Why Incorporate in the US?

For many international founders and remote entrepreneurs, establishing a US entity (LLC or C-Corp) is often a necessary step, not just a formality. It usually unlocks:

  • Payment Gateways: Access to Stripe, PayPal, and other processors that might be restricted in your home country.
  • Banking: The ability to open a US business bank account (like Mercury or Brex).
  • Client Trust: In B2B relationships, a US entity often simplifies compliance and billing for your clients.
  • Investment: If you plan to raise venture capital, a Delaware C-Corp is the industry standard.

How Firstbase Helps

I use Firstbase.io to run the US side of Datolab, my digital agency, because they automate the bureaucratic friction of this process. Instead of navigating state filings, IRS forms for an EIN, and registered agent services individually, they bundle it into a single dashboard.

They essentially handle:

  1. Formation: Filing the Articles of Organization/Incorporation in Wyoming or Delaware.
  2. EIN: Obtaining the Employer Identification Number from the IRS (critical for banking).
  3. Compliance: Providing the mandatory Registered Agent address in the state of incorporation.

It’s not that you can’t do these things yourself, but Firstbase commoditizes the legal operational overhead so you can focus on the product. They’re also SOC 2 Type II compliant, which matters when you’re handing over passports, tax IDs, and banking details.

The Ecosystem

Beyond just formation (“Start”), they’ve unbundled their services so you can pick what you actually need:

  • Start: The core formation package (LLC/C-Corp + EIN).
  • Agent: Mandatory compliance handling (Registered Agent services).
  • Mailroom: A physical US address to digitize your business mail (essential if you don’t have a US office).
  • Accounting: Bookkeeping services specialized for foreign-owned US entities.
  • Sales Tax: Help with sales tax obligations once you start selling into US states.

Founder Discount

If you decide Firstbase is the right path for your setup, you can use my referral link below to lower your initial setup costs. Consider it a small “founder-to-founder” perk.

You will save 10% on your first purchase of $100 or more (which covers almost all of their core formation and compliance packages).

Get 10% off Firstbase Setup

Disclosure: this is a referral link. When you make a purchase through it, Firstbase gives Datolab account credits ($100 for most purchases, $500 for Sales Tax). It doesn’t change your price beyond the 10% discount, and I only recommend it because it’s what I use.

Note: Proceed with the structure that makes sense for your specific tax situation. While tools like Firstbase simplify the execution, always confirm your tax liabilities in your home country regarding foreign-controlled corporations (CFC).