A U.S. LLC for ecommerce sellers based abroad
Last verified: 4 min read
Yes, you can form a U.S. LLC to sell online from anywhere. A U.S. LLC for ecommerce sellers is a U.S. company that signs contracts, issues invoices and holds its own business and merchant accounts. With EXNNA you form it in New Mexico (NM), a U.S. state, in about two minutes, for $200 with State fees included.
What does a U.S. LLC do for an ecommerce seller?
It puts a U.S. company between you and your business:
- Contracts. Suppliers, platforms and partners sign with the company, not with you.
- Invoicing. Clients get invoices from a U.S. company.
- Accounts. The LLC is the holder of its bank, payment and marketplace accounts.
- Limited liability. The company's obligations stay with the company, within the limits of the law.
Where and how you pay tax depends on where you live and what the LLC sells, not on the State where you form it.
Who can form an LLC for ecommerce sellers?
Anyone, from anywhere, with or without a passport, except people in the small number of countries under U.S. sanctions. You don't need a visa or an SSN, and no ID documents are needed. The full path is in U.S. LLC for non-residents.
What do marketplaces and payment providers ask for?
| Document | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | Filed with the State, in your dashboard |
| Operating Agreement | From EXNNA, in PDF and editable DOCX |
| EIN | From the IRS; we can apply for you |
| Owners' identity | You, to the provider |
Each platform and processor runs its own checks and makes its own call. The bank side is covered in opening a U.S. bank account for a non-resident LLC.
Do you need an EIN to sell online?
To get paid, yes. The EIN is your LLC's tax ID with the IRS, and banks and payment providers ask for it. You can get one without an SSN: see how to get an EIN without an SSN. With EXNNA it's $50 with your formation, and your LLC documents never wait for it.
Does the LLC give you a U.S. address?
Yes, for official mail. The registered agent's New Mexico address comes with your LLC, included for the first 12 months, and basic mail is 3 letters a year, scanned to your dashboard. More in what a registered agent does.
The public record shows EXNNA and our agent, not you: New Mexico's Articles don't have to list the owners.
How do you form it?
- Enter a company name, two backups, the number of members and an email.
- Sign the service agreement online.
- Pay the total in U.S. dollars or in your local currency, where available, by card, online.
- Follow each step in your dashboard. The State usually approves in 1–3 business days.
Your Articles and Operating Agreement are ready to download the moment the LLC is formed.
What does the LLC need after that?
Very little. A New Mexico LLC files no annual report and pays no annual State fee; it only has to keep a registered agent. Ours renews at $99 a year after the first 12 months, only if you renew. See what an LLC really costs, every option on our pricing, or form your LLC online now.
Start
FAQ
- Can I form a U.S. LLC for ecommerce from outside the U.S.?
- Yes. You don't need to live in the U.S., hold a visa or have a Social Security Number. The order is online and takes about two minutes.
- Do I need an EIN to sell through a U.S. LLC?
- You'll want one: the EIN is what lets the LLC open a bank account and receive payments. EIN assistance costs $50 with your formation.
- What do payment providers and marketplaces ask for?
- Usually the Articles of Organization, the Operating Agreement, the EIN and the owners' identity. Each one runs its own checks and decides.
- Does the LLC give me a U.S. address?
- Yes, through the registered agent: a U.S. address for official mail, included for 12 months, with 3 letters a year scanned to your dashboard.
General information, not legal or tax advice.