Last updated: September 25, 2026
Yes. You can open a company in the U.S. without an SSN. The Social Security Number identifies individuals for tax and social security purposes in the United States, not companies. An LLC or C Corporation doesn’t depend on that number to exist, bill customers or pay taxes. What your company needs is an EIN, the Federal Tax ID, and there’s an official IRS path to get that number even without an SSN.
This confusion between SSN and EIN is one of the most common reasons founders from Brazil, Mexico, India, Germany and many other countries delay forming their U.S. company. It’s worth busting the myth right at the start of this guide.
TL;DR
- The direct answer: you don’t need an SSN to open an LLC or Corporation in the U.S. The IRS has a specific process for foreign responsible parties to get an EIN.
- Why: the SSN identifies individuals; the EIN identifies companies. They’re two different numbers, issued for different purposes.
- Who it’s for: non-resident founders who sell to U.S. customers, get paid in dollars or need credibility with platforms such as Stripe, Amazon and Hotmart.
- How to decide the best route: weigh the EIN issuance time, whether you want human guidance through the process, and what happens after formation, when the annual obligations begin.
- Expected price: forming an LLC on your own costs only the state fee, between $50 and $309 depending on the state. With Globalfy, annual plans range from $588/year, for formation only, to $5,028/year, for operations with full bookkeeping; most remote founders without an SSN fit the Remote plan, at $998/year.
What an SSN Is and Why It Isn’t Required
The Social Security Number is the identification number for individuals in the United States. It’s issued by the Social Security Administration, not the IRS, and it’s tied to citizens and residents authorized to work in the country.
An LLC or a Corporation isn’t an individual. It’s a legal entity of its own, with its own federal tax ID: the EIN. The IRS treats the two numbers as separate categories, and that separation is exactly what allows a founder abroad, with no visa and without ever setting foot in the U.S., to register and operate a U.S. company legally.
Do I Need an SSN to Open a Company in the U.S.? The Direct Answer
No. You don’t need an SSN to register your LLC in your chosen state, to apply for the EIN, or to keep the company compliant year after year.
State registration of an LLC doesn’t require an SSN in any of the 50 U.S. states. It’s a business registration process, comparable to registering a company in your home country: you provide details about the company and its responsible party, not a U.S. personal identification number.
The EIN doesn’t depend on an SSN either. Form SS-4, used to apply for the number with the IRS, has a specific field (line 7b) where foreign responsible parties without an SSN or ITIN enter “Foreign” or “N/A”, as the official IRS instructions explain. From there, the application goes by fax, mail or phone, since the IRS online tool is reserved for people who already have an SSN or ITIN.
SSN, ITIN and EIN: What’s the Difference
It’s worth separating the three numbers, because confusing them is the source of most of the doubts.
SSN (Social Security Number). Identifies an individual for employment and social benefits in the U.S. In practice, reserved for citizens and residents authorized to work.
ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). Also identifies an individual, but for tax purposes only, when that person isn’t eligible for an SSN. It’s optional for most LLC founders and only becomes necessary in specific scenarios, such as claiming certain treaty benefits on a W-8 or reporting certain types of personal income in the U.S.
EIN (Employer Identification Number). Identifies the company, not the person. It’s the number that appears on contracts, business bank accounts and the LLC’s tax filings. Every U.S. company needs one, whether the owner is a resident or not.
In practice: you can open and operate a U.S. LLC with a passport and an EIN, without ever needing an SSN or ITIN, unless your personal tax situation requires one of them later on.
How to Open an LLC Without an SSN: Step by Step
The process has four stages, and none of them depends on an SSN.
1. State registration of the LLC. You choose the state, usually based on maintenance cost, privacy and the purpose of the business, and file the formation documents. Wyoming usually takes 1 to 7 business days; Florida between 25 and 30 days, because of its higher processing volume.
2. EIN application. With the LLC registered, you prepare Form SS-4 and fax it to the IRS, entering “Foreign” in the responsible party field. The average turnaround is 3 to 10 business days by fax; by mail, it can take several weeks. The EIN is issued free of charge.
3. Business address and registered agent. Most states require a physical U.S. address and a registered agent to receive legal notices. Neither requires an SSN, just a provider that offers the service to non-residents.
4. Business bank account. With the formation documents in hand, you can apply for an account with digital banks that partner with foreign founders, such as Mercury and Lili – in some cases even before the EIN is issued.
