Many founders in Saudi Arabia form a US company to bill international clients, connect to Stripe, and access US marketplaces and investors. This guide walks through the state choice, the EIN process without an SSN, banking, yearly filings, and where PowerLaunch fits in.
Why Saudi founders form a US company
If you sell to clients in the US, Europe, or through global marketplaces, a US LLC or C-Corporation makes you look and operate like a local business there. It gives you access to Stripe and other US payment rails, US business bank accounts, and platforms that only work well with a US entity. Investors who write checks in US dollars also tend to prefer a Delaware C-Corporation, since that is the structure their lawyers and fund documents are built around.
You do not need a US visa or a US address to do this. You do not need to travel to the United States at any point in the formation, banking, or tax filing process. Everything can be done remotely from Saudi Arabia.
Choosing a state: Wyoming or Delaware
For most solo founders and small teams selling products or services, an LLC in Wyoming is the simpler and cheaper route. Wyoming has no state income tax, low annual report costs, and fast formation times. It is a common default for freelancers, agencies, e-commerce sellers, and SaaS founders who plan to keep ownership simple.
If you plan to raise venture capital, bring on US-based cofounders with equity, or issue stock options, a Delaware C-Corporation is usually the better fit. Investors and startup lawyers are familiar with Delaware corporate law, and most standard fundraising paperwork assumes a Delaware C-Corp.
| Factor | Wyoming LLC | Delaware C-Corp |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Freelancers, agencies, e-commerce, SaaS without outside investors | Startups raising venture capital |
| Ownership | Simple, membership interests | Shares, easier to issue to investors and employees |
| State tax | No state income tax | Franchise tax and possible state income tax |
| Typical formation time | 1 to 3 business days | 1 to 3 business days |
| Annual state filing | Simple annual report | Annual report plus franchise tax |
Kentucky and Colorado also offer fast formation, usually 1 to 3 business days, if either fits your situation. Most other states take 1 to 2 weeks. Rules and fees vary by state, so always check the state's own site for current details before you decide.
Getting an EIN without an SSN
Every US company needs an EIN, which is the tax ID number used for banking, invoicing, and tax filings. As a non-resident founder without a Social Security Number, you can still get an EIN. The IRS issues EINs to foreign owners through a different process than the one used for US residents.
Standard processing for non-resident owners without an SSN typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. If you need it faster, expedited EIN processing can bring this down to a matter of days. PowerLaunch offers expedited EIN as an add-on for $295 on the Launch and Run plans, and it is already included on the Scale plan.
Opening a US bank account
Once your LLC or C-Corp has its EIN, you can apply for a US business bank account. PowerLaunch makes introductions to Mercury, Wise Business, and Relay after your EIN is issued. These are online-first banks that are commonly used by non-resident founders.
It is worth being clear about one thing: approval is always the bank's decision, not PowerLaunch's. Each bank runs its own review of your business, and requirements can change. Having your formation documents, EIN letter, and a clear description of your business ready will help the process go smoothly.
Annual US filings you should expect
Once your company is running, there are yearly US filings to keep up with. For a foreign-owned single-member LLC, the main federal filing is Form 5472 together with a pro forma Form 1120, due by April 15 each year. This is an information return, not necessarily a tax bill, but missing it can bring penalties, so it should never be skipped.
You will also have a state-level annual report to file, with details and fees that vary by state. Check the state's site for the current fee and deadline for your entity.
On the beneficial ownership side, under the current 2026 interim FinCEN rule, US-formed companies are exempt from BOI reporting. Rules like this can shift over time, so it is worth confirming the current status each year rather than assuming it stays the same forever.
Your Saudi tax obligations still apply
Forming a US company does not remove any tax or reporting obligations you have as a resident of Saudi Arabia. Depending on your personal situation, you may have home-country rules around reporting foreign company ownership, foreign income, or foreign bank accounts. These rules can be specific and can change, so this guide will not attempt to state them for you.
The right move is to speak with a local tax adviser or accountant in Saudi Arabia who can confirm what applies to your situation before or shortly after you form your US company. PowerLaunch handles the US side of your business, formation, EIN, banking introductions, and US tax filings, but your home-country adviser is the one who should confirm your Saudi Arabia obligations.
What to do next
If you are ready to move forward, PowerLaunch can form your Wyoming LLC or Delaware C-Corp, get your EIN, connect you with Mercury, Wise Business, or Relay for banking, and keep your US filings on track every year.
- Launch, $295 per year: formation, EIN, operating agreement or bylaws, registered agent, virtual mailing and business address, AI assistant in MyCG.AI, email support.
- Run, $1,995 per year: everything in Launch plus annual state report filing, a licensed tax professional consultation, business IRS tax filings including your 5472 and pro forma 1120, transaction tracking with AI categorization, Stripe invoicing, live financial reports, multiple bank connections, monthly and quarterly closings.
- Scale, $2,995 per year or $329 per month: everything in Run plus expedited EIN, free dissolution, live call scheduling, and a dedicated bookkeeper.
All plans are billed plus the state filing fee at cost. If PowerLaunch makes a formation error, it is corrected at PowerLaunch's cost, and that portion of the fee is refunded. State fees are never refundable.
Start your formation at powerlaunch.solutions/signup, or book a free 20-minute consultation on Google Meet at powerlaunch.solutions/book to talk through Wyoming versus Delaware and get your questions answered before you commit.
