC?
\n<\/h2>\n
\n non-resident is someone who isn’t a US citizen or green card holder and doesn’t spend enough time in the US to meet the IRS “substantial presence” test. You only need these three
\n things:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n
\n Mailbox<\/a>\u00a0for a real US address and access your mail from anywhere via web or mobile app.\n <\/li>\n
\n non-resident freelancers and entrepreneurs are using LLCs as a tax-efficient, international business structure.\n<\/p>\n\n Can You Set Up a US LLC Remotely?
\n<\/h2>\n
\n can be handled online. There is no travel needed to register an LLC in the US, just do it remotely from wherever you are.\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/image.jimcdn.com\/app\/cms\/image\/transf\/none\/path\/s9524a0afdc5b40b0\/image\/ia37cc955844631de\/version\/1760695855\/image.png\")
<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n How Much Does It Cost to Set Up and Maintain a US LLC?
\n<\/h2>\n
One of the biggest surprises when I started my LLC was how affordable it actually was. the cost to form a US LLC for non residents is incredible low. I paid $91 to set up my LLC in New Mexico,
\n and it was done within a few days, I was really surprised! Getting the EIN (Employer Identification Number) cost an extra one time fee of $100-200\u00a0(depending on the provider).\n<\/p>\n
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