An LLC Without a Social Security Number: Real Documents and Requirements
The document list is usually shorter than founders expect. In practice, the essentials are:
- A valid passport for the company’s responsible party. No U.S. visa is required.
- A name and address to appear on the LLC’s formation documents.
- Basic business details, such as the main activity and ownership structure (single member or multiple members).
Not on that list: an SSN, ITIN, proof of U.S. residence or U.S. credit history. These items come up, if at all, at later stages, such as applying for certain business credit lines, not in forming the company itself.
How to Open a U.S. Bank Account Without an SSN
This is usually the next question, and it’s a fair one: traditional U.S. banks often ask for an SSN and an in-person visit. Digital banks built for remote companies solve that point.
Globalfy has a direct integration with Mercury and Lili, two banking partners built to serve non-resident founders. The application can be done 100% online, and in some cases the process starts even before the EIN is issued. An honest caveat: final approval of the account is always the financial institution’s decision, not the formation provider’s.
Who Needs to Open a U.S. Company Without an SSN
Remote SaaS founders
They charge U.S. and international customers in dollars and need credibility with payment processors such as Stripe. The SSN never comes into it. If the structure is a single-member LLC with no physical presence in the U.S., this is the profile that usually fits the Remote plan.
E-commerce and dropshipping sellers
Amazon FBA, Shopify and dropshipping operations often require a U.S. entity to avoid account blocks. In practice, this is one of the most common triggers: Stripe and PayPal often block or limit accounts tied to entities outside the U.S., and a U.S. LLC solves that. Not having an SSN doesn’t prevent registration or operation. The Remote plan only covers dropshipping with no inventory or customers in the U.S.; those already selling with inventory or customers in the country usually fit Essential.
Founders raising investment (Startup / VC)
Startups planning to raise from U.S. investors usually convert to or form a Delaware C Corporation, the standard structure required by venture capital funds. The SSN isn’t a prerequisite here either: the responsible party completes Form SS-4 the same way, with a passport in place of the U.S. number.
Info-product creators
Very common among creators who sell through platforms such as Hotmart. An LLC with an EIN can reduce tax withholding on payments received from the U.S., without requiring an SSN from the creator.
Consultants and freelancers
Professionals serving U.S. clients gain a professional presence, a dollar bank account and simpler invoicing with an LLC, again without relying on an SSN.
Investors
They use the LLC as an investment vehicle or holding company. They tend to use fewer recurring services, but still don’t need an SSN to register the structure.
Common Mistakes About the SSN Requirement
“Without an SSN, the IRS rejects the EIN application.” Not true. The IRS has a specific process for foreign responsible parties, documented in the Form SS-4 instructions themselves.
“I need an ITIN before applying for the EIN.” Not true either. The ITIN is optional in most cases and serves a different purpose, related to personal taxation, not company formation.
“Without an SSN, I can’t get a U.S. bank account.” Partly false. Traditional banks do often ask for an SSN and an in-person visit. Partners such as Mercury and Lili were designed precisely to serve people without that number.
“The process is the same in every state.” No. Registration time varies a lot: Wyoming usually takes 1 to 7 business days, while Florida can take 25 to 30. Having an SSN or ITIN doesn’t change that timeline, because it’s set by the state you choose. The difference shows up in the next step, the EIN application: people with an SSN or ITIN can get the number online the same day, while those without one apply by fax (typically 3 to 10 business days) or by mail (several weeks).
How to Choose the Best Way to Open Your Company Without an SSN
Forming an LLC on your own, using only the state and IRS forms, is possible and cheaper at first. Services such as Stripe Atlas also handle that initial stage well, with a fast, low-cost process for those who just want to form a Delaware C Corp. The blind spot usually shows up later: none of these routes covers, by default, the twelve months of obligations that follow. The question that defines the right route isn’t just “how much does it cost to form”, but “what happens once it’s formed”. Five factors help with that decision:
1. Accuracy on Form SS-4. A mistake in the foreign responsible party field is the most common cause of EIN delays. Having someone review the form before it’s sent reduces that risk.
2. What comes after formation. The Annual Report, Franchise Tax and federal forms such as the 5472 have fixed deadlines. Missing one can lead to penalties or even administrative dissolution of the company, long after the SSN stopped being relevant.
