New Mexico
Processing: 10–12 business days
$225
- Annual state fee
- None
- Agent renewal
- $100/yr
Dropshipping
Start a dropshipping business with a US LLC
Get Stripe and Shopify Payments access, sell to US customers with credibility, and understand sales tax before it becomes a problem — all from outside the US.
Why a US LLC
Why dropshippers form a US LLC
Stripe & Shopify Payments access
A US LLC + EIN unlocks Stripe, Shopify Payments, and most processors that reject many home-country sellers.
Sell with credibility
A US company and US bank details build trust with customers, suppliers, and platforms like Shopify.
Limited liability
Your personal assets are separated from the business — important once you process real order volume.
Clean banking
Pair your LLC with a US business banking path to receive payouts and pay suppliers.
Payments
Get paid like a US business
The hardest part of dropshipping from outside the US is usually payment processing. A US LLC with an EIN is what most processors want to see.
- Stripe and Shopify Payments accounts under a US entity
- Accept US cards with lower friction and fewer holds
- Connect to Shopify, WooCommerce, and other stores
- A US banking path to receive payouts and pay suppliers
Sales tax
The sales-tax reality for dropshipping
This is where most new store owners get it wrong. Sales tax in the US is not about where you form your company — it is about where your customers are.
Nexus depends on your customers
You owe sales tax in a state once you cross its economic-nexus threshold (commonly about $100,000 in sales). Forming in a “no-tax” state does not exempt you. Register for a permit and collect tax in each state where you have nexus.
Federal filing is separate
Independently of sales tax, every foreign-owned US LLC must file Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120 each year. Missing it risks a $25,000 penalty.
- No US sales tax on most services sold to clients abroad.
- Federal information return (Form 5472 + pro forma 1120) still required.
- Tax only on US-effectively-connected income (usually none for remote work).
Sales tax
Most states do not tax professional or remote services, so sales tax rarely applies.
Form 5472 + 1120
The simplest case — typically no federal tax due, but the annual filing is mandatory.
The #1 misconception
Sales tax depends on where your customers are, not the state you form in. Forming in a “no-tax” state like Wyoming does NOT exempt you from collecting sales tax in states where you have nexus. Your federal filing (Form 5472 + pro forma 1120) is unchanged either way.
How it works
From zero to a ready-to-sell store
1
Form your US LLC
Pick a state, and we handle the filing, registered agent, and operating agreement.
2
Get your EIN
We obtain the EIN your payment processors and bank will ask for.
3
Open payments & banking
Set up Stripe/Shopify Payments and a US business banking path under your new entity.
4
Launch & stay compliant
Connect your store, give suppliers a resale certificate, and track sales-tax nexus as you grow.
Pricing
What it costs by state
One clear all-in price per state — including our service, the registered agent (year 1), and the state filing fee.
Wyoming
Processing: 3–5 business days
$260
- Annual state fee
- $60/yr
- Agent renewal
- $100/yr
Delaware
Processing: 10–12 business days
$300
- Annual state fee
- $300/yr
- Agent renewal
- $100/yr
Florida
Processing: 10–12 business days
$320
- Annual state fee
- $139/yr
- Agent renewal
- $100/yr
California
Processing: 10–12 business days
$330
- Annual state fee
- $800/yr
- Agent renewal
- $100/yr
Prices are in USD and include our service, the registered agent (year 1), and the state filing fee. Annual state fees are paid to the state after year one. Switch currency from the pricing card above.
Dropshipping & US LLC questions
Do I need a US LLC to start dropshipping?
Not legally, but it is the practical path to Stripe/Shopify Payments and US banking. Many processors reject individual sellers in certain countries, and a US LLC with an EIN solves that.
Which state is best for a dropshipping LLC?
Wyoming is the popular all-round default (privacy, low annual fee, fast filing). New Mexico is the cheapest with no annual state fee. The state does not change your federal tax or your sales-tax obligations.
Do I have to collect US sales tax?
Only in states where you have nexus — usually once you pass about $100,000 in sales to that state. Below the threshold you generally do not collect there. Track your sales per state.
What is a resale certificate?
It lets you buy inventory from suppliers without paying sales tax on the wholesale purchase, because the tax is collected later from the end customer. Give it to your supplier and keep a copy on file.
Will I pay US federal income tax on my store?
A foreign-owned LLC is taxed only on US-effectively-connected income. Selling physical goods into the US can create such income, so work with a US accountant. The Form 5472 + 1120 filing is required either way.
Can I run the LLC from outside the US?
Yes. You do not need to live in or visit the US to own and operate a US LLC for your dropshipping business.
Important note: This content is for education and general information only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Tax outcomes depend on your specific facts. Speak with a qualified accountant or tax adviser before making decisions.
The doorway is open
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Start now and get your registered company within days. We stay with you through every step.