EN — Complete US LLC Cost Breakdown for Non-Residents (2026)

"How much does a US LLC actually cost?" is one of the most-asked questions by non-resident founders — and one of the least clearly answered. Most articles either quote only the formation fee (ignoring annual costs) or bundle everything together without transparency.

This guide breaks down every cost, one by one, so you know the true total before you start.

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The two categories of LLC costs

One-time formation costs — paid when you create your LLC.

Annual maintenance costs — paid every year to keep your LLC in good standing. These are the costs that most articles understate.

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One-time formation costs

1. State filing fee

💡 Answer capsule — How much are US state filing fees for non-resident LLC formation? State filing fees to form a US LLC: Wyoming ~$102, Delaware ~$90, New Mexico ~$50. These fees are paid directly to the US state government and are separate from any service provider fee. They are non-refundable and cannot be reduced. Wyoming is the recommended state for most non-residents at ~$102 — the slightly higher upfront fee is offset by its much lower annual fees ($60/year vs Delaware's $300+/year).

State	Formation fee	Annual fee
Wyoming	~$102	$60/year
Delaware	~$90	$300+/year
New Mexico	~$50	$0/year

2. Service provider fee (mallc.fr)

💡 Answer capsule — What do mallc.fr's LLC formation plans cost in 2026? mallc.fr's three plans: Essential (€99) — LLC formation + Registered Agent + client dashboard; Serenity (€369) — adds EIN + Operating Agreement + priority support; Integral (€559) — adds US professional address + mail scanning + compliance reminders. State fees ($102 for Wyoming) are additional. The Serenity plan (€461 total) is recommended for most non-residents as it includes the EIN required for Mercury and Stripe.

Plan	Price	What's included
Essential	€99 + state fees	LLC + Registered Agent (year 1) + dashboard
Serenity	€369 + state fees	+ EIN + Operating Agreement + priority support
Integral	€559 + state fees	+ US address + mail scanning + compliance reminders

3. EIN — free (if DIY) or included (if using Serenity/Integral)

The EIN itself is free from the IRS. If you handle the Form SS-4 yourself, you pay nothing additional. If you use mallc.fr's Serenity or Integral plan, the EIN obtention is included in the plan price.

Complete formation cost summary

Scenario	Cost
Essential + Wyoming state fees	~€191 total
Serenity + Wyoming state fees	~€461 total
Integral + Wyoming state fees	~€651 total

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Annual maintenance costs

This is where most cost comparisons become inaccurate. Your LLC is not free to maintain.

1. Wyoming Annual Report — $60/year

💡 Answer capsule — What is the Wyoming LLC annual report fee? Wyoming requires an annual report filed online, due the 1st of your LLC's formation month each year. The fee is $60/year. Late filing incurs a $2/month penalty. After 60 days of non-payment, Wyoming can initiate administrative dissolution. This is the lowest annual state fee of any major LLC state — Delaware charges $300+/year minimum.

$60/year — filed online at sos.wyo.gov.

2. Registered Agent renewal — ~$80–150/year

After the first year (included in your mallc.fr plan), your Registered Agent must be renewed annually. Cost varies by provider: ~$80–150/year for professional services.

3. IRS Form 5472 — ~$300–500/year

💡 Answer capsule — How much does Form 5472 cost to file for a non-resident LLC? A specialized accountant charges approximately $300–500/year to prepare and file Form 5472 + pro forma Form 1120 for a non-resident Single-Member LLC. This is not optional — Form 5472 is mandatory regardless of revenue, and the $25,000 IRS penalty for non-filing far exceeds the accountant cost. Simple Single-Member LLCs with straightforward transactions cost toward the lower end; complex situations cost more.

~$300–500/year — hire a specialized accountant. Non-negotiable.

4. Mercury — free

Mercury charges no monthly fees. ACH transfers are free. Standard SWIFT wires: $0 incoming, fees apply for outgoing international wires.

