Why this matters
Why a Malta founder would want a US company at all
The instinct is to assume a US company is for US founders. It isn't, and hasn't been for years. The actual driver is almost always one of three things: payments — Stripe, US client invoicing, and platforms like Amazon and Etsy that treat US-based sellers very differently from foreign ones; credibility — a US business address and entity carries weight with American customers and investors that a Maltese registration number doesn't, fairly or not; and banking — a USD account through Mercury, Wise or Relay that settles instantly with US clients instead of waiting on international wire delays.
None of this requires moving to the US, becoming a US tax resident, or abandoning Malta. Most founders run both — a Malta entity for EU operations and tax residency, a US LLC purely as the payments and credibility layer for the American side of the business.
💳
Stripe & US payments
Stripe Atlas exists because Stripe itself learned this is the #1 reason founders form US entities — a US LLC unlocks the full Stripe stack without restriction.
🛒
Amazon & marketplaces
US marketplaces favour US-registered sellers — faster payouts, fewer restrictions, access to Prime fulfilment programmes foreign sellers can't reach.
🏦
USD banking
A real US bank account (via Mercury or similar) means instant USD settlement instead of 3-5 day international wires every time a US client pays you.
🤝
Investor & client trust
For SaaS and tech founders eyeing US investors eventually, a Delaware entity is the structure VCs expect — Wyoming for everyone else who isn't fundraising.
Case study
The company building this layer — and using it themselves
Y Combinator S20 · doola
From a YC batch to the first AI-native formation platform
doola went through Y Combinator's Summer 2020 batch with a simple thesis: founders outside the US were locked out of the world's largest market by paperwork, not ambition. The product solved LLC formation, EIN, US banking and bookkeeping in one platform — no SSN, no US visit, no five separate vendors.
Five years later, doola has helped 15,000+ founders across 175+ countries form and run US companies, raised $13M from Y Combinator, Nexus Venture Partners and HubSpot Ventures, and in 2026 became the first formation platform to launch native integration inside Claude, ChatGPT and Replit — letting a founder say "form an LLC using doola" mid-conversation and walk away with a filed Wyoming entity minutes later.
That last part matters more than it sounds. It's the same instinct behind everything on this page: the paperwork that used to take a lawyer, a flight and three weeks now takes an afternoon, because someone finally built the infrastructure properly.
$13MVC raised
15,000+Founders served
175+Countries
1stFormation platform in Claude/ChatGPT
The decision
Wyoming or Delaware? Most founders get this wrong by default
Delaware is the name everyone's heard, mostly because it's the default answer in every American startup blog post written for American founders raising American VC money. For a Malta-based founder not raising venture capital, that reputation costs real money every year for no real benefit.
| Factor | Wyoming | Delaware |
|---|
| State filing fee | $100 | $90 |
| Annual fee | $60/year | $300/year franchise tax |
| 5-year state cost | ~$400 | ~$1,590 |
| State income tax | None | None (if no DE income) |
| Privacy | Member names not public | Member names not public |
| Best for | Solo founders, e-commerce, agencies | VC-fundraising startups, future IPO |
Unless you're specifically planning to raise institutional venture capital in the next 12-18 months — where Delaware's familiarity to VCs and its specialised Chancery Court genuinely matter — Wyoming is the more rational default. It's also what most formation platforms, including doola, default new non-resident founders toward.
Step 1 — Formation
Two formation partners. Different founder, different choice.
This is the one decision worth slowing down for, because the two strongest options here serve genuinely different founders — not better-or-worse, just different shape of company.
End-to-end US company formation and compliance for non-US founders — LLC registration, EIN, registered agent, annual compliance and bookkeeping. For Malta-based founders who need a US entity for banking, Stripe, or US clients without ever flying out. Best fit if you're running an e-commerce store, agency, or solo SaaS — not actively raising venture capital.
Wyoming, Delaware or any state — LLC, C-Corp or DAO LLC
No US Social Security Number or visit required
EIN, registered agent and US address included
Built-in bookkeeping and US tax filing (Form 5472 included)
Form an LLC directly inside Claude, ChatGPT or Replit
Incorporate a US company, open a business bank account and manage compliance — entirely online, from any country. The starting point for the US SaaS stack. If you're building a startup that might raise institutional venture capital in the next 12-18 months, Firstbase is built specifically for that path — Delaware C-Corp formation with the legal paperwork investors expect to see already in place.
Delaware C-Corp formation with founder agreements included
83(b) election filing — critical if issuing equity to cofounders
Banking introductions tuned for non-US founders
Full bookkeeping, tax filing and payroll registration suite
No Stripe processing fee on your first $20,000 in transactions
The honest split: e-commerce store, agency, or a SaaS you're bootstrapping → doola, lower cost, faster to get moving. Building toward a VC round with cofounders and equity to issue → Firstbase, because the Delaware C-Corp paperwork and 83(b) filing genuinely matter once investors start asking questions.
Step 3 — US payroll
Hiring a US employee? This is not the same as Deel.
If the US LLC eventually needs an actual US-based W-2 employee — not a contractor, not an EOR hire in another country — Gusto is the standard, the way Deel is the standard for everything else on this platform. Different problem, different tool.
