How to Set Up a US LLC from Turkey (Without Visiting)

If you are an entrepreneur in Turkey, you know the pain: PayPal is banned, and Stripe is officially unavailable. This is the single biggest barrier to scaling a global Etsy or Shopify brand. But there is a legal "cheat code" used by thousands of successful sellers: The US LLC.

Why You Need an LLC

It's not just about looking professional. An LLC (Limited Liability Company) allows you to obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number). With an EIN, you are no longer just an individual in Istanbul or Ankara; you are a US-recognized entity.

This distinction is crucial because US banking institutions (like Mercury) and payment processors (like Stripe) require an EIN to onboard non-resident founders.

Step 1: Choose the Right State

Forget Delaware unless you plan to seek venture capital from Silicon Valley investors. For e-commerce solopreneurs and Etsy sellers, Wyoming or New Mexico are superior choices.

• Wyoming: Low annual fees, strong privacy laws (your name isn't on public record).
• New Mexico: No annual report fees, very private, but slightly harder to open bank accounts compared to Wyoming.

Step 2: Get Your EIN

Once your LLC is formed (which takes 2-5 days using services like Northwest or Incfile), you must apply for an EIN from the IRS. This is the "Social Security Number" for your business. Note: As a non-US resident without an SSN, this process is done via fax and can take 15-30 days. Patience is key.

Step 3: Banking & Payments

This is where the magic happens. Once you have your Articles of Organization and your EIN letter (CP575):

1. Open Wise Business: Use your LLC docs to open a Wise USD account. This gives you a verified US routing number (ACH) to receive Etsy payments.
2. Activate Stripe: Apply for Stripe using your LLC details, EIN, and your Wise US bank details. For the phone number, use a service like Zadarma or OpenPhone.

A Warning on Compliance

Having an LLC brings responsibility. You must file an annual report (in Wyoming) and a BOI (Beneficial Ownership Information) report to FinCEN. Failing to do so can lead to heavy fines ($500/day). Do not skip the paperwork.