How to Open an LLC in the United States as a Nonresident in 2026: Maera vs doola vs Stripe Atlas vs Firstbase

You do not need a passport, visa, or US address to own a US company. Every year, entrepreneurs from Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa open a US LLC 100% remotely to sell worldwide, open a US bank account, accept payments with Stripe, and receive payments in dollars. This guide explains every step and compares the four services nonresidents ask about most, using the prices published on each company’s website (reviewed on October 26, 2026).

Short answer

• Maera: ideal for freelancers, creators, e-commerce businesses, and service businesses outside the US that want formation, an EIN, a bank account, an ITIN, and the annual Form 5472 filing in one place, with human support in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Starting at $197 one-time payment + state fee.
• doola: ideal if you want an annual subscription that includes bookkeeping and taxes. Starting at $297 per year; tax filing is included in a $1,999-per-year plan.
• Stripe Atlas: ideal for venture-backed startups that want a Delaware company. $500 one-time payment, Delaware only.
• Firstbase: ideal for startups in Delaware or Wyoming looking for investor-focused benefits. $399 one-time payment; tax filing costs an additional $1,799.

Step by step: how to open a US LLC from abroad

1. Choose the state

Most nonresidents choose Wyoming because of its low fees and privacy. New Mexico has no annual state fee. Delaware mainly makes sense for startups seeking venture capital. Sample fees shown by Maera’s calculator: Wyoming $102.40 + $60 per year, New Mexico $50 + $0 per year, Florida $125 + $138.75 per year, Delaware $110 + $400 per year. We open LLCs in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

2. File the Articles of Organization and get a registered agent

Every LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in its state. Your formation service files the documents and usually includes the first year of registered agent service.

3. Sign an Operating Agreement

It defines who owns the company and how it is managed. Banks and payment processors often request it.

4. Get your EIN

The EIN is your company’s federal tax identification number. You can get it without an SSN or ITIN. It is included in our Starter plan, or it costs $149 separately.

5. Open a US bank account

With your LLC documents and EIN, you can apply for a business account online. We include the bank account application and refund 100% of that service if the bank rejects you.

6. Connect Stripe and start selling

With an LLC, an EIN, and a US bank account, you can apply for Stripe and accept payments from customers worldwide.

7. Meet your obligations every year

Foreign-owned single-member LLCs must file Form 5472 together with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even if they had no income. The IRS penalty for failing to file is $25,000. You also pay your state’s annual fee and renew your registered agent service.

Do you need an ITIN?

Not to open the LLC. An ITIN is useful for certain personal tax filings and financial products. Our ITIN service costs $249 (W-7, passport certification through a CAA, and follow-up with the IRS), or it is included in the $997 Professional plan.

Maera vs doola vs Stripe Atlas vs Firstbase: comparison table

Prices taken from each company’s public pricing page, reviewed on October 26, 2026. State fees are separate unless otherwise indicated.

What it actually costs: first and second year

The formation price is only half the story. The annual Form 5472 filing is mandatory, so compare the full cost:

• Maera: a single-member LLC in Wyoming costs about $299.40 in the first year (plan + state fee), with tax filing starting at $199. Starting in the second year, the estimate we publish is $356 per year ($97 for registered agent service + Maera Vault, $60 Wyoming fee, and $199 tax filing).
• doola: tax filing is only included in its $1,999-per-year Tax and Compliance plan.
• Stripe Atlas: $100 per year for registered agent service after the first year; it does not publish a tax filing price.
• Firstbase: registered agent service costs an additional $299, and tax filing costs an additional $1,799.

Which one should you choose?

• Choose Maera if you live outside the US, want to get paid in dollars, and want formation, a bank account, an ITIN, and taxes handled by a team that speaks your language.
• Choose doola if you want bookkeeping and taxes in an annual subscription.
• Choose Stripe Atlas if you plan to raise venture capital in Delaware (SAFEs, 83(b), equity).
• Choose Firstbase if you are a startup in Delaware or Wyoming and value investor-focused benefits.

Why nonresident entrepreneurs choose Maera

1. Some of the best prices in the industry, because we want to democratize entrepreneurship: formation $197, ITIN $249, tax filing starting at $199, and company closure $499 if you ever need it.
2. More than formation: EIN, bank account, ITIN, and the annual Form 5472, with Maera Vault tracking every deadline.
3. Human support in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, including through WhatsApp.
4. Any state: all 50 states and Washington D.C., with fees visible before you pay.
5. 100% remote: without traveling to the US.

Ready to get started? Open your US LLC with our plans