The Borderless Founder field guide
48 deeply researched guides for founders forming, banking and staying compliant across the US and UK.
FormationFounders deciding how to get, open or set up a US LLC
Learn how to start an LLC from state selection and name search through filing, EIN, banking, taxes and annual compliance—with direct links to official sources.
High-intent question library
Designed for fast retrieval by people and answer engines: one question, one direct answer, clear exceptions and dated evidence.
Non-US founders who own a US LLC with another person
A foreign-owned multi-member LLC is usually taxed as a partnership. When Forms 1065, 8804, 8805 and 8813 apply, and how partner withholding works.
Non-US founders selling through Amazon FBA in the United States
Amazon collects marketplace sales tax, but FBA inventory and US trade or business still matter. How federal income tax, sales tax and LLC compliance differ.
LLC owners operating in a state other than the formation state
An LLC operating outside its formation state may need a Certificate of Authority and a second registered agent. The triggers, the exceptions and the real cost.
Founders asked by a bank, investor or another state for company status proof
A certificate of good standing proves an LLC is active on the state registry. Its other names, when you need one, how to order it and how to fix a rejection.
Non-US founders whose US LLC or corporation was rejected by a bank or fintech
A recovery guide for foreign founders whose Mercury, Relay, Wise, Payoneer or US business bank application was rejected, paused or closed.
Non-US founders whose US LLC or corporation is waiting on an EIN
A recovery checklist for non-US founders waiting on an EIN: fax follow-up, duplicate applications, name mismatches, lost CP 575 letters and bank launch delays.
Non-US founders using a US LLC for Stripe, Shopify Payments or card processing
A practical recovery guide for non-resident founders whose Stripe, Shopify Payments or card-processing application was rejected, paused or put under review.
Non-US founders choosing a US business bank account or payment receiving stack
Compare Mercury, Wise Business, Payoneer, Relay and Brex for non-US founders by eligibility, use case, fees, US-account fit and fallback strategy.
Non-US founders comparing doola against other US company formation and compliance routes
Compare doola alternatives for non-US founders: Firstbase, Stripe Atlas, direct state filing, registered-agent-only setups and CPA-first compliance workflows.
Non-US founders comparing Firstbase against other US company formation routes
Compare Firstbase alternatives for non-US founders: doola, Stripe Atlas, direct state filing, registered-agent-only setups and tax-first workflows.
Non-US founders comparing US LLC formation providers
Compare Firstbase, doola and other US LLC formation paths for international founders by total cost, EIN help, addresses, banking and recurring compliance.
Single-member, multi-member and foreign-owned LLC owners
Learn how to move money from an LLC to its owners, how tax classification changes the answer, and how to document draws, distributions and payroll.
LLC owners changing a business, mailing, registered-agent or operating address
Moving an LLC involves more than one address. Use this checklist to update the state record, IRS, registered agent, bank, payment providers, licenses and customers.
US and international LLC owners preparing tax filings
A practical LLC tax-filing map for single-member, multi-member, S-corporation and foreign-owned LLCs, including records, deadlines and common mistakes.
New and international founders checking permits and registrations
An LLC certificate is not a business license. Learn how to find federal, state, county, city and industry permits for a US company.
LLC owners rebranding or correcting a legal company name
Change an LLC name cleanly by checking availability, filing the state amendment, updating the IRS, banks, contracts, licenses, domains and tax records.
Owners closing a California domestic or registered foreign LLC
Close a California LLC in the right order: wind up, file the final California return, handle the $800 tax rules and submit the correct SOS cancellation forms.
Owners closing a Texas domestic LLC
Close a Texas LLC by winding up, clearing the Comptroller account, obtaining the required certificate of account status and filing the Certificate of Termination.
Owners closing a Florida domestic LLC
Close a Florida LLC through Sunbiz by winding up, filing Articles of Dissolution, handling the $25 state filing and completing tax and account closures.
Anyone forming a New York LLC
New York requires every new LLC to publish notice in two newspapers for six weeks. Manhattan commonly runs $1,000-$2,000. How to comply and cut the cost.
California LLC owners
Every California LLC owes an $800 minimum annual franchise tax, plus a gross-receipts fee above $250,000. Here is when it is due and why dormant LLCs still owe it.
