Open an LLC online: the myths, then the procedure to form a US LLC remotely

Opening an LLC online has become the normal route, including for Americans themselves. State registries accept electronic filings, the IRS receives EIN applications remotely and business banks verify identity with a photo of the passport. For an entrepreneur living outside the United States, it is in fact the only realistic route: nobody flies over to sign a form.

Still, “online” does not mean “five minutes on an official website”. Between filing the formation document and the first payment received in dollars, there is a series of steps that follow a precise order, and several traps that cost weeks to those who do everything alone. Let us first go through the myths, then the procedure as LLC Place runs it to form your US LLC.

The myths about forming an LLC online

“You just fill in the state's form”

It is true that the Articles of Organization are filed online on the Secretary of State's website. But that filing is the first brick, not the house. Before it you need a registered agent located in the state and a US business address, otherwise the form is rejected. After it you need an operating agreement, an EIN, a bank account and a calendar of yearly obligations. The state's website takes care of none of that. LLC Place runs the whole sequence in the right order, with the agent, the address and the documents included from the first payment.

“A company formed online is less serious than one formed by a lawyer”

False. The certificate issued by the state is exactly the same, whoever filled in the form. What makes an LLC solid is the quality of its internal documents and the respect of its deadlines, not the way the filing was transmitted. A law firm charges high fees for work that is now standardised. Our experts prepare the same documents, reviewed by professionals, and remain available for your questions.

“You need a notary or a certified signature”

False. No state requires a notarised deed to form an LLC. The formation document is signed electronically by the organiser, and the operating agreement is signed between the members without formality. The only moment your identity is strictly verified is the opening of the bank account, and Mercury Bank does it online with your passport.

“An online LLC is an empty shell”

An LLC is a company in its own right, with a legal personality distinct from yours, separate assets and liability limited to what was contributed. It can invoice, sign contracts, open accounts, pay contractors and hold assets. What would make it a shell is failing to make it live: no separate account, no contracts in its name, no filings. The LLC Place dashboard is designed precisely so that the company really exists, with its documents, its account and its deadlines tracked.

“You can do everything in one day”

Partly true. Your share of the work fits in one session: answer the questionnaire, check the information, sign. The rest depends on the authorities: registration takes from a few days to a few weeks depending on the state, the EIN several weeks from the IRS, the bank opening a few days after the complete file is sent. The difference between a smooth formation and one that drags on comes down to the mistakes avoided: a name already taken, an address rejected, a Form SS-4 filled in wrongly. Those are the mistakes we block before anything is sent.

The procedure to open your LLC online

Here is the concrete sequence, as you experience it in your LLC Place dashboard.

Step 1: the questionnaire

Ten minutes are enough. You enter the desired name, the state, your activity, the number of members and your contact details. We check the name's availability in real time and alert you to regulated terms. No passport is requested at this stage.

Step 2: filing the formation document

We file the Articles of Organization with the chosen state, with our registered agent and your US business address, both included in your plan. The certificate of formation appears in your account as soon as the state has issued it.

Step 3: the operating agreement

We draft your LLC's internal contract, in English, adapted to a single-member or a multi-member company. This document is essential for the bank and the payment platforms, and it protects the separation between your assets and the company's.

Step 4: the EIN

As soon as registration is confirmed, we prepare Form SS-4 and send it to the IRS. No SSN, no ITIN, no travel. The IRS confirmation letter is added to your file on receipt.

Step 5: the dollar bank account

With the certificate, the operating agreement and the EIN, you open your Mercury Bank account online. Identity verification by passport, an account in dollars, cards, international wires. We tell you the exact order of the documents to provide to avoid any refusal.

Step 6: payments and deadlines

Stripe and PayPal connect to your LLC with the EIN and the bank account. You invoice your clients in dollars, wherever they are. Then your dashboard reminds you of the state's annual report, the agent renewal and the Form 5472 to file with the IRS. These filings are offered as an option: 150 € per year for Forms 5472 and 1120 alone, 398 € per year with a tax expert, and they are included in the Pro and Founder plans.

The division of roles fits in one table.

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need to open an LLC online?

A valid passport, and that is all. It is used to open the bank account. The formation of the company itself requires no ID, only the information entered in the questionnaire.

Can I open an LLC online from any country?

Formation is open to all nationalities. Banks, however, apply their own lists of accepted countries. We check your situation before launching the bank file, to point you to the solution that works in your case.

Which state should I choose for an online LLC?

Wyoming, New Mexico and Delaware cover almost every need of a non-resident. New Mexico requires no annual report, Wyoming offers strong privacy, Delaware remains the reference for those planning to raise funds. Our questionnaire guides you according to your activity.

What happens after formation?

Your dashboard becomes the company's hub: documents, bank account, deadlines, requests for additional documents. You receive the yearly reminders there and, if you chose the option, your Forms 5472 and 1120 are filed there every year.