Registering a company in the United States is possible from almost anywhere in the world. You do not have to live in the U.S. to open a U.S. company. In most cases, the process is straightforward: you provide the required information, complete the online form, and we prepare and submit the company registration documents to the state.

If you live in China, Europe, the Middle East, South America, or any other country and want to expand your business to the U.S. market, you can complete our registration form online. Based on the information you provide, we will prepare the required documents and submit them for registration. If any additional questions come up during the process, we will contact you.

The cost of company registration depends mainly on the state filing fee. Each state has its own fees, processing times, and rules. The general process is usually the same: first, the company is registered with the state, and after that, the company applies for an EIN, also known as an Employer Identification Number.

For most new companies, the two basic documents needed after registration are the state formation document and the EIN confirmation. For an LLC, the state formation document is usually called Articles of Organization. For a corporation, it is usually called Articles of Incorporation or a similar name, depending on the state. These documents are commonly needed to open a business bank account.

If you live in the United States

and have a Social Security Number, opening a business bank account is usually much easier. You can take the company formation document and EIN confirmation to the bank and apply for a business account. In many cases, banks allow business accounts to be opened online, but some banks may still require personal appearance, identity verification, or a signature on file.

If you are not physically located in the United States

and do not have a Social Security Number, opening a U.S. business bank account may be more complicated. Some business owners choose to appoint a U.S.-based manager or authorized person temporarily so that this person can help open the bank account and sign the required bank documents. Later, company management can be changed if needed. Other banking or payment options may also be available depending on your situation, business structure, country of residence, and bank requirements.

Our standard company registration service includes state registration and EIN application. It does not automatically include local business licenses, county or city registration, sales tax permits, professional licenses, or other activity-specific permits.

After the company is registered with the state and receives an EIN, many businesses also need a local business registration, business license, or local tax registration with the city or county where they operate. This is important because federal, state, and local requirements are different. A company may be properly registered with the state but still need a local business license before it can legally operate in a specific city or county.

Local business registration depends on the location and type of activity. Some cities or counties allow certain types of business activity, while others may restrict or prohibit specific activities in certain areas. Some businesses may need to meet additional local requirements before they can operate. If you plan to conduct business at a specific physical location, it is important to check whether that type of activity is allowed at that location before moving forward.

We can assist with business licenses, county or city registration, sales tax permits, and other license or permit requirements. If the business cannot be registered in the county or city you originally selected, we can review other available options and help identify a location where registration may be possible.

If your business structure is more complex, additional compliance documents are strongly recommended after the company is registered and the EIN is received. This is especially important if the company has several owners, partners, investors, planned financing, business property, intellectual property, or assets that will belong to the company.

For an LLC, the main internal document is usually an Operating Agreement. For a corporation, the company may need Bylaws, shareholder documents, corporate resolutions, and other internal governance documents. These documents help define ownership percentages, rights and responsibilities of the owners, voting rights, management authority, profit distribution, decision-making rules, and what happens if there is a dispute between owners.

These documents are especially important when money, property, investors, partners, or business assets are involved. If disagreements arise later, the owners should be able to rely on written company documents that clearly explain how the company is managed, how profits are divided, who has authority, and who is responsible for what. For that reason, compliance and internal governance documents should be prepared carefully.

Company registration is not a one-time issue that can be ignored forever. After the company is registered, most states require the company to file an annual report, statement of information, franchise tax report, or another recurring state filing. The name and rules depend on the state. If the required report is not filed on time, the state may suspend, dissolve, cancel, or administratively close the company.

If a company is dissolved or suspended for failure to file required reports, it may often be restored or reinstated. However, reinstatement usually requires filing the missing reports and paying state fees, penalties, and reinstatement costs. In some states, this can cost several hundred dollars or more. It is usually better and cheaper to file annual reports on time.

If your company was dissolved because an annual report or required state filing was missed, opening a new company may look easier than restoring the old one. Sometimes this may be possible, but it also means starting over. A new company starts a new tax, business, banking, and credit history from the beginning. This may not be convenient if you plan to apply for financing, build business credit, attract investors, or show that your company has been operating for a longer period of time.

Business credit history works similarly to personal credit history in some ways. The longer the company exists, the longer its accounts and credit relationships may exist. A company with an established history may look stronger to banks, lenders, vendors, and partners than a newly formed company with no operating history.

A business credit card can also help build business credit. If the company is new or does not yet have enough credit history, some banks may offer a secured business credit card. A secured business credit card usually requires a deposit and may help the company establish credit history over time. Depending on the bank, a secured business credit card may later be converted into a regular business credit card. The timing and requirements vary by bank and may range from several months to more than a year.

Maintaining the company properly is important if you want to grow, apply for financing, build business credit, or keep your company active for the long term. This means filing annual reports on time, keeping business licenses current, renewing permits when required, filing tax returns, maintaining accounting records, and keeping compliance documents updated.

Our clients are usually reminded when important filing deadlines are approaching. However, if you manage some filings independently, you should keep track of renewal dates yourself. At least once a year, most companies need to review state registration, local business licenses, permits, annual reports, and tax filing obligations.

Business Services LLC can assist with the full business lifecycle: company registration, EIN application, registered agent service, business licenses, sales tax registration, local permits, annual reports, tax returns, bookkeeping, Profit and Loss preparation, compliance documents, and company dissolution if you later decide to close the business.

If you are ready to register a company in the United States, you can complete the online registration form and provide the required information. We will review your submission, prepare the documents, submit the state filing, and apply for the EIN after the company is formed. If your business also needs a local business license, sales tax permit, county registration, or other license, you can order that service separately through our Business Licenses and Permits service.