Wyoming for privacy. Delaware for investors.
Choose based on how you will operate and fund the company, not based on internet folklore.
Wyoming LLC
Low annual fee, strong privacy, strong asset protection.
Delaware C-Corp
Investor familiarity, Court of Chancery, VC-friendly corporate law.
| Category | Wyoming | Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Annual state cost | $60 minimum | $400 annual tax for LLCs |
| Founder privacy | Very strong | Strong |
| Best fit | Owner-operated LLCs | Venture-backed startups |
| Typical speed | 1-2 business days | 2-3 business days |
When Wyoming wins
For most non-resident founders running an owner-operated business, a Wyoming LLC is the practical default.
Lower running cost
Wyoming charges roughly $60 per year for the annual report, has no state income tax and no franchise tax. That keeps your fixed overhead near zero while you grow.
Real privacy
Wyoming does not list LLC members in routine public filings, so your name stays off the public record. That suits freelancers, ecommerce sellers, SaaS founders, holding companies, and indie hackers. Read the full Wyoming LLC guide.
When Delaware wins
Delaware earns its premium when outside investment is part of the plan.
Investor familiarity
Venture funds, accelerators, and US startup lawyers know Delaware corporate law inside out. A Delaware C-Corp is the standard vehicle for priced rounds and stock option plans.
Court of Chancery
Delaware's Court of Chancery is a dedicated business court with decades of predictable precedent. The trade-off is a flat $400 annual tax for LLCs. See the Delaware guide.
What both states have in common
Neither state requires you to be a US citizen, hold an SSN or ITIN, or visit the US to form a company. In both, your EIN is requested from the IRS with Form SS-4, and you can open a US account remotely through Mercury, Relay, or Wise once you have your documents (see the banking guide). The state you choose changes your cost, privacy, and investor optics, not your basic eligibility.
A simple rule of thumb
If you are an owner-operator, a freelancer, an ecommerce or SaaS founder, or running a holding company, and you have no near-term plans to raise venture money, form a Wyoming LLC: it is the cheapest to run and the most private. If you are building a startup that will raise a priced round, issue stock options, or seek institutional investors, form in Delaware so your structure matches what funds expect from day one and you avoid a costly re-incorporation later. Either way, the formation, EIN, registered agent, and compliance tracking work the same with UpToNova, so you can commit to the state without worrying about the operational details.