Search for LLC prices online and you’ll find everything from “$0 formation!” to packages costing four figures — and none of them tell you what a non-resident will actually spend. This guide breaks down the true US LLC cost for non-residents in 2026: every state fee, every recurring charge, the costs that only apply when you live outside the US, and the “cheap” options that end up expensive.
By the end you’ll be able to budget your first year to the dollar — and spot inflated quotes instantly.
Table of contents
- US LLC cost for non-residents: the quick answer
- Cost #1: State filing fees (one-time)
- Cost #2: Registered agent ($100–$300/year)
- Cost #3: EIN — free from the IRS, but your time isn’t
- Cost #4: The non-resident extras
- Realistic first-year budgets
- Where “cheap” LLCs get expensive
- How LLC Station prices it
- Frequently asked questions
- Know your number, then start
US LLC cost for non-residents: the quick answer
For a non-resident forming in one of the two states we recommend, the realistic all-in range is:
- New Mexico: roughly $200–$400 in year one, and the state itself charges $0/year after that
- Wyoming: roughly $250–$450 in year one, plus a $60/year state report from year two
Those figures include the state fee and a registered agent. What moves the number up or down is everything around them — so let’s itemize.
Cost #1: State filing fees (one-time)
| State | Filing fee | Annual state cost | Non-resident verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $50 | $0 — no annual report, ever | Cheapest lifetime cost |
| Wyoming | $100 | $60/year minimum | Best asset protection |
| Delaware | $110 | $300/year franchise tax | Overpriced unless raising VC money |
| Florida | $125 | $138.75/year | No privacy — members are public |
| California | $70 | $800/year franchise tax | Avoid unless you operate there |
The state fee is the honest part of every quote — it’s public and identical for everyone. The pattern to notice is the recurring column: Delaware costs $300 every year you exist, while New Mexico never bills you again. Our New Mexico vs Wyoming comparison covers how to choose.
Cost #2: Registered agent ($100–$300/year)
Every state requires a registered agent with a physical in-state address to receive legal documents. As a non-resident you can’t be your own agent, so this is a mandatory recurring cost — typically $100–$300 per year from standalone providers. Formation packages (including ours) bundle the first year, which is why comparing “formation price” alone is misleading: the real comparison is year-two-and-beyond cost.
Cost #3: EIN — free from the IRS, but your time isn’t
The IRS charges nothing for an EIN. Anyone quoting a mandatory “government EIN fee” is inventing one. What you’re actually paying a service for is handling the non-resident process — without an SSN you can’t use the IRS online tool, so the application goes by fax or phone and takes days to weeks. Doing it yourself is completely possible (our EIN-without-SSN guide shows how); paying someone saves you the waiting-on-hold-with-the-IRS part.
Cost #4: The non-resident extras
These are the line items US-resident guides skip — the ones that actually define the US LLC cost for non-residents:
- US business address / mail handling: $0–$150/year. Some banks and platforms want a US mailing address beyond the registered agent’s.
- US phone number: around $99/year for a dedicated business line that receives SMS verification codes abroad — see our US phone number guide.
- US business bank account: $0. Mercury, Wise, and Relay have no monthly fees — our comparison ranks them.
- Annual Form 5472 filing: $0 if you file yourself; typically $250–$500/year with a professional. This IRS information return is mandatory for every foreign-owned single-member LLC and skipping it costs $25,000 in penalties — never cut this corner.
- Payment processing: not a setup cost, but budget Stripe’s 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction into your margins.
Realistic first-year budgets
| Setup | Year 1 | Year 2+ |
|---|---|---|
| Lean DIY (New Mexico) — file yourself, own EIN, free bank | ~$200 | ~$100–150 (agent only) |
| Typical service formation (New Mexico) — formation + EIN + agent bundled, professional 5472 | ~$400–700 | ~$400–500 |
| Wyoming with full stack — formation, EIN, agent, phone number, professional 5472 | ~$550–850 | ~$500–650 |
Anything dramatically above these ranges is markup, not necessity. Anything dramatically below is missing something you’ll pay for later.
Where “cheap” LLCs get expensive
- The $0-formation trick. “Free” formations monetize you with a marked-up registered agent renewal (often $299+/year) from year two. Check the renewal price before the formation price.
- The wrong state. A Delaware LLC costs a non-resident e-commerce seller $300/year in franchise tax for prestige that changes nothing about banking, Stripe, or taxes.
- Skipping Form 5472. Saving ~$300 on filing risks a $25,000 automatic penalty. Worst trade in this business.
- Paying for an ITIN you don’t need. Most non-resident LLC owners need only an EIN. Be suspicious of packages that bundle ITIN applications by default.
- Dissolving and reforming. Letting an LLC lapse and starting over costs more than maintaining it — New Mexico’s $0 maintenance makes “parking” an LLC essentially free.
How LLC Station prices it
Our packages bundle the state fee, registered agent, operating agreement, EIN handling, and dashboard compliance reminders into one flat price — with regional pricing for founders in emerging markets, because a fair price in Berlin isn’t a fair price in Algiers or Karachi. Current prices for your country are always on our order page, and there are no surprise renewals: you see the year-two cost before you pay for year one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a US LLC cost for non-residents in total?
Budget $200–$700 for year one depending on state and how much you outsource, and $100–$500/year ongoing. New Mexico is the cheapest to maintain ($0 state fees); Wyoming adds $60/year.
Is it cheaper to form the LLC myself?
Yes — a DIY New Mexico formation is about $200 all-in. You’ll trade time for it: state portal, SS-4 fax to the IRS, agent shopping, and compliance tracking. Services earn their fee by compressing weeks of that into one checkout. Our formation guide shows every step either way.
Are there hidden taxes on foreign-owned LLCs?
No annual federal tax just for existing. If you have no US operations, you likely owe $0 US income tax — but the Form 5472 information return is still mandatory. Full tax explanation here.
What’s the single most expensive mistake?
Missing Form 5472 ($25,000), followed by picking a high-fee state you never needed. Both are avoidable with ten minutes of reading.
Know your number, then start
The real US LLC cost for non-residents is modest and predictable once you see all the line items — a few hundred dollars a year for a US business identity, US banking, and US payment processing. Check your country’s exact price and start your formation in about ten minutes.
See your price and start your US LLC →
Questions about pricing? Reach us via live chat or WhatsApp — we respond within minutes, not days.