The five steps at a glance
- 1
Pick a business name (5 minutes)
Provide three name alternatives. We check the Wyoming Secretary of State database before filing to confirm availability and reject any name conflicts.
- 2
Order and complete intake (20 minutes)
Pay $297 + state fee via Stripe. Fill the intake form covering members, ownership split, registered agent address, and business description.
- 3
Wyoming SoS filing (24 hours)
We file Articles of Organization with the Wyoming Secretary of State under Wyoming Statutes Title 17, Chapter 29. Filing receipt and formation documents back to you within 24 hours.
- 4
EIN application via Form SS-4 (8 to 10 business days)
We file IRS Form SS-4 by fax. The IRS returns your CP575 EIN letter, which we forward to you as PDF.
- 5
Bank account introduction (8 to 10 business days)
Direct introductions to Mercury, Relay, and Wise Business. We share the country-specific prep packet each bank reviewer looks for.
Step 1: Pick a Wyoming LLC name (5 minutes)
Wyoming LLC names must end with "LLC", "L.L.C.", "Limited Liability Company", or one of the variations accepted by the Wyoming SoS. The name must be distinguishable from any other Wyoming-formed entity on the SoS database. Restricted words include "Bank", "Insurance", "University", "Trust", and similar terms that suggest regulated industries; these require additional state-level approval.
Provide three name alternatives during your intake. We check availability with the Wyoming Secretary of State at wyobiz.wyo.gov before filing. If your first choice is unavailable, we move to your second alternative without contacting you (so the 24-hour filing window is not affected). If all three are unavailable, we contact you for new options.
Some tactical naming tips. (a) Keep it under 30 characters where possible; long names create issues with bank application UIs and Stripe legal-entity fields. (b) Avoid names that contain another brand's trademark; you can be sued by the trademark holder. (c) Check the USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) if you plan to file a trademark later for Amazon Brand Registry. (d) Pick a name that translates and pronounces well in your home language.
Step 2: Order and complete the intake form (20 minutes)
Pay $297 + state fee via Stripe. The $297 is the WyomingLLC service fee. The Wyoming Secretary of State filing fee is paid separately to the state at the time of filing (we invoice you for the exact current amount; it does not flow through our books).
After payment, you receive an email with a link to the intake form. The form takes about 20 minutes and collects:
- Three LLC name alternatives
- Member structure: single-member or multi-member, with ownership percentages
- Management structure: member-managed (each member can act for the LLC) or manager-managed (designated manager has authority)
- Responsible party for the EIN (almost always you, the owner)
- Business description: 2 to 3 sentences for the bank application later
- Anticipated annual revenue (rough estimate, used for bank prep)
- Country of residence and passport details
- Whether you need ITIN ($297 add-on, only for PayPal or US personal taxes)
- Whether you want the Form 5472 + 1120 annual filing add-on ($99/year)
Submit the form and we move to Step 3 within hours.
Step 3: Wyoming SoS filing (24 hours)
We prepare and file your Articles of Organization with the Wyoming Secretary of State under Wyoming Statutes Section 17-29-201. The filing includes:
- LLC name (verified available)
- Registered agent name and Wyoming address (our service)
- Mailing address (typically the registered agent address)
- Principal office address
- Effective date (immediate by default)
- Signature of the organizer (us, on your behalf)
Members are not listed on the Articles. This is the core of Wyoming's privacy advantage. The operating agreement (drafted next) identifies members privately between you and the LLC.
The Wyoming SoS processes most online filings within hours during business days. The filing receipt (a PDF with the SoS stamp and Wyoming SoS ID) is delivered to you within 24 hours of intake. The formally filed Articles document arrives shortly after.
We also send you a draft custom operating agreement for your signature. The operating agreement is not filed with the state; it is a private contract between members. Sign and store it; banks occasionally request a copy during KYC.
Step 4: EIN application via Form SS-4 (8 to 10 business days)
The Employer Identification Number is required for banking, Amazon, Stripe, and IRS Form 5472. Non-residents cannot use the IRS online EIN application because it requires an SSN or ITIN. The reliable path is Form SS-4 by fax to the IRS international EIN unit.
