Question 1

Who is this service for exactly?

Accepted Answer

Founders outside the U.S. who need a real U.S. business — e-commerce sellers on Shopify, Amazon or via dropshipping, agencies invoicing international clients, and freelancers who want a proper company instead of trading as an individual. If you don't have U.S. residency but need a U.S. LLC, an EIN, and real U.S. banking and payment gateways, this is built for you.

Question 2

Which countries do you work with?

Accepted Answer

Founders worldwide, subject to identity verification and U.S. compliance rules. A small number of sanctioned jurisdictions are excluded — message us with your country before you order and we will confirm in a few minutes.

Question 3

Do I need a U.S. visa, residency or a green card?

Accepted Answer

No. Forming a U.S. LLC needs none of those, and no Social Security Number either. The reverse is worth knowing too: owning a U.S. company does not give you any immigration status and does not grant you the right to live or work in the United States.

Question 4

Can I use the company for Shopify, Amazon or dropshipping?

Accepted Answer

Yes — that is what most of our clients form one for. A U.S. LLC with an EIN and a U.S. business account is exactly what Shopify Payments, Stripe and Amazon Seller Central ask for. You still have to meet each platform's own rules and pass its verification.

Question 5

Can I set the company up with a partner?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A multi-member LLC costs the same, and the Operating Agreement we prepare covers both single and multi-member ownership. Every owner goes through identity verification, so have each partner's passport and proof of address ready.

Question 6

How long does the whole process take?

Accepted Answer

Formation is filed within 1–2 business days and completes in about 4–5 business days. Your EIN takes roughly a week on Fast-Track, or 4–6 weeks on standard processing. Bank and gateway setup starts as soon as the EIN is issued.

Question 7

What do I need to provide?

Accepted Answer

A clear passport scan, proof of residential address (a recent bank statement or utility bill), and an active phone number and email. That is it — no notarised documents, no apostille, nothing sent by post.

Question 8

I don't have proof of address in English — what do I do?

Accepted Answer

Don't worry about it. If you don't have an English-language proof of address, we prepare one for you at no extra cost when you order any of our packages.

Question 9

Do I have to travel to the United States?

Accepted Answer

No. The whole process is remote. You never need to visit the U.S. or walk into a bank branch.

Question 10

Do I need an SSN or an ITIN?

Accepted Answer

Not to form the company or to get the EIN — we obtain the EIN for a non-resident owner who has neither. You may need an ITIN later for certain personal tax filings, or if a specific platform asks for one. It is not part of this package.

Question 11

How do I move money from the U.S. account to my own country?

Accepted Answer

Your U.S. business account supports international wire transfers, and most founders either wire funds to their account at home or route them through a multi-currency service. What is available depends on the bank you are approved with and on the rules in your own country, so check what your local bank accepts before you rely on one particular route.

Question 12

What if the bank or the payment gateway declines my application?

Accepted Answer

We prepare and submit everything correctly and our approval rate is very high. That said, the final decision always rests with the bank or the payment provider. If an application is declined, we re-apply or apply to an alternative provider at no extra service fee — and your company, your EIN and your documents are yours either way.

Question 13

What if Stripe suspends my account after everything is set up?

Accepted Answer

If an active account gets suspended or flagged for review, we help you respond with your official company documents — Certificate of Formation, EIN, and U.S. bank statements — to support an appeal or a fresh application. If the suspension holds, we apply to an alternative payment provider on your behalf at no extra service fee.

Question 14

How do you reduce the risk of Stripe rejecting me in the first place?

Accepted Answer

Most rejections come from mismatched details — a business name, address, or contact information that doesn't match across your Certificate of Formation, EIN, bank account and gateway application. We prepare every document so these details line up exactly before you apply, since that mismatch is the single biggest factor platforms flag during verification.

Question 15

How do I pay, and will my card work internationally?

Accepted Answer

Checkout accepts major international cards (Visa, Mastercard), charged in USD. If your bank blocks international or USD charges by default, ask them to enable it for one transaction, or use a card that already supports international payments — if your first attempt is declined, message us and we will suggest an alternative way to pay.

Question 16

What will I pay after the first year?

Accepted Answer

One thing: the registered agent, which renews at $99/year. New Mexico charges no annual report fee and no franchise tax, so there is no state renewal on top. Anything else — bookkeeping, an extra gateway, a second company — is optional and only if you ask for it.

Question 17

As a non-resident, what are my U.S. tax obligations?

Accepted Answer

A U.S. LLC with no U.S. presence or staff is generally a pass-through entity — profit is taxed in your country of residence, not as U.S. federal corporate income. You still file IRS information returns each year (typically Form 5472 with a pro-forma 1120). This is general information, not tax advice — confirm your own situation with a qualified professional.

Question 18

What happens if I miss the annual IRS filing?

Accepted Answer

A foreign-owned single-member LLC must file Form 5472 every year even with zero income and zero activity, and the penalty for missing it starts at $25,000. It is not something to leave to chance. Your dashboard shows the deadline, and annual compliance filing is available as a service whenever you want us to handle it.

Question 19

Where are my documents after formation?

Accepted Answer

Everything lives in your Bawwaba dashboard: Certificate of Formation, EIN confirmation, Operating Agreement, your U.S. address details and your bank and gateway information. Each document appears the moment it is issued and can be downloaded any time.

Question 20

Can I close the company later if I change my mind?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An LLC can be formally dissolved with the State of New Mexico, and it is worth doing properly rather than just walking away — a company you stop paying attention to still carries its federal filing obligations. Tell us and we will walk you through the steps.

Question 21

Is Bawwaba a law or accounting firm?

Accepted Answer

No. We are a business formation and compliance agency. We file with the state, obtain your EIN, and handle your banking and payment gateway applications. We do not provide legal, tax, or investment advice.

Category	U.S. LLC (Bawwaba)	UK LTD
Corporate tax on profit	Pass-through*	~25% (UK)
Where profit is taxed	Your home country*	United Kingdom
Accounting & annual filing	~$300 / yr	~$1,500 / yr
State / registrar fees	$0	~$100 / yr
Net take-home	$49,700	~$37,000

	U.S. LLC (New Mexico)Better fit	U.K. Ltd
Ownership privacy	Private	Public record
Banking & payment setup for non-residents	Built-in	Hard to get remotely
Profit taxation	Pass-through*	~25% + dividend tax
Annual upkeep	None in New Mexico	Filings due every year

	New MexicoBest	Wyoming	Delaware
Annual state fee	$0	$60+	$300+
Owner names public	No	Sometimes	Varies
Annual report required	None	Yes	Yes
E-commerce acceptance	High	High	High

Your gateway to a U.S. company, U.S. banking, and global payments

The exact problems Shopify and dropshipping sellers run into

The smart structure for international founders

Global credibility

Pass-through taxation

Form once, keep it

Days, not months

Scenario: $50,000 annual profit

Why a U.S. company, not a U.K. one

The state that works in your favor

Enhanced privacy

Zero annual state fees

Built for e-commerce

Three steps. Mostly done for you.

Apply & pay securely

Verify your identity

Receive your company

Your Bawwaba dashboard keeps everything in one place

Live progress tracking

Your document vault

Everything that comes next

One package. Everything you need to launch.

Gateway Package

Optional add-on

Straight answers to the real questions

Know another founder? You both win.

Ready to open your U.S. company?