US LLC · FreeMalta Hub
A US company,
built from Malta.
No US visit. No Social Security Number. No flight to San Francisco. $297 year one. A Wyoming LLC filed in 24-48 hours — with Mercury banking, Stripe and full compliance baked in.
$297
Year one, Wyoming
24-48h
LLC filed
0
US visits required
300K+
Mercury entrepreneurs
Why this matters
Why a Malta founder needs
a US company.
It's not about moving to the US. It's about accessing the US market from here.
Stripe & US payments
Stripe Atlas exists because Stripe learned this is the #1 reason founders form US entities. A US LLC unlocks the full Stripe stack without restriction or delayed payouts.
Mercury banking
A real US account means instant USD settlement instead of 3-5 day international wires. Mercury opens remotely within days of EIN approval — no branch, no SSN.
US marketplaces
Amazon, Etsy, and other US marketplaces treat US-registered sellers differently — faster payouts, fewer restrictions, access to Prime fulfilment programmes.
Credibility & investment
A US business address carries weight with American customers and investors. For SaaS founders eyeing US investors, a Delaware C-Corp is the structure VCs expect.
Step 2 — US Banking
Mercury is the banking partner.
Exclusively.
FreeMalta recommends one US banking product. This is it.
Mercury EXCLUSIVE
Trusted by 300,000+ startups and founders worldwide
A radically different banking* product — engineered from the ground up to hold, move, and help you truly understand your money. Cards, invoicing, bill pay, spend management, and real-time insights. Everything built in. Everything connected. The smarter it gets, the more it surfaces what you need, when you need it.
For Malta founders building a US company: Mercury is what you open the moment your EIN is confirmed. No branch visit. No SSN. Approved within days. From that point, USD receipts from US clients land immediately, Stripe payouts hit the same day, and your US LLC is a real operating entity — not a shell with a filing certificate.
CNBC · May 2026
Mercury hits $5.2B valuation — up 49% in 14 months
Fortune · Nov 2025
Mercury clocks $650M in 2025 annualised revenue
WSJ · March 2025
Mercury raises $300M at $3.5B valuation
Open remotely — no US visit, no SSN required
USD checking and savings accounts
Physical and virtual debit cards
Built-in invoicing and bill pay
Spend management and real-time insights
Stripe, Wise and Gusto connect natively
Approved within days of EIN confirmation
Trusted by 300,000+ entrepreneurs
*Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC. The IO Card is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated.
Step 1 — Formation
Two formation options.
Different founder, different choice.
Not better or worse — different shape of company.
Doola YC S20
$297/yr · Wyoming default
Y Combinator-backed. 15,000+ founders in 175+ countries. The fastest path from zero to a filed Wyoming LLC with EIN, registered agent and US address. Best for e-commerce, agencies, solo founders — anyone not raising VC.
Wyoming, Delaware, or any state — LLC, C-Corp or DAO LLC
No SSN or US visit required
EIN, registered agent and US address included
Built-in bookkeeping and US tax filing (Form 5472)
Form an LLC inside Claude, ChatGPT or Replit
Firstbase
From $399 · Delaware C-Corp
Built for startups planning to raise institutional venture capital. Delaware C-Corp formation with founder agreements, 83(b) election filing, and the legal paperwork VCs expect to see already in place. If you're pitching Sand Hill Road in 12-18 months, this is the right tool.
Delaware C-Corp with founder agreements included
83(b) election filing — critical for equity grants
Banking introductions for non-US founders
No Stripe processing fee on first $20,000
The real timeline
From Malta to a live
US company.
Every step, every wait, every tool.
1
Choose state & package
~10 minutes
Wyoming for most founders, Delaware if VC-bound. Doola's flow handles name check, state selection and package in one pass.
2
State filing
24–48 hours
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State. Registered agent and US address provided as part of the package.
3
EIN (US tax ID)
4–6 weeks
The one slow step for non-SSN founders. The IRS doesn't allow online applications without an SSN, so this goes by mail. Doola handles the application.
4
Open Mercury
Days after EIN
Go to mercury.com/partner/free-malta. Apply remotely. Approved within days. USD checking, savings, debit card — all live.
5
Stripe & payments
Same week
With EIN and Mercury confirmed, Stripe activates without friction. US clients can now pay you as a US entity. You're operational.
6
Annual compliance
Once/year
File Form 5472 with the IRS (mandatory even with zero income — $25K penalty if missed). Wyoming annual report: $60. Doola handles both.
The decision
Wyoming or Delaware?
Most founders get this wrong by default.
Delaware is the name everyone's heard — because it's the default answer in every American blog post written for American founders raising American VC money.
| 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, SaaS | VC-fundraising startups, future IPO |
The full stack
Everything your US LLC needs
to actually operate.
Formation is step one. Here's the rest of the infrastructure.
Doola
Formation
Wyoming LLC in 24-48h. EIN, registered agent, US address, bookkeeping and Form 5472 filing included.
Start →
Mercury
Banking
The exclusive banking partner. Open remotely, USD accounts, cards, invoicing. 300K+ founders.
Open account →
Wise
Transfers
Send money between your Malta and US entities at the real exchange rate. No hidden fees.
Open account →
Melio
US Payments
Pay US vendors, contractors and suppliers. Free ACH, sync with Xero. Now part of Xero ($2.5B acquisition).
Explore →
Xero
Accounting
Keep your US LLC's books. 95% off for 6 months. Connects directly to Mercury and Melio.
95% off →
Gusto
US Payroll
If your US LLC ever hires a US-based W-2 employee, Gusto is the tool. Not Deel — that's for international.
Explore →
*Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.
How Doola + Mercury works together
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 the standard for companies planning to raise venture capital. For a Malta-based founder not raising VC, Wyoming is the more rational default.
Why does Mercury work so well for non-US founders?
Mercury was built from day one for founders outside the traditional US banking system. It opens remotely — no branch visit, no SSN required for non-US citizens — and approves accounts within days of EIN confirmation. The product includes USD checking and savings, physical and virtual debit cards, invoicing, bill pay, spend management and real-time transaction categorisation. 300,000+ entrepreneurs use it as their primary US business account.
What is the difference between Mercury and a traditional US bank?
Mercury is a fintech product, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services are provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC. The practical difference for a Malta founder: Mercury opens remotely and approves quickly. Traditional US banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo) typically require an in-person branch visit and a US Social Security Number — making them inaccessible without a US trip.
How long does EIN processing take for non-US founders?
The EIN (US tax ID) is the one genuinely slow step for non-SSN founders. The IRS does not allow online EIN applications without a Social Security Number, so the application goes by mail and typically takes 4–6 weeks. A Mercury account can be opened within days of EIN approval. Doola handles the EIN application as part of their formation package.
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, a US LLC as the payments and credibility layer.
What ongoing US tax obligations does a foreign-owned LLC have?
A foreign-owned single-member LLC 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. Most founders use Doola's tax filing service or a US CPA.
Also in Solutions
FreeMalta earns a commission if you sign up through our links — at no cost to you. Formation costs, timelines and compliance requirements vary. Always verify current state fees and IRS requirements before forming. This page is informational only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.