We complete Form SS-4 with your LLC legal name (exact match to the Articles of Organization), Wyoming registered agent address, responsible party (you), and the correct entity type checkbox (LLC, single-member or multi-member). The SSN/ITIN field is left blank with country code specified; entering "0", "0000-00-0000", or "N/A" in that field auto-rejects.
We fax to the IRS international EIN unit. The fax number changes occasionally; we track the current one. The IRS faxes back your CP575 EIN letter in 8 to 10 business days during normal periods. During IRS busy periods (early April, late September), turnaround can stretch to 15 business days.
We forward the CP575 to you as PDF. Save it in multiple places. The IRS does not reissue the CP575; if you lose it, you can request a 147C confirmation letter which takes 2 to 4 weeks. Mercury, Relay, Wise, Stripe, and Amazon Seller Central all request the CP575 during onboarding.
Step 5: Bank account introduction (8 to 10 business days)
With your LLC formed and EIN issued, you can apply for a US business bank account. WyomingLLC introduces you to three options: Mercury (~70% approval rate for non-residents), Relay (~50%), and Wise Business (~95%, safest fallback).
Each bank requires the same core documents: Articles of Organization, EIN letter (CP575), passport scan, business description (2 to 3 sentences), anticipated transaction volume, and source of funds. We prepare a country-specific packet with what each reviewer is looking for, since rejection patterns vary by country.
The standard approach: apply to Mercury first. Mercury offers the best banking features (Treasury yield, up to 50 debit cards, API access, large sub-account capacity). If Mercury rejects, we move to Relay. Relay has a different reviewer pool and often approves applicants Mercury rejected. If Relay also rejects, Wise Business is the fallback at 95%+ acceptance.
Combined success rate across the three is approximately 99%. The only consistent rejections are OFAC-sanctioned countries (Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba) and certain restricted business categories (gambling, adult content, crypto exchanges).
What you need before you start
The full package list is short on purpose. The Wyoming Secretary of State does not require notarized documents, apostilles, or in-person verification. We file everything on your behalf.
- A valid passport with at least 12 months until expiration. The biographic page is what we and the bank will use for identity.
- Two or three business name alternatives. The Wyoming SoS rejects names that conflict with existing entities or contain restricted words. Having alternatives prevents delays.
- Personal email address that you control. The IRS sends correspondence to the address you provide on Form SS-4, and Stripe sends your receipt to your payment email.
- (Optional) A draft business description of 2 to 3 sentences. We refine it during intake. This helps with bank applications later.
- (Optional) Names and ownership percentages if you are forming a multi-member LLC. Single-member is the default and works for most use cases.
What we file on your behalf
- Articles of Organization with the Wyoming Secretary of State under Wyoming Statutes Title 17, Chapter 29.
- Wyoming registered agent appointment. Our registered agent address appears on public filings, not yours.
- IRS Form SS-4 for your EIN. We submit by fax (the only method that works for non-residents without an SSN). The IRS returns your CP575 letter.
- Custom operating agreement drafted to your structure (single-member or multi-member, member-managed or manager-managed) with Wyoming-specific charging-order language under Section 17-29-503.
- Bank introduction packets for Mercury, Relay, and Wise Business with the prep we know each bank reviewer looks for.
What is NOT included
- US phone number. Most founders use Google Voice (free) or a virtual SIM like OpenPhone or JustCall ($3 to $15/month). Banks accept these.
- ITIN. $297 separate add-on, only required if you sell on PayPal (which uses ITIN for personal verification) or file a personal US 1040-NR. Amazon, Stripe, Shopify, Mercury, and Wise do not require ITIN.
- Year 2+ compliance. Wyoming annual report ($60 minimum) and IRS Form 5472 plus pro forma 1120 (mandatory annual filing for foreign-owned single-member LLCs, penalty $25,000 for non-filing). Available as a $99/year add-on, or we refer to partner CPAs.
- Sales tax registration. Required if you have nexus in states where you sell. FBA inventory creates physical nexus in warehouse states. TaxJar or Avalara automate this.
