Form Your U.S. Company, From Anywhere

The US offers access to the world's largest consumer market, a deep pool of venture capital and institutional investors, globally recognized legal frameworks, and unmatched brand credibility. For technology, e-commerce, SaaS, and professional services companies, a US entity is often a prerequisite for US enterprise sales, banking relationships, and investor conversations. Foreign nationals can fully own a US corporation or LLC with no citizenship or residency requirement.

Delaware is the most popular choice for foreign-owned businesses – it has the most developed business law in the US, a specialized Court of Chancery for corporate disputes, and is the default expectation of most US investors and accelerators. Wyoming is a cost-effective alternative for LLCs, with no state income tax and strong privacy protections. For businesses with significant operations or employees in a specific state, incorporating or qualifying to do business locally may also be required. Commenda helps you choose the right structure and state for your situation.

Commenda manages the entire incorporation process – from choosing between a C Corporation and LLC, to selecting the right state, to coordinating your registered agent, guided EIN application, and banking setup. We work with US legal and accounting professionals so your entity is correctly established from day one, without the back-and-forth of managing multiple vendors.

State filings are typically approved within a few days, with expedited options available. Your entity registration – Certificate of Incorporation and registered address – completes within 1–2 weeks. EIN issuance takes 1–3 days when a responsible party has an SSN, or around 6–7 weeks for foreign persons filing manually; Commenda tracks the whole timeline in your dashboard.

Yes – every US corporation and LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical address in its state of incorporation. This agent receives official government and legal correspondence on behalf of your entity. Commenda provides a registered agent address and virtual mailroom as part of the incorporation package, so you don't need a US address of your own to get started.

Ongoing obligations vary by state and entity type, but typically include annual state filings, franchise tax payments, federal corporate tax returns (Form 1120 for C Corps), and any applicable state and local tax filings. Foreign-owned entities may also have additional IRS disclosure requirements. Commenda's managed compliance service keeps you on track with every deadline – so your entity stays in good standing and you avoid penalties.

Yes – there are no citizenship or residency requirements to own a US C Corporation or LLC. Foreign nationals and foreign entities can be 100% owners. Certain regulated industries (defense, broadcasting, aviation) have foreign ownership restrictions, but these are sector-specific exceptions. Commenda's team helps you navigate FDI and ownership structure considerations for your industry.