Launch the entity. Roll straight into operating it.
Most filing services end the day the certificate arrives. Prolify starts there. Form the entity, get the EIN, secure the U.S. address, activate the registered agent, then step directly into the compliance calendar, bookkeeping cadence, and Founder Dashboard you'll use for years.
To form a U.S. company from outside the U.S., you need an entity (usually an LLC or C-Corp), an EIN from the IRS (available without an SSN), a registered agent in the formation state, and a U.S. business address. Prolify delivers all four, then keeps the company compliant after formation.
Who this is for
A non-U.S. founder forming a first U.S. entity.
A U.S. founder who wants formation done properly, not cheaply.
An operator moving an existing business under a new U.S. parent.
An agency, SaaS, or e-commerce business that needs a U.S. entity to take Stripe, sign U.S. contracts, or open a U.S. bank account.
A real estate investor organizing property under an LLC, with licensed tax-partner coordination.
Who this is not for
Founders who want the cheapest possible LLC and don't care what happens after.
Anyone seeking legal advice on litigation, immigration, or visas. We'll refer you to qualified counsel.
What actually goes wrong.
You don't know what state to form in.
Delaware for venture-track companies. Wyoming for privacy and lower ongoing cost. New Mexico for the lowest annual maintenance. Florida or another state if you have real physical presence there. We send you a written recommendation before we file. We do not default to Delaware just because everyone else does.
You don't have an SSN.
Most U.S. providers either require an SSN or quietly route your EIN application to the slowest possible track. We file on the non-SSN track. Timing varies based on IRS processing; higher-tier plans include priority handling by the Prolify team, meaning faster internal handling and document preparation, while IRS timing can still vary.
Your operating agreement is a generic template.
A boilerplate operating agreement breaks during diligence. Ours is prepared for your entity type, ownership structure, and state. If you raise later, you start from cleaner documents.
You don't know who your registered agent is or what they do.
A registered agent receives legal mail and state notices on your behalf in the state you formed in. Without one, the state can administratively dissolve your company. Year 1 is included with every Prolify formation, in every state we file in.
You don't have a U.S. address.
You don't need one, but the state does, the IRS does, and your bank application does. We provide a real U.S. street address with mail scanning.
What happens on the $49 path.
The certificate arrives. The EIN takes longer than it should. The operating agreement is generic. The registered agent renewal is buried in an email you'll miss. The Form 5472 question is never asked. A year later, the company exists on paper and is silently breaking everywhere else. A cheap filing service ends when the certificate arrives. Prolify starts there.
What's included today
| Service | What it covers |
|---|---|
| LLC formation | Wyoming, Delaware, New Mexico, Florida. State-specific guidance for your business and country. |
| C-Corp formation | Delaware default. C-Corp-specific document set. |
| EIN / Federal Tax ID | Including for founders without an SSN. Priority handling by the Prolify team on higher-tier plans. |
| Registered agent | Year 1 included, in every state we file in. Licensed U.S. partner. |
| Virtual U.S. business address | Real street address. Mail scanning. Used for state, IRS, and business-mail purposes, and included in banking applications where accepted by the issuer. |
| Corporate documents | Operating agreement (LLC) or bylaws (C-Corp), member or shareholder register, initial resolutions, founder consent. |
| DBA / trade name filing | Operate under a brand name different from your legal entity. |
| Corporate book and seal | Physical record, for founders who want it on the shelf. |
| Apostille, certified copies, good standing | On request. |
Coming soon: S-Corp election filing (coordinated with licensed partners) · Foreign qualification (additional U.S. states) · International holding company structures · Series LLC.
Coming soon means we're not selling it today. If you need one now, talk to our team. We'll coordinate with a partner or tell you honestly when we expect to ship.
How Prolify handles formation
The Founder Dashboard updates at every step.
Recommendation
Short questionnaire. Written recommendation: entity, state, document set, expected total cost (Prolify + state fees), realistic window.
Entity and state recommended in writing
Expected total cost and realistic timeline
Identity verification
Run through our verification provider.
Fast, secure identity check
Required before filing
State filing
Submitted within one business day. Many states return formation within one to two business days; some take longer.
Filed within one business day
Confirmed in many states within 1-2 business days
EIN
Filed on the right track for your situation. Delivered to the Document Vault when the IRS issues it.
Non-SSN track available
Delivered to your Document Vault
Documents
Generated, signed, stored.
Operating agreement or bylaws
Signed and stored in your dashboard
Registered agent and U.S. address activated
Confirmed in writing.
Registered agent live in your formation state
U.S. address confirmed in writing
Banking application
Documents formatted and routed for your application.
Documents formatted for bank review
Application routed on your behalf
Timeline
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0 | Sign up, complete the questionnaire. |
| 0-1 | Recommendation delivered. Filing submitted. |
| 1-2 | Formation confirmed in many states; some take longer. Documents generated. Agent and address activated. |
| Following weeks | EIN processed (IRS timing varies). Banking application prepared and routed. |
Timelines vary by state, IRS processing, bank review, and customer responsiveness. The realistic window for your situation is in your written recommendation.
Common formation mistakes (and how we avoid them)
Forming in the wrong state.
The right state depends on what the business does, not on the Delaware default.
Choosing an LLC when a C-Corp is required.
Venture-track? We say so before we file.
A boilerplate operating agreement.
Generic templates break in diligence.
A bad EIN application.
Vague entity descriptions and missing responsible-party data cause rejections. We reduce avoidable errors before submission.
A missed registered agent renewal.
This is how entities quietly dissolve. Year 1 included; ongoing years billed clearly.
Using a PO Box as the "U.S. address."
Counterparties typically reject these. We provide a real street address.
Recommended plan
Formation + EIN + banking prep only
→ Starter
Formation + year-round compliance and tax
→ Compliance + Tax
Revenue and a handled back office
→ Managed Back Office
FAQ
How do I know which state to form in?
We send you a written recommendation before we file. It explains the state, the entity, the documents, the exact state fees, and a realistic timeline.
Can I really get an EIN without an SSN?
Yes. We file on the non-SSN track. Timing varies based on IRS processing; higher-tier plans include priority handling by the Prolify team, meaning faster internal handling and document preparation, while IRS timing can still vary.
Do you provide a registered agent in every state?
Yes, through licensed U.S. partners. Year 1 is included with every formation.
Will my U.S. address satisfy state, IRS, and bank requirements?
We provide a real U.S. street address, not a PO Box, used for state and IRS purposes and business mail, and included in banking applications where accepted by the issuer. Bank policies vary; we tell you which issuers accept what.
What if I already have an LLC and want to upgrade or convert?
Talk to our team. Electing C-Corp treatment, converting LLC to C-Corp, or expanding to multi-member: we'll quote the work clearly and coordinate with licensed partners where required.
Do you help with apostille?
Yes, on request. Useful when presenting U.S. documents to authorities outside the U.S.