How to form a U.S. LLC from China
Last verified: 4 min read
You can form a US LLC from China entirely online, without a visa, an SSN or a trip to the U.S. Founders and cross-border sellers in China use it to sell to American customers, sign with U.S. partners and hold U.S. payment accounts. With EXNNA you form it in New Mexico (NM), a U.S. state, in about two minutes, for $200 with State fees included, and no ID documents are needed.
Why form a US LLC from China?
Because U.S. customers, platforms and partners are used to dealing with U.S. companies.
- Cross-border ecommerce. A U.S. company can hold your store, marketplace and payment accounts. See the LLC for dropshipping and the LLC for ecommerce sellers.
- Software and SaaS. Sell subscriptions to U.S. clients with U.S. invoices and contracts.
- Contracts in dollars. Partners sign with a U.S. company and pay U.S. invoices.
Where and how you pay tax depends on where you live and what the LLC does, not on the State where you form it.
What do you need to form a US LLC from China?
Very little:
| What | Notes |
|---|---|
| A company name in Latin letters | Ending in LLC; two backups in case it's taken |
| Number of members | Member details are optional |
| An email | Everything else happens in your dashboard |
| A card | U.S. dollars or your local currency, where available |
No passport upload, no visa and no U.S. address of your own. The company's official address is our registered agent's address in New Mexico, included for 12 months. Pick the name with our LLC name search guide.
Is the order in English?
Yes. The order, the service agreement and the dashboard are in English, and the documents the State issues are in English too: the Articles of Organization, the filing that creates the company, and the Operating Agreement, which sets out who owns and runs it, in PDF and editable DOCX.
How do you get paid once the LLC exists?
Two steps:
- EIN. The company's tax ID with the IRS, which banks and payment providers ask for. You can get it without an SSN: see how to get an EIN without an SSN. EXNNA applies for $50 with your formation.
- Accounts. Banks and payment providers publish which countries they serve and run their own checks. Read getting a Stripe account as a non-resident and a U.S. bank account for a non-resident LLC. Each one decides.
Does a US LLC from China keep your name private?
No. New Mexico's Articles don't have to list owners or managers. EXNNA signs as organizer and our registered agent appears on the record, so your name isn't on any State filing.
How does it compare with forming from Japan?
The steps are the same from any country. Founders in Japan follow the same order, with the same price: see forming a US LLC from Japan. The general path for anyone abroad is in U.S. LLC for non-residents.
What does it cost each year?
A New Mexico LLC files no annual report and pays no annual State fee. It only needs a registered agent: included for 12 months, then $99 a year, only if you renew. See our pricing or start your order.
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FAQ
- Can I form a US LLC from China without visiting the U.S.?
- Yes. The order is online, takes about two minutes, and needs no visa, no SSN and no ID documents. The State usually approves in 1–3 business days.
- Can the company name be in Chinese characters?
- No. The name is filed in Latin letters, with numbers and a few punctuation marks allowed, and must end in LLC or another accepted ending. Your brand can still use Chinese.
- How do I pay from China?
- By card, online, in U.S. dollars or in your local currency where available.
- Will my name appear on the U.S. public record?
- No. New Mexico's Articles of Organization don't list owners. EXNNA signs as organizer and our registered agent appears on the record.
General information, not legal or tax advice.