Contents
01The order that works
Register the company, then obtain the EIN from the IRS, then apply for the account. Each step depends on the one before it, and attempting them in parallel is where weeks disappear. An EIN for a founder without a US social security number is applied for on paper or by fax, and the waiting time is measured in weeks rather than days, so start it the moment the company exists.
While you wait, assemble the rest of the application. Nothing in it is difficult; it is simply slow to gather under time pressure.
02What to have ready
Every provider asks for roughly the same set, and having it in one folder turns a week into an afternoon.
- Formation documents from the state and the operating agreement.
- The EIN confirmation letter from the IRS.
- Passport and proof of residential address for every owner above the ownership threshold.
- A description of the business: what you sell, to whom, expected monthly volume, and where the money comes from.
- The company website and a company email address on your own domain.
A free mail provider address and a site that is still a placeholder are the two things that most often turn a review into a decline.
03Why applications get declined
Banks and fintechs are managing risk, and their checks look for signals rather than reasons. An unclear description of the business, a line of work on their restricted list, a founder country combination they do not serve, a mismatch between the address on the application and the documents: each is enough on its own.
A decline is rarely explained, and reapplying immediately with the same details rarely helps. Fix the signal, then apply elsewhere.
04Beneficial ownership and other filings
A US company brings ongoing obligations that have nothing to do with banking: state annual reports, the registered agent, federal and state tax filings, and beneficial ownership reporting whose requirements have changed more than once in recent years.
We set these up and hand you a calendar of what is due and when. We are not your accountant or your attorney, and for tax positions and anything specific to your situation you want one of each. Our part is that the structure exists, the paperwork is filed on time and the money can move.
05What this costs with us
Our US launch package starts at $3,900 plus state fees paid at cost: the company, the EIN, the registered agent, the brand basics and the first customer acquisition in one sequence. The part we cannot promise is the account itself. No contractor controls a bank decision, and anyone who guarantees one is selling you something they do not own.
Questions
Wyoming or Delaware?
Wyoming for most small companies and service businesses: lower fees and simpler annual reporting. Delaware when you expect US venture investment, because investors know its corporate law. We have a longer comparison of the two on the blog.
Can we open the account without flying to the US?
Often yes, with providers that verify identity remotely. Traditional branch banks usually still want a visit. Which of the two you need depends on what you plan to do with the account, not on which is easier to open.
Do we need a US address and phone number?
A registered agent address covers the company registration. For banking, expect questions about a real operating address, and be ready to explain how the business runs from where you are. A US phone number is cheap and removes one more friction point.
Where we can help