Launch your company in the U.S., built for international founders.
Delaware C-Corp formation, EIN, U.S. banking, tax compliance, Stripe setup, and cap table structuring — purpose-built for foreign nationals and Latin American companies raising from U.S. VCs or selling into U.S. customers. Bilingual, end-to-end, with the playbook for the exact things that block non-U.S. founders.
The U.S. system doesn’t hate foreign founders. It just wasn’t designed for them.
You’ve built something real outside the U.S. and now you need American infrastructure. Maybe a U.S. VC committed to lead your round and asked for a Delaware C-Corp. Maybe a U.S. enterprise customer wants to sign with a U.S. entity. Maybe you’re finally moving and need a place to land legally and financially.
Every piece has friction for non-residents. EIN applications without an SSN go through an IRS phone process that takes weeks. Bank accounts at Mercury or Brex tightened up in 2025-2026 — same documents that worked in 2023 get rejected now. Visa pathways require coordinated entity work AND legal filings, and most founders try to do them in series instead of parallel. Tax compliance for foreign-owned C-Corps has unique forms (5471, 5472, ECI, BE-13) that most U.S. accountants never see.
We do this setup constantly. The playbook is repeatable: clean documents, the right banking partner for your profile, EIN through the channel that actually works, and accountants who’ve filed Form 5472 more than once. Most importantly, we operate bilingually — every document, every call, every email can run in Spanish or English. No translation lag.
From incorporation to first U.S. payroll.
- Delaware C-Corp formationCertificate of Incorporation, bylaws, organizational consent, stock issuance, equity plan. LLC option available if you’re not raising VC capital.
- EIN applicationFor non-residents without SSN: IRS Form SS-4 processed via the international fax/phone path. Typically 2-4 weeks.
- ITIN applicationFor founders who need a U.S. tax ID for personal reasons (signing leases, opening personal accounts). Coordinated with W-7 attorney.
- Registered agentDelaware registered agent setup, ongoing service for the first year included.
- U.S. bank accountMercury or Brex application, prepped with the exact KYC docs that pass in 2026. In-person bank introductions for Chase/Wells if you’ll be traveling.
- State registrationsForeign qualifications in any state where you’ll have employees or significant operations.
- U.S. tax compliance setupFederal + state tax registrations, accounting partner for ongoing filings, Form 5472 / 5471 / BE-13 reporting cadence.
- Stripe / payment processorStripe Atlas-equivalent setup but without Stripe Atlas (you’ll have more control). Same for Brex, Stripe Issuing, etc.
- Cap table structuringEquity for international shareholders, 83(b) elections if applicable, vesting structures that align with U.S. VC expectations.
- Stock plan setupEquity incentive plan adopted, option pool sized for your fundraising plan, 409A valuation arranged.
- HR + payroll readinessGusto / Rippling setup, employee classification framework, benefits-when-ready setup.
- Immigration attorney intro (if needed)Vetted immigration counsel for E-2, L-1, O-1 founder visas. You contract directly.
Best fit if you have real U.S. business reasons for the structure.
You’re a great fit if…
- You’re a Latin American founder raising from U.S. VCs (or about to).
- You have or are signing a U.S. enterprise customer who needs a U.S. counterparty.
- You’re hiring U.S. employees (engineers, sales, ops) and need a U.S. entity for payroll.
- You’re relocating to the U.S. and need entity + banking + tax structure in place.
- You’re a foreign company launching a U.S. product or division.
You’re probably not a fit if…
- You only need to sell to U.S. customers via Stripe — that might not require a U.S. entity at all.
- You want the cheapest possible incorporation service. Stripe Atlas or Firstbase are $500. We’re not those.
- You’re on a tourist visa exploring whether to move. Come back when there’s a real plan.
- You’re pre-product. The U.S. structure is overhead you don’t need yet.
Four steps over 6-12 weeks.
Discovery call
Your specific situation, visa status, customer/investor pressure, timeline. We sequence the work.
Structure design
C-Corp vs. LLC, equity plan, banking strategy, state choice. Optimized for your fundraising path.
Entity + EIN
Delaware formation (1-2 weeks), EIN (2-4 weeks for non-residents), state registrations as needed.
Banking + compliance
Mercury/Brex or in-person bank account (2-4 weeks). Tax + payroll partners onboarded. 6 months advisory.
Fixed-fee. Includes 6 months of advisory.
Pricing depends on whether you need just the entity-and-banking setup or the full package including visa coordination and ongoing operational support. Every engagement includes 6 months of post-launch advisory so we’re still in the room when you sign your first U.S. customer, hire your first U.S. employee, or file your first 5472.
Standard market entry
Delaware C-Corp, EIN, registered agent, U.S. banking, state registrations, tax compliance setup, Stripe/payment setup, cap table structuring. Best for LATAM founders raising from U.S. VCs.
Full package + visa
Everything above plus immigration attorney coordination (E-2, L-1, O-1), ITIN application, in-person bank intros if traveling, founder relocation logistics. Best for founders actually relocating to the U.S.
Custom scope
Existing foreign entity restructuring, complex equity unwinds, multiple founder/employee visa coordination, foreign subsidiary collapse. Scoped on the discovery call.
U.S. market entry questions, answered.
Do I need to live in the U.S. to set this up?
No. Delaware C-Corp formation works for non-U.S. residents. You need a U.S. registered agent (we set this up), but the founder doesn’t need a U.S. address or U.S. presence to incorporate. EIN takes longer for non-residents (no SSN means using the IRS phone/fax process, which is slower), but it works. Banking is the hardest piece — see the banking FAQ below.
Will this help with my visa application?
Indirectly, yes. A U.S. C-Corp with a real bank account, EIN, and operating history strengthens E-2, L-1, and O-1 visa applications materially. We don’t file visa paperwork ourselves — you’ll need an immigration attorney for that — but our standard setup gives them the documentation they need. For founders who want both setup AND visa coordination, our full-package engagement includes attorney introductions.
How long does U.S. banking actually take?
Mercury and Brex: 2-4 weeks for non-resident founders if all documents are in order. Mercury has gotten stricter in 2025-2026 about KYC for foreign founders — we know the exact document set that works. Traditional banks (Chase, Wells Fargo, BofA): typically require an in-person visit, so 4-8 weeks plus travel. For founders who can’t travel, fintech (Mercury or Brex) is the realistic answer.
Why Delaware? Can it be another state?
Delaware is the default for VC-backed companies because investors expect it. The legal infrastructure (Court of Chancery), case law, and corporate governance are tested and predictable. Wyoming and Nevada offer lower fees but VCs will ask you to convert to Delaware before they invest, which costs more than just starting there. If you’re not raising VC money, Wyoming or your home state can work.
Do you handle the actual visa filings?
No. Visa filings are legal work that requires an immigration attorney. We have vetted attorney partners specializing in startup founder visas (E-2, L-1, O-1) and we coordinate the handoff, but the legal filings are done by them. Our role is the entity, banking, and operational side; their role is the immigration filings. The two sides need to coordinate, and we run that coordination.
What about taxes — are foreign-owned C-Corps treated differently?
Yes, in ways that matter. Foreign-owned C-Corps must file Form 5472 annually (failure to file is a $25,000 minimum penalty). If you own more than 50% of a foreign corporation that becomes a subsidiary, you may also owe Form 5471. Form BE-13 reports the establishment to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. None of this is hard if you’re aware of it upfront — and we work with accountants who actually file these forms regularly.