Every day I work with clients from all over the world who want to open U.S. bank accounts, form LLCs, and operate legally at 0% tax in the United States. It sounds like the perfect global-entrepreneur setup…
But the truth is simple:
A U.S. bank account is not for everyone.
In fact, in many cases I tell prospects:
“You don’t need this. Don’t waste your time.”
Before jumping into the process, fees, compliance, and headaches, you should understand the top three reasons why you should NOT open a U.S. bank account—and at the end, I’ll explain when it does make sense, and how we set everything up for clients who actually qualify.
Reason #1:
You Don’t Want U.S. Dollar Exposure
This one is straightforward:
If you do not want to hold, receive, or manage money in USD, you should NOT open a U.S. bank account.
Most U.S. banks operate exclusively in U.S. dollars.
They don’t give you multi-currency accounts.
They don’t let you run your business in euros, pesos, or pounds.
So if you believe:
- The USD will weaken
- You prefer 100% local-currency operations
- You never sell to U.S. customers
- You want to avoid holding dollars completely
…then a U.S. account simply doesn’t make sense.
However, if your business sells to U.S. customers—coaching, consulting, e-commerce, services, software—then USD exposure isn’t a risk, it’s a necessity. You get paid in dollars, you invoice in dollars, and your customers expect you to run a business in dollars.
But if USD is not part of your world…
skip the U.S. bank account entirely.
Reason #2:
You Don’t Actually Need One
A surprising number of people think they need a U.S. bank account when their business model gives them zero benefit from having one.
If your entire business is local, a U.S. account will not help you.
Imagine these examples:
- A supermarket owner in Colombia
- A shoemaker in Ireland
- A construction contractor in Turkey
- A local freelancer in Spain who works only with domestic clients
All of these businesses operate strictly within their country. They get paid in their local currency. Their customers are local. They don’t sell internationally.
In these cases, a U.S. bank account (and the LLC that comes with it) adds nothing but:
- paperwork
- extra compliance
- unnecessary risk
- time wasted
- fees for something they’ll never use
However, if you want to:
- sell online internationally
- charge in USD
- work with U.S. clients
- expand beyond your local market
- reduce taxes legally outside your home country
…then a U.S. structure becomes extremely powerful.
But if you’re 100% local?
You don’t need it.
Reason #3:
It Can Create Too Much Local Risk or Compliance
This is the reason most people never consider.
Even if a U.S. LLC pays 0% federal tax, your home country may still require:
- reporting
- disclosures
- tax filings
- foreign-entity declarations
- audits
- annual fees
If the extra reporting in your country is too heavy, then the U.S. structure may not be worth the compliance burden.
A real example:
I work with clients in Spain.
They invoice their U.S. clients through a U.S. LLC, but then they must:
- report the LLC to Spanish authorities
- file extra tax forms
- declare global income
This means:
More compliance.
More tax.
More local risk.
So they face two choices:
- Report everything → higher taxes + more paperwork
- Don’t report it → higher risk
If both options feel painful, a U.S. structure is not right for them.
Now compare that to entrepreneurs in:
- Panama
- Dubai
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Paraguay
These countries have territorial tax systems, meaning foreign income is not taxed locally.
For them, the equation flips:
Low risk.
High reward.
Minimal reporting.
Full flexibility.
So depending on where you live, a U.S. account may be:
- a smart global-entrepreneur move
or
- a compliance nightmare.
When a U.S. Bank Account Does Make Sense
If you:
- live outside the U.S.
- operate your business from abroad
- don’t perform services physically inside the U.S.
- run a digital or location-independent business
…then you can legally pay 0% federal tax using a U.S. LLC with a U.S. business bank account.
This is especially powerful for:
- coaches
- consultants
- e-commerce sellers
- online service providers
- software companies
- agencies
- creators
If you want to charge USD, work with U.S. clients, and scale globally…
a U.S. system becomes a huge advantage.
How We Set Everything Up for Clients
(The Right Way)
When it does make sense for you, here’s how we help clients set everything up:
1. Form the U.S. LLC
We choose the correct state, structure, and operating model based on your tax strategy.
2. Obtain the EIN
The part everyone complains about. It takes time, and if you submit it incorrectly, you risk delays or rejection. We handle all of it.
3. Open U.S. Business Bank Accounts
This includes online banks that accept non-residents and (when needed) introductions to bankers who onboard international clients.
4. Provide Unique U.S. Business Addresses
Unlike Doola, Northwest, or other formation companies—who give the same address to thousands of clients—we use real U.S. offices that we rotate across clients, which massively reduces rejection.
5. Handle All U.S. Compliance
We manage the filings, reporting, and U.S. compliance so you don’t risk penalties or shutdowns.
6. Support You as You Scale
You get a fully functional U.S. business structure that lets you invoice clients, run ads, accept USD, open accounts, and operate globally.
Final Thoughts:
Choose What Matches Your Reality
A U.S. bank account is powerful—when it’s the right tool for the right situation.
But before spending money, time, and energy:
Ask yourself…
Do I want USD exposure?
Do I actually need a U.S. account?
Does my local compliance system allow it?
If the answer to any of those is “no,” then skip it.
If the answer is “yes,” then you’re in the perfect position to use a U.S. LLC and bank account to scale globally and reduce taxes legally.
If you want help deciding, you can schedule a free call with my team here:
We’ll tell you honestly whether it makes sense—or not.
