The NameMarshal blog.
Practical, honest guides on web hosting, VPS, and running open-source AI yourself. No fluff, no filler.
Fresh from the team.
Form 5472: What Happens If You Don't File
A $25,000 minimum penalty applies even at zero income. How it compounds, and the narrow path to relief.
Form SS-4 Line by Line for Foreign Founders
Line 7b is where non-US applications stall most. Exactly what belongs there and why.
How Long Does an EIN Really Take Without an SSN?
Why published estimates disagree, and a realistic range to actually plan around.
Do You Need a US Address to Form an LLC?
The four different addresses people confuse, and where that confusion causes real problems.
Bookkeeping Requirements for a Foreign-Owned US LLC
What Form 5472 actually needs behind it, and why zero income does not mean zero records.
Do I Need an ITIN If I Have a US LLC?
Why an EIN and an ITIN are not the same thing, and when you actually need the second one.
How to Install Ollama on a VPS
Spin up a VPS and run your own open-source LLM with Ollama, step by step. No GPU required.
What Is VPS Hosting?
A plain-English guide to what a VPS is, how it differs from shared hosting, and what it costs.
VPS vs Shared Hosting
What each is best for, when to stay on shared, and when to upgrade to a VPS.
Domain and Hosting Costs Explained
What a domain and hosting should actually cost, and the hidden fees to watch for.
How to Register a Business in South Africa
CIPC, Pty Ltd, sole trader, or a US LLC if you need Stripe or international clients -- every option explained.
Domain and Hosting Costs in South Africa
Real 2026 prices for .com, .co.za, .net and .io domains and shared hosting, in USD and ZAR, with no hidden renewal hikes.
More guides on VPS, WordPress, and self-hosted AI are on the way.
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