How to Start Dropshipping with a US LLC (Non-Resident Guide)
By UpToNova Team · July 9, 2026 · 6 min read
Dropshipping is one of the lowest-barrier ways to start an online store — you sell products a supplier ships directly to your customer, so you never hold inventory. The hard part for non-US founders isn't the store; it's getting paid. A US LLC solves that.
Why a US LLC helps dropshippers
Payment processors are the bottleneck. Stripe and Shopify Payments aren't fully available in many countries, and PayPal frequently limits new international sellers. A US LLC with an EIN and a US bank account lets you set up Stripe and Shopify Payments as a US business — the same tools your US competitors use — and get paid in USD.
It also builds trust: US suppliers and platforms are more comfortable working with a registered US company, and "Powered by a US business" reassures customers at checkout.
Step 1 — Form the LLC and get an EIN
Start with a US LLC. Wyoming is the usual pick for a lean store — low cost and no state income tax. You'll need an EIN to open banking and payments.
Step 2 — Open US banking and set up Stripe
Open a US business account (Mercury, Relay, or Wise) using your formation documents and EIN — see the banking guide. Then connect Stripe to your US LLC and enable Shopify Payments.
Step 3 — Build the store and pick suppliers
Shopify is the standard platform. For suppliers, options range from AliExpress (via apps like DSers) to US-based suppliers for faster shipping, and print-on-demand services. If you're importing directly, our Alibaba importers guide covers sourcing at volume.
Step 4 — Handle sales tax and compliance
US sales tax for e-commerce depends on where your customers are and where you have "nexus." Apps like Shopify Tax or a service like TaxJar help automate collection. Your LLC also has light annual upkeep — see annual compliance.
Get set up
The store is the easy part — the payment infrastructure is what actually unlocks the US market. Form your US LLC and we'll handle the LLC, EIN, and registered agent so you can focus on selling.
Form your US company with UpToNova
Wyoming or Delaware LLC, EIN, registered agent, and US banking guidance — done remotely, no SSN required.
Start your formation