LLC owners opening an account
An LLC bank account needs your formation documents, EIN letter, operating agreement and owner ID. The full checklist, and what trips applications up.
LLC owners seeking finance
LLC business loans almost always require a personal guarantee, and non-resident owners rarely qualify at all. Here is what is realistic and what the alternatives are.
Founders with co-owners
An LLC with two or more owners is taxed as a partnership by default, files Form 1065, and needs an operating agreement covering deadlock, exits and buyouts.
Owners with multiple assets or businesses
A holding LLC owns other LLCs that each hold assets or run a business, isolating risk between them. Here is when the structure is worth its cost and when it is not.
LLC owners choosing a structure
In a member-managed LLC the owners run the company. In a manager-managed LLC they appoint managers to run it. Here is which to pick and what titles to use.
LLC owners drafting documents
An operating agreement sets out who owns an LLC, who decides what, and what happens if an owner leaves. Here is what to include and why banks ask for it.
LLC owners and payers
Whether an LLC receives a Form 1099-NEC depends on how it is taxed. Single-member and partnership LLCs generally do; LLCs taxed as corporations generally do not.
Sole traders and small businesses
A DBA is just a registered trading name with no legal protection. An LLC is a separate legal entity that shields your personal assets. Here is when you need each.
LLC owners choosing tax treatment
An LLC has no tax class of its own. It is taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership, S corporation or C corporation - here is how each works and which form is filed.
Anyone new to US business structures
LLC stands for limited liability company - a US business structure that separates your personal assets from the company's debts. Here is what that means in practice.
Anyone checking a US company or name
Search any US LLC through the Secretary of State in the state that formed it. Here is how entity lookup works, what it tells you, and how to check name availability.
Founders deciding whether to form
The real advantages and disadvantages of an LLC: liability protection and tax flexibility against recurring cost, self-employment tax and investor friction.
LLC owners planning tax
The genuine tax advantages of an LLC - pass-through treatment, the QBI deduction and deductible business expenses - and the claimed benefits that do not exist.
Owners closing a company
Dissolving an LLC properly means member approval, settling debts, filing articles of dissolution with the state, final tax returns and closing the EIN. Here is the order.
Owners of dormant and unused LLCs
You formed an LLC and never traded. Here is how to close it properly, why you cannot simply stop paying, and the federal filings a dormant foreign-owned LLC still owes.
Non-resident founders and freelancers
W-9 is for US persons, W-8BEN for foreign individuals and W-8BEN-E for foreign entities. Here is which form you file, and the foreign-owned LLC trap that confuses platforms.
Non-US founders
Yes, most non-US residents can own a US LLC. Learn what formation does, what it does not do, and the seven checks to complete before filing.
Remote and global founders
Compare Wyoming and Delaware LLC costs, investor fit, annual requirements and foreign-qualification risk before choosing a state.
International EIN applicants
International founders can obtain an EIN without using the IRS online application. Follow the current SS-4 phone, fax or mail process.
Foreign owners of US LLCs
Understand why a foreign-owned disregarded LLC may need Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 even when it owes no US income tax.
US and foreign entity owners
US-created entities are currently exempt from FinCEN BOI reporting, while some foreign entities registered in the US remain reporting companies.
International founders seeking US banking
Formation does not guarantee banking. Learn the documents, address evidence and eligibility checks non-resident founders need before applying.
Cost-conscious global founders
Budget beyond the state filing fee. See the formation, annual report, registered agent, address, tax, bookkeeping and closure costs that matter.
Remote founders
These three addresses serve different purposes. Learn which address belongs on state filings, IRS records, banking applications and customer materials.
Founders choosing a jurisdiction
Compare a US LLC and UK private limited company by customer market, tax classification, banking, investor fit and annual compliance.
Non-UK founders
A current non-resident guide to Companies House identity verification, registered office, PSC details, Corporation Tax and annual filings.
Our editorial standard
Each guide starts with a real founder decision, answers it in the first paragraph, separates general rules from exceptions and links to the authority used.
Tax and legal content is educational and cannot replace advice based on your residence, ownership, contracts and operations.
Editorial floor: 1,200 words · Library reviewed 2026-07-21. Material rules are rechecked before each update.