Guides for global founders.
Practical, no-jargon guides on forming and running your U.S. or U.K. company — from EIN to banking to staying compliant.
Relay Prohibited Countries: The Full 31-Country List
Relay will open an account for most founders who do not live in the United States. The Relay prohibited countries list runs to 31 names, and Nepal, Bangladesh,…
Read articlePayoneer for US LLC Owners: It Is Not a Bank Account
Payoneer for US LLC owners comes down to one distinction, and it is worth getting straight before you rely on it. A Payoneer US…
Read articleUS Sales Tax for Non-Resident LLC Owners: When You Actually Owe It
If you own a US LLC from outside the United States and sell everything through Amazon, Etsy or eBay, the most likely answer is…
Read articleMercury Prohibited Countries: Full List (September 2026)
Mercury will not open an account for a founder living in any of 48 prohibited countries, plus four sanctioned countries and regions. The full…
Read articleDo You Have to File Form 1040-NR as a Non-Resident LLC Owner?
Here is the short version, and then the test, because the test is what actually decides it. Your foreign-owned US LLC has a filing…
Read articleForm W-8BEN vs W-9: Which Tax Form Do Non-US Owners Actually Sign?
Someone sent you a W-9 and asked you to "fill in the tax form." If you are not a US person, do not sign…
Read articleNever Filed Form 5472: What Happens Now and How to Catch Up
If you formed a US LLC from outside the United States and have never filed Form 5472, here is the short version. The penalty…
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