Doing business in the United States
Are you planning to sell to US customers, launch an online business or expand through platforms such as Amazon and eBay? SB Advisors can help you assess whether a US company is appropriate and organise the practical steps needed to establish your business.
A US legal entity is not always required to sell into the American market. However, the right structure can help you organise commercial contracts, payment arrangements and local operations. The choice should reflect your business activities, ownership, where you work and how your products or services reach customers.
Are Delaware and Nevada companies tax-free?
You may have heard that companies registered in Delaware or Nevada do not pay taxes. This is an oversimplification.
Incorporation in a particular state does not automatically remove federal tax obligations. State-level obligations must also be considered, particularly where the business operates. An LLC and a corporation may receive different tax treatment, and the owners’ circumstances can affect the outcome.
The appropriate question is therefore not simply “Which state has no tax?” but “Which structure suits my business, and what obligations will it create?”
How we can help
Depending on your requirements, we can assist with company formation, EIN issuance, relevant registrations, bookkeeping and ongoing compliance arrangements.
We can also help you explore business banking and payment options. Account approval remains subject to the provider’s eligibility requirements and identity checks.
For businesses selling physical products, we can help identify storage and fulfilment providers and discuss how these arrangements fit into your operating model.
Selling through Amazon and eBay
Company formation is only one part of establishing an online business. You should also consider marketplace verification, payment processing, product requirements, imports, storage, returns and the registrations applicable to your activities.
We begin by understanding what you sell, where the goods are held, how orders are fulfilled and where the owners manage the business. This helps identify the services and professional advice you need before trading.
Understanding the ongoing costs
Before incorporating, consider the full annual cost of maintaining the entity. Depending on the structure and activities, this may include registered-agent services, state fees, bookkeeping, tax preparation and other compliance work.
Costs vary, so we recommend assessing the expected running costs alongside your sales forecast rather than choosing a company solely because formation is inexpensive.
Using a US company for international business
A US entity can also be considered for business conducted outside the United States. However, this should not be presented as automatically tax-free or free from reporting obligations.
The treatment depends on the entity’s tax classification, ownership, income and activities. In some circumstances, information returns may be required even where no US income tax is payable. The owners may also have obligations in their country of residence.
We can help you identify the questions that need to be addressed before selecting a structure.
Trading with Gulf countries
The United States has free-trade agreements with Bahrain and Oman, which may create opportunities for qualifying trade. However, forming a US company does not automatically provide preferential access throughout the Gulf.
Eligibility depends on the relevant agreement, the goods or services involved and applicable origin and local requirements. Any potential benefit should be checked against your actual business model.
Discuss your plans with us
Tell us what you intend to sell, where you live, where the business will operate and whether you require US storage or fulfilment. We can then discuss an appropriate setup and the support needed to launch and maintain it.
You are welcome to ask questions before leaving your contact details. If you request a follow-up, we will respond to your enquiry—we will not bombard you with promotional emails or automatically add you to a marketing mailing list.