Every Question, Answered Honestly

OpenEntity is a done-for-you concierge service for forming a US LLC or UK LTD. We handle the entire process end-to-end: state or Companies House filings, tax ID acquisition (EIN for the US, UTR for the UK), registered agent setup, a real business address, document preparation, and introductions to business banking partners. Our US LLC package starts at $499 all-in and includes the state filing fee, registered agent for the first year, EIN acquisition, a US business address, an operating agreement, and banking introductions to Mercury, Relay, and Wise — with no hidden add-ons. The UK LTD package starts at £399 and includes a London registered office address. You submit a 5-minute application; we review it manually and deliver a fully operational company, typically within 10–15 business days. No dashboard, no DIY paperwork — we do the work and support you for the life of the company.

Never. The entire process is 100% remote. Formation, EIN/UTR acquisition, and bank account opening are all done without leaving your country. Our banking partners (Mercury, Wise, Relay, Tide) accept remote applications from non-residents.

Entrepreneurs from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and across Europe who need a US or UK company for payment gateway access (Stripe), global credibility, tax optimization, or market expansion. We serve digital businesses, SaaS founders, e-commerce sellers, and consultants.

Cheap filing services submit your paperwork — that's it. We manually review every application, handle EIN/UTR acquisition (which they don't), provide a real business address, introduce you to banking partners, and offer lifetime support. We're your back-office partner, not a form filler.

No. Non-residents can form a US LLC using only a valid passport — there is no requirement to hold a US visa, a Social Security Number (SSN), or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to register the company. You also do not need an SSN or ITIN to obtain an EIN: where the responsible party has no SSN/ITIN, the IRS issues the EIN from a Form SS-4 application that we file on your behalf, which is why our expedited EIN process takes about 3–5 business days. You do not need to be physically present in the US at any stage, and you can be the sole owner and manager of the LLC from your home country. An ITIN may become relevant later for certain personal US tax filings or to satisfy a specific bank or platform, but it is not needed to form the company, get an EIN, or open accounts with our fintech banking partners.

Wyoming for most non-residents: lowest fees ($60/year), no state income tax, strongest privacy protection (ownership is not publicly disclosed). Choose Delaware only if you plan to raise venture capital from US investors — the Delaware Court of Chancery is preferred by VCs and startup lawyers.

Formation happens in clear stages. First, we file your LLC with the state (Wyoming or Delaware), which is typically approved in 24–48 hours, giving you Articles of Organization and a company number. Next, we obtain your EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS — our expedited process usually takes 3–5 business days, compared with the 4–8 weeks the IRS quotes for mailed or faxed Form SS-4 applications from applicants without an SSN. Once the LLC and EIN are in place, we introduce you to banking partners such as Mercury, Relay, and Wise; the banking application and approval generally take 5–10 business days. In total, from submitting your 5-minute application to having a funded business bank account, most clients are fully operational in 10–15 business days. Timelines can vary with IRS processing volumes and each bank's individual compliance review, and we keep you updated at every step.

It can be, in specific circumstances — but it is not automatic and depends on your facts. A US LLC with a single non-resident owner is generally treated as a "disregarded entity" for US federal tax purposes, meaning the LLC itself is not taxed and income flows to the owner. Where that owner is a non-resident with no US-source income and no US trade or business (no "effectively connected income"), US federal income tax on that income may be 0%, per IRS guidance on the taxation of non-resident aliens. This is a filing position, not a loophole: the LLC must still file an annual Form 5472 together with a pro forma Form 1120 as an informational return, and the penalties for missing Form 5472 are substantial. What counts as US-source or effectively connected income is fact-specific, and your home country may still tax the profits. Tax outcomes depend on your residency and profile — always consult a qualified tax advisor before relying on any treatment.

Wyoming: ~$60/year state annual report + $149/year registered agent = ~$209/year. Delaware: ~$300/year franchise tax + $149/year registered agent = ~$449/year. That's it — no hidden fees from OpenEntity. Accounting/tax preparation is separate and optional.