- Trademark filing. Recommended before Amazon Brand Registry. $250 to $350 per class at USPTO. We refer to USPTO-experienced attorneys.
Realistic week-by-week timeline
| Week | Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Week 0, day 1 | Order $297 + state fee, complete 20-minute intake | Articles filed within 24 hours |
| Week 0, day 2 | Wyoming SoS confirms filing | Articles of Organization issued, registered agent in place |
| Week 1 | Form SS-4 filed by fax with IRS | EIN application pending |
| Week 2 | IRS faxes back EIN letter (CP575) | EIN delivered to you as PDF |
| Week 2 to 3 | Apply to Mercury (or Relay) with our prep packet | Application under bank review |
| Week 3 to 4 | Bank approval, debit card mailed | Account active |
| Week 4 | Stripe US setup, Amazon Seller Central, Shopify Payments | Operational |
| Week 4+ | PayPal (with ITIN), payroll, Upwork tax forms, Patreon, YouTube monetization | Full US business stack live |
Common mistakes (and how WyomingLLC prevents them)
- Trying the IRS online EIN application without an SSN. It rejects with an unhelpful error. The IRS does not advertise that fax is the workaround. We use the fax pipeline by default for every customer.
- Putting "0" or "N/A" in the SSN field on Form SS-4. The IRS rejects this without explanation. The correct entry is the country code specified and the SSN field left blank or marked "FOREIGN". We handle the field-by-field correctness.
- Using a generic operating agreement. Templates that look like Delaware boilerplate weaken Wyoming charging-order protection. Our agreement uses Wyoming-specific provisions referencing Section 17-29-503.
- Bank application with a vague business description. Mercury rejects about 30% of non-resident applications, mostly for unclear descriptions. We coach you to be specific: products, customers, fulfillment, revenue projection.
- Skipping Form 5472. The $25,000 IRS penalty is the most expensive failure for non-resident LLC owners. We send annual reminders and offer a filing add-on.
- Mismatched name across documents. LLC name on Articles, EIN letter, bank application, and operating agreement must all match exactly. We sync them.
- Forgetting the Wyoming annual report. Due first day of the anniversary month. We email a reminder 30 days before due date.
DIY vs WyomingLLC cost comparison
| Item | DIY | WyomingLLC |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming state filing fee | Same (paid to state) | Same (paid to state) |
| Wyoming registered agent (year 1) | $100 to $200/year (you find one) | Included |
| Articles of Organization filing | You file yourself | We file on your behalf |
| Operating agreement | Template risk: weakens protection | Custom, Wyoming-specific, included |
| EIN via Form SS-4 | Trial and error by fax | Filed by us, 8 to 10 days |
| Bank application prep | You guess what banks want | We share what each bank looks for |
| Time investment | 10 to 20 hours of research | 20 minutes of intake form |
| Rejection risk | Mercury 30%, hard to recover | Combined 99% success across three banks |
| Total fee | $0 service + $200 RA + state fee | $297 + state fee |
After your LLC is formed
- Stripe US. Apply at stripe.com with your LLC name, EIN, and Mercury (or Relay/Wise) account. Approval is usually instant for clean profiles.
- Bookkeeping. QuickBooks Online ($30+/month) or Wave (free). Most founders start with Wave and graduate to QuickBooks at $5K+ monthly revenue.
- Amazon Seller Central. Use LLC as seller of record, EIN as tax ID, Mercury for payouts. Brand Registry requires a USPTO trademark.
- PayPal Business. Requires ITIN ($297 add-on) for personal verification. Most founders do not need PayPal.
- Shopify + Shopify Payments. Shopify Payments accepts Wyoming LLC + EIN + US bank. No PayPal required for Shopify checkout.
- Upwork tax form. Submit W-8BEN-E with your EIN to reduce US withholding from 30% to your country's treaty rate.
- USPTO trademark. File at uspto.gov via TEAS. $250 to $350 per class. 6 to 12 months for full registration. Required for Amazon Brand Registry.
- Year 2+ calendar reminders. Wyoming annual report (first day of anniversary month). IRS Form 5472 plus pro forma 1120 (April 15, or October 15 with Form 7004 extension).