Essential
Your company, its tax number and a U.S. address.
$128 plus state fee
- Company registered with the state
- Tax number (EIN) from the IRS
- U.S. address and registered agent, 12 months
- Help choosing a bank
Form a U.S. LLC from Germany
Open a U.S. company for American clients and marketplaces, formed remotely from Berlin, Munich, Hamburg or anywhere in Germany.
Why founders in Germany form a U.S. company
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Expand into the U.S. market
Founders and established businesses use a U.S. company to sell and contract in the United States.
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Sell to American customers
E-commerce brands use a U.S. company for Amazon.com, Shopify and U.S. payment platforms.
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Work with U.S. partners
Sign with American clients, suppliers and platforms as a U.S. company.
From Berlin to the United States, without leaving home
We register your company in the U.S. state that suits your business, such as Wyoming, Delaware, Florida or New York, and explain the differences in plain words before we file.
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Day 1
Tell us about your business
A short call or WhatsApp chat. We take calls from 9:00 to 18:00 Gulf time, which is 6:00 to 15:00 in Berlin in winter and 7:00 to 16:00 in summer.
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Days 1 to 7
We register your company
We check your company name is free and register it with the state, which issues your Articles of Organization. Your U.S. address starts the same day.
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Weeks 2 to 6
We get its tax number
The IRS gives your company its tax number, the EIN. Owners without a U.S. Social Security number have to apply by fax or post, so we do it for you.
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Weeks 4 to 8
You start getting paid
We open your bank and payment accounts with you on the Enhance and Elite plans.
What you’ll need from Germany
Very little. We prepare every U.S. form ourselves and tell you exactly what to send.
- Your passport or Personalausweis
- Proof of your home address from the last three months, such as a utility bill or bank statement
- A short description of what your company will do
- If a German company will own the LLC, its Handelsregister extract
We check every document before we file, so nothing is rejected for a missing detail.
Getting paid from Germany
Here is how one $100 card sale reaches your bank in Germany. Which payment platforms accept founders depends on where you live, and it changes, so we check each one for founders in Germany before you pay and set up the ones that will work.
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A customer pays
$100.00
A shopper buys from your online store, or a client pays your invoice by card.
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The platform takes its fee
−$3.20
Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ for a U.S. card. PayPal, Amazon and the others set their own fees.
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It lands in your company’s account
$96.80
Paid out in dollars to your company’s U.S. bank, Wise or Payoneer account, usually within a few days.
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You send it home
EUR
Move it to your own bank account in Germany, in euros, whenever you like. You see the exchange rate and fee before you send.
Payoneer
Receive payments from marketplaces and clients in dollars.
Set up on Enhance and Elite
Stripe
Accept card payments on your website or store.
Set up on Enhance and Elite
Wise
Hold dollars and move money home at a fair exchange rate.
Set up on Elite
PayPal
Get paid by customers and clients who prefer PayPal.
Guidance on Elite
Fees and payout times are set by each platform and can change.
Plans for founders in Germany
The same plans and prices wherever you live. One Fintax fee, paid once, plus the state’s registration fee at cost.
Enhance
Every paper a bank asks for, and a way to get paid.
$280 plus state fee
- Everything in Essential
- Operating Agreement and the other papers banks ask for
- Payoneer or Stripe set up with you
- Printed and digital copies of every document
Elite
A store ready to sell, and our help after.
$400 plus state fee
- Everything in Enhance
- Amazon seller account and Wise set up
- U.S. phone number for 1 month
- Business and tax advice whenever you need it
Questions from founders in Germany
If yours isn’t here, ask us on WhatsApp. A person replies, usually the same day.
Can I form a U.S. LLC while living in Germany?
Yes. U.S. states don’t require LLC owners to be citizens or residents, so founders in Germany can own a U.S. LLC outright. Every plan includes the registered agent and U.S. address the state requires.
Do I need to travel or visit the U.S. embassy?
No. Forming the company and getting the EIN are done remotely. You don’t need to visit the U.S. embassy in Berlin. Some banks and payment platforms run their own identity checks, which may mean a video call.
Which state do founders from Germany usually choose?
Most choose Wyoming or New Mexico for low yearly costs, or Delaware if they plan to raise investment. We recommend one based on your customers and what the company will cost to keep each year.
How do I pay Fintax from Germany?
Once we’ve agreed your state, plan and total, we send a secure payment link you can pay by card. Bank transfer is also possible; ask us for details.
Does a U.S. company change my taxes in Germany?
It can. A U.S. LLC has U.S. filing duties, and your home country may also tax what it earns. We handle the U.S. side, and we recommend speaking to a tax adviser in Germany about yours.
Start your U.S. company from Germany
Tell us about your business and we’ll reply within one business day.