Expanding your business to the United States may seem complex, but with a clear roadmap you can take the first steps safely. Below, we present an informative and direct guide on the basic requirements, business structures, and conditions of participation of foreign partners.

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1. Define the Business Model and the Target Market

Before any registration, it is essential to clarify your product or service, target audience, and billing projections. Do a quick market survey to confirm demand and competition. This step helps to choose the most appropriate legal structure and to plan initial investments.

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2. Choice of Business Structure

In the US, the most common options are:

• LLC (Limited Liability Company): flexible, protects personal assets and allows simple taxation.
• Corporation (C-Corp or S-Corp): suitable for those seeking investors and issuing shares; S-Corp offers pass-through taxation, but requires resident partners.
• Sole Proprietorship: simple model, without distinction between assets, suitable for low-risk businesses.

Each format has differences in costs, taxes, and governance. The correct choice directly impacts your tax burden and legal protection.

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3. State Selection and Business Name Registration

The place of registration influences fees, compliance rules, and state taxes. States like Delaware, Nevada, and Florida are popular for cost and flexibility. After choosing, check the availability of the desired name on the website of Secretary of State corresponding and reserve it for registration.

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4. Company Registration (Articles of Organization/Incorporation)

For LLC, file the Articles of Organization; for Corpo, Articles of Incorporation. This document makes the company's existence official. It will be necessary to:

• Company name and local address (can be virtual office)
• Summarized social object
• Name and address of the Registered Agent (legal representative in the state)
• Information about partners or directors

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5. Obtaining the Employer Identification Number (EIN)

The EIN works like a CPF/CNPJ in the USA. It is issued by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) and is required to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. The order is simple, made online via IRS.gov, even for companies without American partners.

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6. Specific Licenses and Permissions

Depending on the sector and municipality, it may be necessary to obtain state or municipal licenses (e.g., business license, health permit, special permits). Research local requirements and include those costs in your financial planning.

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7. Bank Account Opening and Financial Services

With the EIN in hand, open a business bank account with banks that serve not only checking accounts, but facilitate international transfers and offer exchange management tools. Some banks allow remote opening, but a personal visit is normally required to verify documents.

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8. Foreign x American Partners

In the U.S., there is no requirement for partners or directors to be American citizens. Foreigners can be 100% homeowners. Pay attention only to the requirements of an S-Corp, which limits members to residents or citizens of the United States. For other structures (LLC, C-Corp), any nationality is accepted.

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9. Accounting and Tax Compliance

After opening, organize your accounting according to ON GAAP or small business guide. Record income, expenses, and prepare for federal (Form 1120 for C-Corp) and state returns. Bookkeeping services and software like QuickBooks facilitate this control.

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10. Specialized Partnership and Next Steps

This guide presents fundamental steps, but depending on the complexity of your case, many details fall outside the initial scope. To ensure speed and full compliance, count on AdvizeOne. We offer:

• Full support in formalizing the company
• Tax and accounting planning
• Registered Agent and virtual office services
• Integration with fulfillment logistics solutions (Akin Logistics)

Schedule your free consultation now and start your internationalization in a safe and strategic way.