3. Support language. Dealing with the IRS and U.S. banks in English, with no intermediary, is a real barrier for those without technical fluency in the language.
4. Coordination between providers. A registered agent, accountant, bank and attorney hired separately don’t talk to each other. Every delay at one of them becomes a problem for you to solve.
5. Total compliance cost, not just the formation price. A low-cost provider that charges separately for the registered agent, compliance calendar and federal filings can cost more over the year than a complete plan.
Open Your LLC Without an SSN With Globalfy
Globalfy exists precisely for the founder who has already settled the SSN question and now needs someone to handle the rest: the right forms, on the right deadlines, with a person who speaks your language on the other end.
What’s included. State registration in one business day, preparation and tracking of Form SS-4 with the IRS, a U.S. business address with mail scanning, a registered agent, and a compliance calendar with automatic reminders for annual obligations.
Human support, not just forms. Support in English, Portuguese and Spanish, with a named account executive, not a ticket queue. It’s one of the points most often mentioned by clients who compared Globalfy with two or three competitors before deciding, according to Trustpilot reviews.
After formation. Banking assistance with Mercury and Lili, federal filings (Form 5472 and pro-forma 1120 for single-member LLCs), annual state renewal and a free Fynance license for AI bookkeeping, valued at $300.
A real case. Douglas Negrisolli of L8Cup has been a Globalfy client for ten years, one of the company’s first. It’s the kind of long-term retention that only makes sense when support doesn’t end at formation.
Things to consider. Globalfy isn’t the cheapest option for those who just want to register the LLC and handle everything else themselves; the Starter plan covers formation only, and the plans with compliance included cost more than a one-off registration filed directly with the state. The price difference buys something specific: someone reviewing Form SS-4 before it goes to the IRS, a calendar that warns you before the Form 5472 deadline, and an account executive for when a question comes up in your language. Without that, each of those points becomes a risk the founder has to monitor alone. Globalfy also doesn’t replace individual legal or tax advice, and the content on its site is informational, not a legal opinion.
Investment. Annual plans start at $588 for Starter, aimed at formation only, and the plan with full compliance for remote single-member LLCs costs $998. State fees, which range from $50 to $309, are paid separately, directly to the state.
Remember the $200k in partner credits available on all plans: by combining two or three benefits, such as the $1,000 OpenAI credit or the Stripe discount on your first transactions, the value already covers a good part of the annual subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t have an SSN – can I still open a company in the U.S.?
Yes, you can open a company in the U.S. without an SSN. State registration of the LLC and the EIN application with the IRS have a specific path for foreign responsible parties, using only a passport. Thousands of non-resident founders do this every year without ever visiting the United States.
How long does it take to open an LLC without an SSN?
State registration in Wyoming usually takes 1 to 7 business days, while Florida takes between 25 and 30 days. The EIN, applied for by fax, comes through on average 3 to 10 business days after the LLC is registered. The total timeline depends mainly on the state you choose, not on the lack of an SSN.
Do I need an ITIN if I don’t have an SSN?
Not necessarily. The ITIN identifies individuals for personal tax purposes and is optional for most LLC owners. It only becomes relevant in specific individual tax situations, separate from forming and operating the company.
Will I pay tax twice, in my country and in the U.S., if I open an LLC without an SSN?
Not having an SSN doesn’t change your LLC’s tax structure. Non-resident single-member LLCs usually operate as pass-through entities, and whether there’s double taxation depends on your country’s rules and any tax treaty it has with the U.S. Each personal situation should be assessed with a tax specialist.
How does Globalfy help if I don’t have an SSN?
Globalfy prepares and tracks Form SS-4 with the IRS using the specific rules for foreign responsible parties, with no SSN required at any stage. Support is provided by specialists in English, Portuguese and Spanish, with an account executive dedicated to your process.
Is it safe to open a U.S. company without an SSN through a third-party provider?
Yes, as long as the provider is transparent about what’s included and what’s paid separately, such as state fees. Globalfy has operated for more than ten years, has supported more than 10,000 founders in more than 100 countries and holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, from more than 700 reviews.
Can I open a U.S. bank account without an SSN even before the EIN is issued?
In some cases, yes. Banking partners such as Mercury let you start the account application before the EIN is issued, although final approval depends on the financial institution’s own review, which may ask for additional documents depending on the business profile.