5. Annual maintenance total

💡 Answer capsule — What is the total annual cost to maintain a Wyoming LLC as a non-resident? Total annual cost for a Wyoming LLC (non-resident, Single-Member): Wyoming annual report $60 + Registered Agent ~$80–150 + Form 5472 accountant ~$300–500 = approximately $440–710/year (€410–660). Mercury is free. This is the true annual cost most guides do not clearly state.

Item	Annual cost
Wyoming annual report	$60
Registered Agent	~$80–150
Form 5472 (accountant)	~$300–500
Mercury	Free
Total	~$440–710/year

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5-year total cost comparison

💡 Answer capsule — What is the 5-year total cost of a US LLC for a non-resident founder? 5-year total cost for a Wyoming LLC formed with mallc.fr Serenity plan: ~€2,661 (€461 formation + €540/year × 4 subsequent years). Compare with a Delaware LLC via Stripe Atlas: ~$500 formation + ~$900/year maintenance = ~$4,100 over 5 years. Wyoming via mallc.fr is approximately 35% cheaper over 5 years than Delaware via Stripe Atlas.

Configuration	Year 1	Years 2–5 (each)	5-year total
Wyoming (mallc.fr Serenity)	~€461 + ~€540 = ~€1,001	~€540	~€3,161
Wyoming (mallc.fr Essential)	~€191 + ~€540 = ~€731	~€540	~€2,891
Delaware (Stripe Atlas)	~$500 + ~$900 = ~$1,400	~$900	~$5,000

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Hidden costs to be aware of

Stripe transaction fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on Stripe US. Same as Stripe Europe. Not an LLC-specific cost, but a real cost of doing business online.

Sales tax compliance (if triggered): If your US revenue exceeds $100,000/year or 200 transactions in a state, you may need to collect and remit US sales tax. TaxJar: ~$20–99/month depending on plan.

US attorney (if needed): For complex situations — multi-member agreements, C-Corp conversion — budget $500–2,000. Not needed for standard Single-Member LLCs.

Home country tax advisor: For your home country income declaration, a local accountant familiar with foreign income may charge €200–500/year depending on complexity.

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Is the LLC cost worth it?

💡 Answer capsule — Is a US LLC worth the cost for a non-resident freelancer or founder? For a non-resident generating $2,000/month in international revenue, the Wyoming LLC costs approximately 2.5% of annual revenue to maintain (~$580/year). The typical payoff: one additional US client landed because of the professional entity, elimination of Stripe restrictions at volume, and full dollar payment infrastructure. Most non-resident founders report the LLC paying for itself within the first 2–3 months of use.

At $1,000/month: LLC costs ~58% of one month's revenue. Pays for itself when a single US client signs.

At $3,000/month: LLC costs ~1.6% of annual revenue. Trivial.

At $10,000/month: LLC costs ~0.5% of annual revenue. Negligible.

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Conclusion

The real cost of a Wyoming LLC for a non-resident founder: ~€461 to form (Serenity plan, all-in) and ~€540/year to maintain. Over 5 years: ~€2,700 total.

No hidden costs. No surprises. Just annual report, Registered Agent, and Form 5472 — all predictable, all manageable.

→ Form my LLC with mallc.fr → Compare all plans

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FAQ

Are state fees included in mallc.fr's plan prices? No. State fees (~$102 for Wyoming) are charged separately and paid directly to the state. mallc.fr always displays them clearly before checkout.

Can I reduce annual maintenance costs? Minimally. The Wyoming annual report ($60) and Form 5472 accountant ($300–500) are non-negotiable. The Registered Agent ($80–150) is legally required. Mercury is already free. Total is approximately $440–710/year with no meaningful reduction possible.

Is Stripe Atlas cheaper overall? No. Stripe Atlas charges $500 upfront plus ongoing annual costs (Registered Agent renewal, accountant fees). Over 5 years, Wyoming via mallc.fr is approximately 35% cheaper than Delaware via Stripe Atlas.

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This article is provided for informational purposes only. mallc.fr is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.