How to Form an LLC in the USA Online: Step-by-Step Guide

You can form an LLC in the USA online, from anywhere in the world, without a US visa, a Social Security Number or a trip to the United States. The filing is made on the state's website, and the rest (the EIN, the bank account, the yearly reports) can also be done online. This guide is the starting point for anyone who wants to form LLC in USA online: it shows how to form LLC in USA online, from the first decision to the first bank deposit, and links to a detailed guide for each step. To have it done for you, see our LLC formation service.

What it means to form an LLC in the USA

An LLC (limited liability company) is a business entity that is separate from its owners. When you form an LLC in the USA:

• Your personal assets are protected from the company's debts, if you keep the company's money and yours apart.
• The tax is simple by default. The LLC itself pays no income tax, and the profit is reported by the owners. See LLC vs C-Corp for non-resident founders if you are comparing it with a corporation.
• It is flexible. It can have one owner or many, and there are few formal meetings.

Why form USA LLC from outside the US?

Many founders abroad form USA LLC companies so they can sell to US customers, receive US dollar payments, open a US bank account and look established to clients. It also gives the owner a company that is legally separate from them. The rest of this guide shows how it is done.

Who can form a USA LLC online?

Almost anyone. No US state asks for an LLC owner to be a citizen or a resident. If you live abroad, read can a foreigner own a US LLC? and form a US LLC without visiting the US. Our service for owners abroad is on the LLC formation for non-residents page, and Indian founders can start with register a company in the USA from India.

What to have ready before you start

• The company name you want, and one or two backups.
• The state you will form it in.
• The owners' full names, addresses and photo ID.
• A short description of what the business will do.

For the full list, see documents required to register an LLC and the LLC registration requirements.

How to form LLC in USA online: the steps

Step 1: Choose the state

You form the LLC in one state. The state decides the filing fee, the yearly cost and how fast it is approved. If the business really works in one state, form it there. If you run it from abroad, many owners compare Wyoming, Delaware, Texas and Florida. Start with the best state for company registration in the USA and which state is good for you, then compare costs in our LLC filing fees by state table. The detailed guides are Delaware vs Wyoming, Delaware, Wyoming, Texas and Florida. If you are weighing states with no state income tax, read register an LLC in a tax-free state.

Step 2: Choose and check the name

The name must include "LLC" (or "Limited Liability Company") and be different from the names already registered in that state. Search the state's business name records before you file.

Step 3: Appoint a registered agent

Every LLC needs a registered agent with a street address in the state, to receive legal papers and official mail. If you do not live in the state, most owners use a service. See our registered agent service.

Step 4: File the formation document

This is the Articles of Organization (called the Certificate of Formation in some states). It is filed with the state, usually online, with the state's fee. When the state accepts it, the LLC exists. The full walk-through is in the LLC registration process, step by step, and a shorter version is in how to register an LLC and how to start an LLC.

Step 5: Write an operating agreement

The operating agreement records who owns the LLC and how it is run. It is not filed with the state, but banks ask for it. A single owner can use a short one: see the operating agreement for a single-member LLC owned from abroad.

Step 6: Get an EIN

The EIN is the LLC's tax number from the IRS. You need it to open a bank account and file taxes, and you can get one without a Social Security Number. Read get an EIN without an SSN, how to get an EIN for a US LLC and EIN number for an LLC, or use our EIN service.

Step 7: Open a business bank account

Keep the company's money apart from your own. See a US business bank account for non-residents, how to open a US business bank account for an LLC and our bank account page.

Step 8: Plan the yearly duties

An LLC has a yearly state report or tax in most states, a registered agent renewal, and a federal filing. A foreign-owned single-member LLC files an IRS information return every year, even with no income. See the annual compliance checklist for non-residents and our US LLC tax filing service. After you form the company, here is what to do next, and how to pay yourself from the LLC.

How long does it take, and what does it cost?

The timing depends on the state and on whether you choose faster filing: see how long it takes to register an LLC. The cost has two parts, the state's filing fee and a service fee if someone files for you, plus the yearly cost to keep the company. See what an LLC costs and what a US LLC costs each year.

Mistakes to avoid when you form a USA LLC

• Choosing a state only because it is popular, without checking the yearly cost.
• Skipping the operating agreement.
• Mixing personal and company money.
• Forgetting the yearly report and the IRS filing.

More are listed in mistakes non-residents and foreigners make. If you plan to start a business more widely, see how to start a business in the USA, and for the wider picture of forming a company see company formation in the USA. Founders from Pakistan can read how to register an LLC in the USA from Pakistan, and anyone abroad can start with register an LLC in the USA from abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Can I form an LLC in the USA online?

Yes. Almost every state accepts the filing online, and the EIN and bank account can be arranged online too.

How do I form an LLC in the USA from outside the US?

You follow the same steps: choose a state, appoint a registered agent, file the formation document, get an EIN and open a bank account. You do not need to travel.

How much does it cost to form a USA LLC?

You pay the state's filing fee, which varies by state, and a service fee if a company files for you. Check our fee table for the current state figures.

Do I need a lawyer to form an LLC?

No. The filing is a state form, and you can do it yourself or use a filing service. A lawyer or accountant helps with tax questions or several owners.

This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Fees, rules and deadlines differ by state and change, so check the state's own website before you file.