We check name availability with the state before filing. If your first choice is taken, we suggest alternatives and get your approval before proceeding. Name reservation is included in our service at no extra charge.

Yes. UK law has no residency requirement for company directors. You can live anywhere in the world and legally direct a UK LTD. You need a passport and residential address for the Companies House register (your home country address is fine).

Your company must have a UK registered office address — this is a legal requirement. We provide a London address as part of our £399 package. This is your company's correspondence address, not your personal address.

Electronic filing: 24–48 hours for company incorporation. Your company number and Certificate of Incorporation are available digitally. The UTR (tax number) from HMRC is sent by post and takes 2–4 weeks to arrive.

Corporation Tax is the UK tax on company profits. Rates: 19% on profits up to £50,000 (small profits rate), 25% on profits over £250,000, with marginal relief between £50k–£250k. Non-UK-resident companies only pay on UK-source profits.

VAT registration becomes mandatory when your UK taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 per year. Below that threshold, registration is voluntary. For B2B businesses, voluntary VAT registration can be beneficial as it allows you to reclaim VAT on expenses.

No legitimate provider can guarantee a bank account, because every bank and fintech runs its own independent KYC and compliance checks and makes the final decision. What we can do is maximise your chances. We prepare your application correctly — matching your business activity, ownership, and documents to each provider's requirements — and we introduce you only to banking partners that actively welcome non-resident business owners, such as Mercury, Relay, and Wise for US LLCs and Wise, Tide, and Revolut Business for UK LTDs. In practice our introductions have a 95%+ approval rate (subject to each provider's criteria), and the process is fully remote with no in-person visit required. If one provider declines — which can happen for reasons like a higher-risk industry or incomplete documents — we explain why and introduce you to suitable alternatives at no extra cost, so you always have more than one path to a funded account.

Yes — every banking partner we work with accepts fully remote applications from non-resident company owners, so you never need to travel to the US or UK. For US LLCs, our main partners are Mercury, Relay, and Wise Business, which onboard online and typically issue USD account and routing numbers plus debit cards. For UK LTDs, we introduce you to Wise Business, Tide, and Revolut Business, which provide GBP and often multi-currency accounts. To apply remotely you generally need your formation documents, your EIN (US) or company number (UK), a passport, and proof of address; approval usually takes 5–10 business days after submission. These are regulated fintechs and business banking platforms rather than traditional branch banks, which is exactly why they can verify and onboard non-residents digitally. We prepare and review your application before you submit and guide you through each provider's verification steps to avoid delays.

Yes — gaining Stripe access is one of the most common reasons international founders form a US LLC. The combination of a registered US LLC, an EIN, and a US business bank account (for example Mercury, Relay, or Wise) lets you create a US Stripe account with full functionality, accept cards globally, and receive payouts to your US account in USD. This is the practical alternative to Stripe Atlas for founders who want a concierge-formed entity, and it is especially valuable for entrepreneurs in countries where Stripe is not natively available or offers limited features. Stripe also supports UK LTDs, though the available feature set can be narrower for non-UK-resident directors. Note that having access is not the same as approval: Stripe applies its own risk and compliance review based on your business model, website, and product, so you should present a clear, legitimate business. We make sure the underlying company, EIN, and banking are correctly set up to support your application.

Stripe, PayPal Business, Square, Wise Business, Mercury, Relay, Brex, and essentially all US payment processors. A US LLC with an EIN unlocks the full American fintech ecosystem.

US LLC: Annual state report (simple form), registered agent maintenance, Form 5472 + 1120 filing. UK LTD: Annual Confirmation Statement (£13), Corporation Tax return, annual accounts with Companies House. We send reminders for all deadlines and guide you through the process.

We provide compliance reminders and guidance for all annual obligations at no extra cost. For tax return preparation and accounting, we recommend specialized accountants — we can refer you to trusted partners who work with non-resident entrepreneurs.

Late filings can result in penalties: US state fees range from $50–$500 depending on the state. UK Companies House can strike off your company after 2 missed Confirmation Statements. This is why we send advance reminders — we've never had a client miss a deadline.