A US company, from Nigeria.
Most Nigerian founders forming a US LLC are not chasing prestige, they are chasing Stripe, PayPal and a bank account that does not fight the naira every month. That is a solvable problem, but two well-known neobanks will simply reject you, so it is worth knowing which ones before you apply.
What's included
- LLC or C-Corp filed in the state you choose, in 1-2 business days
- EIN from the IRS with no SSN, ITIN or BVN required
- Registered agent and a US business address
- Operating agreement and your stamped formation certificate
- The domain, if you still need one, at the price you keep renewing at
- Bookkeeping and US tax filing when the company starts trading
What it costs
Plus the state filing fee, paid straight through to the Secretary of State. Wyoming $100, New Mexico $50, Delaware $110 with a $300 annual franchise tax on top.
What actually drives this decision from Nigeria
Payment access is the real reason
Stripe's direct support for Nigerian-registered businesses has historically been limited, and PayPal's Nigeria product only sends money out, it does not let you receive. A US LLC with an EIN gives you a US-facing entity that can hold a Stripe account and a Payoneer or Wise balance the way a Nigerian entity often cannot.
CBN rules govern how money moves, not whether you can form the company
Forming the LLC is unrestricted. Moving money between it and Nigeria is where the Central Bank of Nigeria's foreign exchange rules apply, including Form A for personal remittances and Form M for larger commercial transfers. None of that blocks formation, but plan for it before you expect to pull profit home.
Your Nigerian tax position is unchanged
Nigeria taxes its tax residents on worldwide income under the Companies Income Tax Act and personal income tax law. A US LLC does not remove that obligation. Talk to an FIRS-registered tax adviser about how LLC profit is treated on your Nigerian return.
Can you actually open a US bank account?
The honest answer, which is more than most providers will give you.
What actually works for Nigerian founders
- Payoneer is the default choice, widely used and built for exactly this.
- Wise Business works and is straightforward to open.
- Stripe becomes usable once the LLC has its EIN.
- Airwallex is worth checking directly, coverage changes by corridor.
What to know before you rely on it
- Mercury does not accept Nigeria. It is on their prohibited list, not a maybe.
- Relay does not accept Nigeria either. Do not spend time on an application to either.
- A registered agent address is not a business address, which matters for whichever provider you do use.
- The EIN takes 4-6 weeks for non-US founders. Payment tools generally need it before they will fully activate the account.
Why we say this out loud. Every competitor advertises a US bank account as though it were part of the package. It is not, for anyone, and pretending otherwise just moves the disappointment to after you have paid. Form the company for the entity, the EIN and the ability to take Stripe payments. Treat the bank account as a separate application with a real chance of rejection.
Real platforms this comes up against
Everything else your US company needs
EIN without an SSN
The step that stalls most non-US founders. We run the SS-4 process end to end.
Form 5472 and US filings
Foreign-owned LLCs file every year even at zero income. The penalty for missing it is $25,000.
Form the company
LLC or C-Corp in any of the 50 states, with the EIN and registered agent included.
Founders from other countries
Exchange control, your SARS position, and the honest answer on US banking.
BoG licensing rules, GRA filing, and the Stripe-Paystack workaround.
PayPal's 2026 freeze wave, CBK's no exchange controls, and the KRA position.
PayPal's 8% conversion tax, CBE forex rules, and the zero-rated VAT on exports.
BIR registration, remittance limits, and Mercury vs Relay.
SBP rules, why PayPal is not the answer, and what is.
PayPal's announced-but-not-live access, CBSL's 2026 repatriation rules, and IRD's new freelancer tax.
Bangladesh Bank's 2026 forex overhaul, the IT tax exemption, and Mercury's ban.
SBV forex rules, Decree 117's platform withholding, and why Stripe needs a US LLC.
Why Stripe is invite-only, Mercury's ban, and the DHE repatriation rules.
The 100% tax deduction that still needs a foreign bank, and why Stripe still says no.
The cepo cambiario after 2025, why Stripe still won't onboard you, and the LEC.
The 9x IOF shock, why Stripe needs a CNPJ, and the Carne-Leao filing.
The ATO LLC classification trap, CFC rules, and the DTA.
IRD's foreign investment fund rules and the US-NZ DTA.
How this works. NameMarshal is not a law firm or an accountancy practice, and nothing on this page is legal or tax advice. Company formation, EIN and registered agent services here are fulfilled by our formation partner doola. Foreign-owned US LLCs generally have to file Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 every year, even with no income, and the penalty for missing it is steep. Ask us and we will point you at someone licensed to handle it.