In this article, I will shed more light on how to use stripe as a Non US resident to process payments for your online business.
I guess you offer services online or have a dropshipping or an eCommerce store or you simply need Stripe to receive payment on your business website.
Whichever way, Stripe is still #1 payment processor right now. You can use to process payments on your website, it allows you to receive payment on your website via credit card without taking your buyer to another website.
The Stripe payment processor is embedded on your website which makes it easy, flexible and quick for your buyers to make payments.
It does not matter where your customer is paying from, your price in dollars is charged on your customer’s credit card and remitted to your stripe account immediately.
Using Stripe makes it easier, fast and reliable to process payment on your store! Even better than PayPal.
However, the bad news we already know is that Stripe is only available for residents in the United States (USA) and a few numbers of other countries.
Then, what if your country is outside Stripe availability by default, is all hope gone? Nah!
But we have good news, which is we can use Stripe legally even though your country isn’t allowed.
How do you accomplish this?
The only thing you have to do is first, register a business in the USA and use the data to create your legal Stripe account.
And in this article, I will you how you can set up your own stripe account exactly the way I set up my own.
How to Set Up Stripe Account for Non-Supported Countries or Non-American Resident
To GET a Stripe account legally without any future issue as a non US resident you will need the following:
- EIN (Employer Identification Number) or Tax ID
- A USA Phone Number
- USA Physical Address
- USA Bank Account
- USA Business Formation (LLC)
Note, Before you get carried away, everything is easy to set-up and can be set up within few days and at a low price.
The most significant of all is opening a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in the USA which will lead you in getting your Tax ID (EIN).
After you have gotten your Tax ID or EIN, you can then advance to set up your Stripe account.
Beneath is a notification from Stripe company confirming the validity of creating a stripe account as a non-American citizen.
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So, as a Non US citizen, you can set up a Stripe account as far as you get a business in the USA and a legal EIN number.
The good here is that have no reason to pay for the business establishment, nevertheless, you will need to pay for state filing & tax ID.
Getting an LLC for Your Business in The USA
One of the reason of having your business registered in the US isn’t limited to Stripe only but you can benefit from several similar businesses under the registered business.
Another benefit is that you don’t need a Social Security Number (SNN) to have your business registered in the US.
You just need to choose a NAME for your business and pick a state you want it to be registered in the US.
Also, doing the business registration ensure you understand the state you want to set up your business in, because some states charge high annual business tax and as well as high state filling (Business Registration).
But I discovered;
Kentucky
and Colorado State
to be very cheap.
Kentucky state charges $15 as an annual Tax fee and $40 as state filling while Colorado state charges $50 as a state filling and $10 as an annual Tax fee.
Kindly, do further research on that if you want to go with any of the state based on their current fees.
A state annual tax is a tax you pay on every end of the year. So they vary based on the state you pick to register your business.
States such as Hawaii, Newyork and California should definitely be out of your choice because they’re madly high on tax.
I’m not US resident but I have my business registered there and I can use Stripe to process payments as a non US resident.
And this is the main purpose of this article which is to show you how to get it done and at a very cheaper rate.
I was able to carry out all this using Inc Authority and Kentucky (link) as my business state because it’s very cheap.
Plus, there is various service out there charging as high as $1000 for this same purpose. But before I conclude this article you will learn how you can get yours for less than $250.
Coming from someone who hasn’t visited America, I know-how important, it will be for your online business to register your business in the US.
ALSO READ: Aliexpress Shipping Time For Dropshipping SOLVED
How to Set up Your Business LLC Using Inc Authority
In other to be eligible to use Stripe as a non-American Citizen you need to register a business in the USA using Inc Authority.
Inc Authority gives online business incorporation registration services and other business services like federal tax ID No, LLC operating agreements, record books, etc.
At Inc Authority, setting your business is free except for state charges. And this is why it’s relatively cheap compared to others charging as high as $2000 for the same business formation.
I carried out intensive research before I finally choose Inc Authority to form my business LLC formation in the US. Their service was excellent and while I will always recommend them.
Checking TRUST PILOT for their review will reveal to you, they are the best.
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Now let’s progress to registring your LLC at Inc Authority:
Setting up your LLC with Inc Authority is very easy, I’ve done justice to it, by braking it in the step by step guide below. All you need do is just follow the steps and your Tax and LCC will be set up.
Step 1. Head Over to Inc Authority
First, you need to move straight to IncAuthority.com to get started. after that, you click on the “START NOW FOR FREE” icon…
From there you move to the next page which is the state you want to form the LLC and your business entity type.
