What a US company costs a founder abroad in year one, and every year after

Most formation services show a price with "plus state fees" underneath, and the full cost turns up at checkout, or at renewal a year later. This guide adds up every line. Our prices come from the same catalogue the checkout uses. The rest are the state's and the IRS's figures, and typical market rates.

Launch is $249 a year, with the registered agent, the EIN, the operating agreement and the compliance calendar in it. With the state fee, it's $351.40 on the day and $309 a year after with the annual report. Add annual state compliance, $149 a year, and we file that report for you. Operate is $199 a month, billed yearly: the formation plus the tools to run the company while you subscribe. The pricing page lists every line, and the calculator adds the extras.

Delaware's tax is due every 1 June, from the year after you form. A company formed after 1 June meets its first one inside its first twelve months, so the month you form changes the Delaware total. The LLC cost calculator lists every payment for the month you pick.

A Delaware C-Corporation costs more again: about $450 a year to the state, and a Form 1120 that an accountant usually prepares. Wyoming or Delaware explains when that's worth it.

The same Wyoming LLC, with a registered agent, an EIN without a Social Security Number and an operating agreement, from the providers on our comparison pages. Every figure includes Wyoming's fees, and each comes from the provider's own pricing page.

Some providers cost less for some founders, and we say so: Stripe Atlas, Firstbase, StartGlobal, Bizee, Northwest Registered Agent, Clerky and BizStartz are on the comparison page with what each does better.

• A US mailing address, if a platform asks for one. Virtual address services usually charge $10 to $30 a month, and ours is $10. The state doesn't require one, but PayPal and some marketplaces may.
• A US phone number, which PayPal and some platforms ask for. An internet phone provider charges a few dollars a month. Launch includes one for 3 months.
• An ITIN, if it turns out you need one. A Certifying Acceptance Agent usually charges a few hundred dollars. Most founders never need one, and the ITIN guide explains when you do.
• An accountant at home for your own country's tax return, which you'd file anyway. The US company usually adds questions to that return rather than a second one.
• Payment processing fees. Stripe charges about 3% of card revenue plus a fixed fee per payment, and PayPal and merchants of record set their own rates, often higher.
• Currency conversion when you move money home. Wise charges a small percentage, while a traditional bank often takes several percent through its exchange rate.
• Sales tax registration in a state, if your sales there pass its threshold.
• A certificate of good standing or an apostille, if a bank abroad asks. Wyoming's certificate is free online, Delaware's is $50, and an apostille adds a state fee.

• US income tax, for a company run entirely from abroad with no US office, staff, dependent agent or US inventory. It files its forms and usually owes nothing.
• A beneficial ownership report. FinCEN no longer requires one from companies formed in the United States, so a provider still charging for it is selling a filing you don't owe.
• A trip to the US. Nothing in the process requires one.