United States

The US is the world's largest economy at ~$29.7 trillion GDP (2024 nominal). You're incorporating into a market that accounts for roughly a quarter of global economic output.

Zero minimum capital required. Every entity type — C-Corp, LLC, LLP — can be formed with $0 in paid-up capital. No federal or state minimum exists.

~5.64 million new business applications were filed in 2025, up from ~5.25 million in 2024. State filing portals, IRS processes, and registered agent networks all handle this volume routinely.

Delaware offers 24-hour expedited formation. Most states process filings in 1–5 business days. You can have a legal US entity within a week without visiting the country.

Foreign nationals face no ownership restrictions on C-Corps or LLCs. No US citizenship, residency, or visa is required to be a shareholder, member, or director.

LLCs are taxed as pass-through entities by default — profits flow to owners' personal returns with no entity-level federal tax. This eliminates the double taxation that C-Corps face.

The US maintains income tax treaties with ~66 countries, reducing withholding taxes on dividends, interest, and royalties for founders from treaty nations.

~195 Foreign-Trade Zones across all 50 states and Puerto Rico offer deferred customs duties, reduced duties on re-exports, and simpler import paperwork.

NYSE, NASDAQ, and the largest venture capital market in the world are all here. If you're raising institutional money, a Delaware C-Corp is the expected structure.

The USPTO registers patents, trademarks, and copyrights. US federal courts actively enforce IP rights, which matters if your business depends on proprietary technology or branding.

An EIN (your company's tax ID) is free from the IRS. International applicants can get one same-day by calling 267-941-1099. Do not pay a third party for this.

Privacy protections in Wyoming and Delaware mean LLC members are not listed in public formation documents. Wyoming also permits nominee officers and directors.

Form 5472 is required for all foreign-owned LLCs and corporations. The penalty for not filing is $25,000 per form per year — and that increases by $25,000 for each 30-day period you ignore IRS notices.

Multi-state taxation is genuinely complex. If your business has nexus in multiple states (even through remote online sales after the Wayfair ruling), you may need to register, file, and pay taxes in each one. There's no federal VAT, but 45 states plus DC impose their own sales tax — each with different rates, rules, and exemptions.

The US is one of the most litigious countries in the world. Business litigation attorneys charge $300–$1,000+/hour, and even successfully defending a lawsuit is expensive.

Opening a US bank account as a non-resident remains the single hardest practical step. Traditional banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo) typically require an in-person branch visit. Account applications can be denied, and enhanced due diligence for foreign-owned entities adds 2–6 weeks.

Healthcare costs for employees average over $24,000/year for family coverage. If you plan to hire US-based staff, this is a significant ongoing expense most foreign founders underestimate.

Delaware franchise tax can blindside you. The default Authorized Shares calculation method can produce bills of $80,000+ if you authorized millions of shares (common for startups). Switching to the Assumed Par Value Capital method often drops it to the $400 minimum — but you have to know to do this.

Even a dormant company costs $1,100–$4,150/year minimum to maintain: registered agent ($50–$300), state annual filings ($60–$350), federal tax return prep ($500–$2,000), and Form 5472 prep for foreign owners ($500–$1,500).

Trade policy has been volatile. Tariff rates on imports shift between administrations, creating unpredictable costs for businesses that depend on imported goods.