Foreign CompanySetup
Countries / Americas / United States

Country & jurisdiction guide

Company setup in United States

United States of America · 729 legal forms listed

US
CapitalWashington D.C.
CurrencyUSD
LanguagesEnglish
RegionNorth America

Start with the right structure

Explore legal entity forms and registration sources for United States. Use the local terminology below when discussing your application with the relevant authority.

Select a state and business structure

Compare an LLC with a corporation and other structures before filing. Liability and taxation differ, and formation is handled under the relevant state rules.

Official guidance ↗

Check where you operate

Operating beyond the state of formation can trigger registration in additional states. Review state, federal and local registrations for the actual activity and location.

Official guidance ↗

What to confirm before applying

These are planning questions, not verified United States requirements.

Foreign ownership & activity

Ask whether your nationality, ownership percentage and proposed business activity require investment approval, a local partner or a sector licence.

Directors & local presence

Confirm the required directors, shareholders, registered office, local representative and any residency or company-secretary rules.

Capital & incorporation costs

Obtain the current minimum capital, filing fees, notarisation costs, translations and annual renewal or service charges for the selected legal form.

Tax & ongoing compliance

Verify corporate tax, VAT or sales tax, withholding, beneficial-ownership reporting, accounting, audit and annual-return obligations.

Banking & immigration

Check bank onboarding and source-of-funds evidence separately. Company registration should not be treated as approval for banking, residence or work permission.

Explore investment rules with UNCTAD ↗

Your setup preparation checklist

Use this general sequence with the authority’s country-specific instructions. Ticks are temporary and reset when you leave this page.

Registration authorities

Sources listed by GLEIF. Some authorities cover regulated entities or validation only; check the relevant remit before applying. Links have not all been individually revalidated.

GLEIF authority list v1.8.1, November 2024 ↗