The United States rewards preparation and punishes assumption.
Ownership is genuinely open. Almost nothing else is national — the permission you need is issued by a city or a county, and the same business model can be routine in one metro and closed in another two hours away.
What United States asks of a foreign owner.
Every line below is re-verified against the current position for your city and activity before we quote. Regulations in all five markets have moved within the last three years.
- OwnershipOpen in full for every activity in our five lines. A foreign individual or a foreign company can own 100% of a US LLC or corporation.
- EntityAn LLC in most cases — simpler to run and flexible on tax treatment. A C-corporation where outside investment or a specific tax position calls for it. The state is chosen for where you trade, not for whichever state has the cheapest filing fee.
- Directors and officersNo residency or citizenship requirement. You do not need a US person on the paperwork.
- Tax numberAn EIN is issued to a foreign owner without a Social Security number, applied for on Form SS-4. It is the key that unlocks banking, payroll and most licences, and it takes longer by post or fax than the online route available to US persons.
- LicensingThe part people underestimate. Vehicle-for-hire authority, short-let registration, food service permits and vending registration are issued locally. Two neighbouring cities routinely have completely different regimes.
- BankingThe hardest step in the country. A newly formed, foreign-owned entity with no credit file is a real application, and several banks require a director to attend in person. It frequently succeeds when properly prepared. It is never promised.
- Sales taxCollected at state and often city level, with rates and rules varying by product and by where the sale happens. Registration is per state in which you have a taxable presence.
- InsuranceCommercial cover is bought through licensed brokers in the state. In a fleet it is the largest recurring cost and it scales with vehicle count, not vehicle value.
Which of the five work in United States.
Ratings are a starting point for the conversation, not a verdict — the cell that matters is the one we check for your specific city.
- Strong hereShort-Stay Rentals · Taxi & Fleet · Ghost Kitchen · Vending
- Viable hereMini Mart
- Revenue currencyUS dollars ($)
Three things worth knowing early.
City before entity
We do not form a company until the city is chosen and its regime is confirmed. Forming first and discovering the restriction afterwards is the single most expensive mistake in this market.
The bank is not a formality
Budget eight to ten weeks and a possible in-person visit. Payment-institution accounts are a legitimate fallback and we prepare both paths in parallel.
Federal filings do not stop
Annual reports, franchise taxes and information returns fall due whether or not the business traded. Your filing calendar is handed to you in writing at stage three.
Thinking about United States?
Bring the city, the venture and the capital you are prepared to commit. You will get an honest read on whether that combination is buildable there before anyone talks about fees.