25 Online Business Ideas You Can Run with a US LLC (2026)

A US LLC is a tool, not a business — but it unlocks the payment rails and credibility that make dozens of online businesses viable from anywhere. Here are 25 ideas non-residents actually run through a US LLC, grouped by type. Each needs the same foundation (LLC + EIN + US bank + Stripe), and most have a full step-by-step guide linked below.

Services & freelancing

The fastest path to revenue: you already have the skill, and the LLC just lets you bill US clients in USD and accept card payments as a real US business. Low startup cost, and Wyoming is the usual pick.

• Freelance design or development — a US entity and a US bank make you look enterprise-ready and let you win bigger, longer contracts instead of one-off gigs. See the designers & developers guide.
• Marketing / SMMA agency — US brands are far more comfortable signing and paying a US company; the LLC removes the "who are you?" friction on discovery calls. See agencies.
• Virtual assistant business — invoice US clients professionally and get paid to a US account instead of chasing wire transfers. See the VA guide.
• Online coaching or consulting — take card payments for programs and retainers, and add the trust a US entity signals to high-ticket clients. See coaches & consultants.
• Copywriting, video editing, or SEO services — the exact same setup: register once, then invoice any US client in USD and run everything through Stripe.

E-commerce

Selling physical or digital goods to the US market almost always requires a US entity and US banking — most marketplaces and processors verify a real US business before they'll pay out.

• Dropshipping store — Shopify Payments and Stripe onboard a US LLC cleanly, so you can sell to US buyers without holding inventory. See how to start.
• Amazon FBA / arbitrage — a US LLC + EIN + US bank is the standard way non-US sellers get into (and stay in) Seller Central. See the Amazon guide.
• TikTok Shop seller — TikTok Shop's US marketplace only accepts US-registered businesses, so the LLC is the gate, not an optional extra. See TikTok Shop.
• eBay store — run a US eBay account with US payouts to your business bank. See eBay sellers.
• Importing & wholesale from Alibaba — a US company earns supplier trust and gives you US banking to pay and get paid at volume. See importers.
• Digital products on Gumroad / Lemon Squeezy — sell templates, presets, and downloads globally with USD payouts. See the digital-products guide.

Software & SaaS

Software is the purest fit: your customers are everywhere, and a US LLC gives you the Stripe/Paddle billing stack to charge them all.

• SaaS or micro-SaaS product — bill worldwide subscriptions through Stripe from day one, no local-processor limits. See AI SaaS founders.
• AI tools and wrappers — the same billing infrastructure, and fast to launch on top of existing APIs.
• Mobile apps with subscriptions — a US entity and US bank simplify App Store and Google Play payouts and tax paperwork.
• No-code / automation services — productize your builds and charge recurring fees instead of trading hours.

Creator economy

Platforms pay creators to a bank account — and many pay US entities faster, in USD, with fewer restrictions. A US LLC turns your audience into a business.

• YouTube channel — collect AdSense and sponsorships through a US company and separate the money from your personal accounts. See the YouTube guide.
• TikTok creator & brand deals — US brands prefer paying a US entity, which unlocks bigger deals. See TikTok creators.
• Newsletter / Substack — take paid subscriptions through Stripe with clean USD payouts. See newsletter writers.
• Podcast monetization — invoice sponsors and route ad revenue through the business. See podcasters.
• Twitch / Kick streaming — receive payouts and sponsorships as a US business. See streamers.
• Online courses — sell courses and cohorts worldwide with card payments. See course creators.

Finance, crypto & investing

These use the LLC less for payments and more for structure, privacy, and a clean legal entity — Wyoming is the popular choice here.

• Crypto project or DAO entity — give your Web3 project a real legal home for contracts, treasury, and contributors. See crypto projects.
• Crypto holding company — hold digital assets in a private, asset-protected entity. See holding company.
• Forex / prop trading entity — trade through a US company with cleaner banking and record-keeping. See forex trading.
• US real estate investing — hold US property in an LLC for liability protection and simpler ownership. See real estate investors.

What they all have in common

Every one of these needs the same foundation: a US LLC, an EIN, and a US bank account so you can accept Stripe/PayPal and get paid in USD. That's the part we handle. Pick your idea, then form your US LLC — flat $200, EIN and registered agent included.