FAQ
Questions people actually ask.
Do I need to be in the United States, or have a visa?
No. There is no citizenship, residency or immigration requirement to own a U.S. LLC. Owning a company is not the same as working in the country — that is a separate question with a different answer, and it is worth asking a U.S. immigration attorney about before you assume either way.
Can I get an EIN without a Social Security Number?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs to responsible parties without an SSN through Form SS-4. In our experience it comes back within one business day. It is included in every formation package.
You only do Florida. Is Florida right for me?
Florida is right if you touch the state — clients, property, import and export, a business you visit — or if you want your registered agent to be a person you can call. If you run an online business from abroad and cost is the only consideration, Wyoming is cheaper: $100 to form and $60 a year against $125 and $138.75. Our pricing page publishes what all 51 jurisdictions charge, including the ones we do not serve. Ask us and we will tell you straight; we would rather lose the sale than put you in the wrong state.
Do I have to file a BOI report with FinCEN?
Under the interim final rule issued on March 26, 2025, entities created in the United States are exempt from BOI reporting, including those owned entirely by non-U.S. persons. Foreign entities registered to do business in the U.S. still report, but are not required to report U.S. persons as beneficial owners. This is a recent change and worth confirming on FinCEN's site before you rely on it.
Will you open my bank account?
We walk you through the application on the platforms that actually open for non-residents — Mercury, Bluevine, Lili and Novo are the ones we work with. We will not promise approval, because the institution decides and anyone telling you otherwise is selling you something. Have your Operating Agreement ready before you apply; it is the document they ask for.
Can you file my trademark application for me?
We prepare the complete application package. If you are domiciled in the United States you may file it yourself. If you are foreign-domiciled, USPTO rules require a U.S.-licensed attorney to represent you, and we will refer you to one instead of taking your money for something you cannot use.
What if the state rejects the filing?
If it was rejected because we got something wrong, we correct it and file again at no charge to you. If it was rejected because of information you gave us that turned out to be different, we tell you what changed and what the refiling costs — the state charges its fee again either way, and that part is never ours to waive.
Why is the Operating Agreement not in every package?
Because not everyone needs it on day one, and we would rather not charge everyone for it. It is included in Scale and can be added to any other package. Get it before you apply to a bank: it is the document they ask for, and for a single-member LLC it is also what separates you from your company on paper.
What about Form BE-13?
BE-13 is a filing with the Bureau of Economic Analysis that can apply when a foreign person acquires or establishes a U.S. business. We flag it at intake and put it on your calendar so you know it exists and can decide what to do — we do not file it for you.
Is Ankora a law firm?
No. Ankora is a business services company. It was founded by a corporate attorney licensed in Colombia, which shapes how the process is built, but Ankora does not practice U.S. law, does not provide U.S. legal advice, and does not represent clients before the USPTO.
Do you handle taxes?
No. We coordinate with accountants who work with foreign-owned U.S. entities, and we flag the filings that carry penalties — Form 5472 in particular, which catches a lot of single-member LLC owners by surprise. The filing itself belongs to a tax professional.
What if I need to close the company later?
Dissolution is a service we offer. It matters more than people expect: an LLC you stop paying for does not disappear, it accrues penalties and stays on the record.