Payroll, benefits and HR software built for US-based companies and teams. Full-service payroll, health insurance, 401(k), time tracking and HR tools in one platform. Built specifically for US-based W-2 employees in a way Deel's global EOR model isn't optimised for. From signup to first payroll run typically takes 30-60 minutes.
Automated tax filing — federal, state and local, every payroll run
Unlimited payroll runs included, no off-cycle fees
Health insurance brokerage built in, no admin fee
Contractor payments in 120+ countries, no per-contractor fee
Optional Gusto Global EOR for non-US hires, if needed
Gusto vs Deel, the short version: Deel covers everything outside the US — EOR in 150+ countries, contractors, compliance you'd otherwise need a local entity for. Gusto covers what happens once you actually have a US entity and want to hire a real US-based employee onto US payroll, with US tax withholding done correctly. Most founders running both a Malta and a US entity eventually use both tools, for exactly the employees each one is built for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Malta resident form a US LLC without traveling to the US?
Yes, completely. Formation is 100% remote — no US visit, no US Social Security Number, and no US address of your own required. Doola and similar services provide the registered agent and US address as part of the package. The entire process, from name reservation to EIN, happens online.
How much does it actually cost to form a US LLC from Malta?
Year one total typically runs $300–$500 for a Wyoming LLC through a formation service like Doola, including state filing fee ($100), the first year of registered agent service, and EIN processing. From year two, ongoing costs drop to roughly $250–$300/year (registered agent renewal plus the $60 annual report). Delaware costs more long-term — $300/year in franchise tax alone, versus Wyoming's $60.
Why do most non-US founders choose Wyoming over Delaware?
Wyoming has no state income tax, no franchise tax, and a $60 annual report fee versus Delaware's $300 minimum franchise tax. Over five years, Wyoming saves roughly $1,200 in state fees alone. Delaware is still the standard choice for companies planning to raise venture capital, because investors and VCs are most familiar with Delaware C-Corp structures and its specialised Court of Chancery. For a solo founder or small team not raising VC, Wyoming is usually the more practical choice.
Do I need a US LLC if I already have a Malta company?
It depends on what you're selling and to whom. A US LLC makes the most sense if you need a US bank account for Stripe or US clients who prefer paying a US entity, want to sell on US-based marketplaces (Amazon, Etsy) that favour US sellers, or want the credibility of a US business address for American customers. Many founders run both — a Malta company for EU operations and tax residency, a US LLC purely as a payments and credibility layer.
How long does US LLC formation actually take?
Wyoming state filing typically processes in 1–14 business days depending on whether you pay for expedited service. With a formation platform like Doola, most founders have their LLC filed within 24–48 hours. The EIN (US tax ID) takes longer for non-residents without an SSN — typically 4–6 weeks by mail, since the IRS doesn't allow online EIN applications without one. A US bank account or fintech account (Mercury, Wise) can often be opened within days of EIN approval.
What is doola, and why does FreeMalta recommend it?
doola is a Y Combinator-backed (S20) company formation platform that has helped 15,000+ founders in 175+ countries form US LLCs without an SSN or US visit. It's backed by $13M in venture funding from Y Combinator, Nexus Venture Partners and HubSpot Ventures, and was the first formation platform to launch native integration inside Claude, ChatGPT and Replit — letting founders form an LLC directly inside an AI conversation. We recommend it because the product genuinely works end-to-end: formation, EIN, banking and bookkeeping in one platform, not five separate vendors.
What ongoing US tax obligations does a foreign-owned LLC have?
A foreign-owned single-member LLC (treated as a disregarded entity) must file Form 5472 annually with the IRS, even with zero income — missing this carries a $25,000 penalty. The LLC itself generally doesn't pay US federal income tax on income not connected to a US trade or business, but compliance filing is mandatory regardless of revenue. Most founders use doola's bookkeeping and tax filing service, or a US CPA, to handle this rather than risk missing it.
What is the difference between doola and Firstbase?
doola is optimised for cost and speed — e-commerce stores, agencies, and bootstrapped founders who want the lowest entry cost ($297/year for Wyoming) and the fastest path to a working LLC. Firstbase is built for startups planning to raise venture capital — Delaware C-Corp formation, founder agreements and 83(b) election filing included, which matter once investors and equity grants enter the picture. Most non-VC founders should start with doola; founders actively building toward a funding round should look at Firstbase.
How do I actually pay US vendors or contractors once my LLC is formed?
Melio is the standard tool here — free ACH bank transfers, the ability to pay any vendor even if they only accept paper checks, and direct two-way sync with Xero (Melio was acquired by Xero for $2.5B in June 2025). For international payments outside the US, Wise Business handles that side more cost-effectively.
Should I use Gusto or Deel for my US LLC?
They solve different problems. Deel covers everything outside the US — Employer of Record in 150+ countries, international contractors, compliance you'd otherwise need a local entity for. Gusto is built specifically for US-based W-2 employees on US payroll, with correct federal, state and local tax withholding. If your US LLC ever hires an actual US-based employee, that's Gusto's job, not Deel's.
