Open an LLC online: the complete procedure, from the questionnaire to your dollar account

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 simple photo of your ID. 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 the filing and your first payment in dollars, six steps follow one another in a precise order, and each has its own timeline. Three things to know before you start: no notary is involved, the certificate issued by the state is the same whichever channel you file through, and your share of the work fits in one session while the state and the IRS keep their own calendars.

If your question is about a visa, a green card or a Social Security number, our guide US LLC without a visa answers it point by point. Here we follow only the sequence, as LLC Place runs it for your US LLC.

The six steps, in order

Here is the concrete sequence of our US LLC formation service, 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 ID 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. Online identity verification, 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: €199 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?

No document for the formation, only the information entered in the questionnaire. The bank will then ask you for valid ID.

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 go-to state 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.