Step 2. Choose Your Business Entity
From the drop-down menu, choose LLC (Limited Liability Company) and then choose your state. I recommend you should go with Kentucky because of the low cost and the cheap annual tax fee.
After that, click on “Save and Continue”
Step 3. Business Owner Details
The next step is about the business owner. At this point, you have to fill in your Full name, your e-mail and also your America phone number.
Moreover, you need to tick the “Terms and Condition” box to proceed to the next stage.
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To get a free USA phone number, go to Google play store and download the TextPlus App.
The App is free of charge and it’s equally what I used.
Step 4. Enter Your Business Information
Next is to pick a name for your business with a short description and a search will be run on it to check if it’s still available.
If your business name is available, It will be created immediately upon the state approval. However, in the case whereby your proposed business name isn’t available, you will need to adjust or find a new name.
But it won’t cost you any additional fee!
Next, You should “tick the Minimize business and taxes” and proceed to save and continue.
Step 5: Your Business Address
Here, you need a physical US address where your document can be sent to. Doing my registration, I called and I directed them to send it to my email address.
But that does not mean you don’t need the US address, you do! In other to get your US address there are many online services you can use such as:
Virtualpostmail.com
physicaladdress.com
shipito.com
Shipito.com is free to use and you can get started with them, Create an account and you’ll be given a physical address straight away.
Finally, enter your business address, click on Save, then Continue.
Step 6: Getting Your Tax ID (EIN)
Inc Authority will be the one to get your Tax ID or EIN at just $49. Which is very cheap compared to other services.
Step 7. Custom Operating Agreement
This stage, you have to add the custom operating agreement because it is necessary. This is proof that you are the rightful owner of the business.
And it also represents the state law backing your business.
ALSO READ: Aliexpress Shipping Time For Dropshipping SOLVED
Step 8. Inc Protection Advisor
The Inc protection advisor and the steps are not necessary, because is just an upsell.
You just need your stripe set up. The remaining steps include:
Lawsuit Protection – $99 (this form protect and exclude you when your business gets sued.
I paid for this, but you can leave it, in case you don’t have funds now. Note, you can always pay for it on Inc Authority later
Express Delivery – $49 (if you a faster delivery that is, the entire process done within 2 days this offer is for you.
But normally, using Inc Authority, your business will be ready within 5 days.
Domain Name – $29.95 (this offer will allow Inc Authority to secure your proposed business domain name for you. Alternative, using NameCheap, you can get it for less than $10
Business License Package – $99 This package is not needed, for now, this package just covers you in case of a lawsuit which that you can still get them in future when you might want it.
Lastly, you will have to pay to secure your LLC business registration. The total price of what you will pay for should be:
- Kentucky State Filling fee – $40
- Operating Agreement – $89
- EIN/Tax ID – $49
== $179
With this ready, your business LLC will be set up with your valid Tax ID that will be use doing registration of your Stripe account.
You can Set up Your Stripe Account to START Process Payments As A Non-US Resident Immediately your business LLC is registered, your business will all get a tax ID. Which is includes top criteria needed to create your Stripe account?
To create your Stripe account, simply head over to stripe website (Stripe.com) and proceed to create your account. Enter your email address and full name.
After you are done with the registration, you will need to activate it by filling an account application. In the application, you will need to enter your personal details, US company details, EIN and a digital copy of your government-issued Identity
Once you have done everything correctly you should be approved in few days.
After everything is successful, you can now use Stripe to process payments on any of your business website. All funds will be sent to your US bank account.
Up Next is how to create a USA bank account to cashout your Stripe earnings!
Opening a US Bank Account with Payoneer
This stage is the easiest since we have Payoneer for that. All you need to do is register with Payoneer.com, connect with Global payment service and you will be able to get your virtual US bank account.
Once you’re done with this, you can now have your funds move to Payoneer and cash it in your local currencies. It’s as easy as that.
Nevertheless, to do this, you have to access your Stripe account. From your account, you can advance to the payout sections and add your Payoneer account number and that’s all, you are now set to proceed with your eCommerce business. You now have a legal business in the US, in addition, you can also receive payments with your stripe account.
Finally
With the above procedure, you will rapid growth in your business. If you also have a PayPal business account this will an advantage.
Your business is also fully legalized in the US. I hope you find this very helpful.
That’s it on how to use Stripe to process payments as a non-US resident. What are your views on this? Let me know them using the comment box