The Real Cost of Running a US LLC as a Non-US Resident: My Experience

Can you really own a US company without living in the United States or visiting it? I discovered that you can. But my journey also taught me that the state filing fee is only part of the cost. This is what I personally experienced and paid.

Why I wanted a US company

As a non-US resident, I have faced restrictions when trying to enter the global online business market. Some payment processors, banking services and platforms are limited by country of residence or nationality. I wanted a legitimate company through which I could build international online businesses.

After researching different options, I learned that a US LLC could help me apply for services such as Stripe and Mercury. But forming an LLC does not guarantee approval from any bank or payment processor. They each have their own eligibility and compliance requirements.

My first attempt at finding a formation provider

The first formation website I visited was USFormation.com. The offers and descriptions made owning a US company seem almost too good to be true, especially the banking-related benefits. Unfortunately, my nationality was not supported. It was disappointing to run into the same kind of restriction I was trying to overcome.

Why I chose Bizee and New Mexico

I compared formation providers and eventually chose Bizee because the package I selected included registered agent service for the first year at no additional charge. I paid $52, which Bizee charged me as the New Mexico state fee. That is the amount on my own bill; it should not be confused with a universal quote for all applicants.

I chose New Mexico because I wanted to keep formation costs and ongoing state administration manageable. That does not mean New Mexico eliminates federal tax or reporting obligations, or taxes that may apply where I live or operate.

I remember starting around July 27 and receiving the formation documents approximately two weeks later. I declined optional extras I believed I could handle myself. Receiving the documents was an exciting moment: I had formed a US company without travelling there.

Bizee vs. Firstbase: what I would compare before choosing

I personally formed my New Mexico LLC with Bizee. I did not buy or test Firstbase, so this is a comparison of their publicly advertised packages as checked in October 2026, not a review based on firsthand Firstbase use. Prices and promotional terms can change.

Formation price: Bizee lists its Basic LLC formation service at $0 plus the state filing charge; I personally paid $52 through Bizee for my New Mexico state fee. Firstbase Start currently advertises a promotional $99 one-time offer (regular price shown as $399), but its promotion says formation is included while state fees remain payable. These are not like-for-like final checkout totals.

States supported by the advertised package: Bizee lets customers select New Mexico and other states. Firstbase Start currently highlights Delaware and Wyoming, so I would confirm state availability before assuming it can form a New Mexico LLC.

EIN: I obtained my EIN separately using HelloFax, spending $9.99 on a fax subscription; the IRS EIN itself was free. Firstbase Start advertises EIN setup as part of its package. For a founder who wants help with that process, the extra service may be valuable.

Registered agent: My Bizee package included the first year free. Firstbase advertises its Agent service separately at $299 per year on its current pricing page. Bizee also charges for registered-agent renewals after its promotional first year, so neither option should be judged only by year-one formation cost.

Business address: I independently paid $14.99 for the first month of Anytime Mailbox. Firstbase Mailroom currently starts at $35 per month or $315 annually for Basic. Compare identity verification, address suitability and recurring costs before buying either service.

Banking and payment services: Both providers describe banking-related assistance or offers, but neither can guarantee approval by Mercury, Stripe or any other provider. Each institution evaluates the applicant separately.

My choice: Bizee made sense for me because I was comfortable doing more of the setup myself and wanted to keep my initial spending low. Firstbase may appeal to founders who prefer a more bundled service and are willing to pay more for convenience. It is not automatically better or worse; the right choice depends on the state, services needed and recurring costs.

See the official Bizee formation options (affiliate link) and Firstbase pricing for current terms before purchasing.

The unexpected difficulty: finding a usable mailing address

I initially considered a virtual address offered during formation, but it was around $30 a month, more than I wanted to pay. So I tried iPostal1. I paid for a month, but during the USPS identity-verification process I could not select my country. Support told me there was no option if the country was not listed. The subscription was refunded, but the experience cost me time and caused a lot of stress.

I then tried Anytime Mailbox at $14.99 per month. The first passport-verification and notarization attempt failed, even though I paid $25 for that attempt. I contacted support, and they arranged a manual notarization link and a complimentary second session. That second attempt succeeded. I appreciated their support, but the $25 unsuccessful attempt was a real expense, not a free service.

My lesson: before paying for a virtual mailbox, ask whether your identification and country can be verified, and understand any notarization charges. A mailing address is not the same as a registered agent address, and it does not by itself guarantee bank or payment processor eligibility.

Applying for an EIN using HelloFax

Once my LLC was formed, I needed an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Rather than paying a formation company for an EIN service, I chose to submit the required IRS paperwork myself using HelloFax.

The first month was free, but I did not receive the return fax during that period. I paid exactly $9.99 for the additional month and eventually received the fax with my EIN. The IRS itself does not charge to issue an EIN; $9.99 was my fax-service expense.

Opening my Mercury business account

After obtaining my EIN and formation documents, I applied to Mercury. My own application process was straightforward, and I have written a separate article about opening a Mercury business account as a non-US founder. My experience does not guarantee that another applicant will be approved.

My actual initial US LLC setup costs

Here is what I actually paid, rather than a hypothetical formation-package price:

Bizee — New Mexico state fee charged to me: $52.00. First-year registered agent service: $0.00 under my package. Anytime Mailbox first month: $14.99. First notarization attempt, unsuccessful: $25.00. Complimentary second notarization session, successful: $0.00. HelloFax additional month: $9.99. iPostal1: $0.00 net after refund.

My total initial cash outlay was $101.98 ($52.00 + $14.99 + $25.00 + $9.99). This includes the first month of the mailbox, not a full year of mailbox service. It also excludes future operating, tax, bookkeeping and compliance expenses.

The ongoing costs are another story

A $101.98 setup does not mean a US LLC costs only $101.98 to run. My $14.99 monthly mailbox plan alone would amount to $179.88 over 12 months if the price stayed unchanged. Registered agent service may cost more after the first promotional year. Accounting, tax preparation, software and other business expenses can add up.

Foreign-owned US LLCs may have federal information-reporting obligations, including Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 in certain circumstances. The requirements depend on the LLC’s tax classification and activities. A lack of sales does not automatically remove every filing obligation. I would recommend checking your own situation with a qualified tax professional.

What I would do differently

I would check country eligibility before purchasing formation or mailbox services, verify the total renewal cost rather than only the first-year offer, and research banking eligibility separately from company registration. I would also keep a record of every small expense from day one.

Was it worth it?

For me, yes: the experience was exciting and I learned a great deal. But it was not effortless. I faced a nationality restriction, a refunded mailbox subscription, an unsuccessful $25 notarization attempt, and a wait for my EIN. Eventually I formed the LLC, obtained the EIN, secured a mailing address and opened my Mercury account.

The biggest lesson is that registering a company can be relatively affordable, but operating and maintaining it responsibly takes ongoing money, time and attention. And forming a company does not automatically bring customers or revenue.

Disclosure: This is my personal experience, not legal, tax or financial advice. Some service links on Little Finance House may be affiliate links, which may earn us a commission at no additional cost to readers.