U.S. Company Formation for Nigerian Founders
We help Nigerian entrepreneurs establish a fully compliant U.S. LLC and gain access to Stripe and business bank accounts.
No SSN or ITIN required. 100% remote.
Founded by a Nigerian entrepreneur
Every file handled personally
Federal filings included
THE ONLINE PAYMENT PROBLEM
You are not losing clients because of your work.
There’s nothing more frustrating than successfully closing an international client online and still being unable to work with them because of your inability to receive payments.
Too many Nigerian founders know the struggle involved in attempting to convince a client to try new invoicing software, sign up for payment platforms, or wire large amounts of money for a project.
It’s not that your portfolio isn’t strong enough or that you don’t have the experience and expertise required. You’re a credible professional. Your rates are priced reasonably for your industry. While chatting with them on the video call, your prospective clients are smiling and nodding in agreement, eager to begin working with you.
Then the issue of payment comes up. You give them a link to your usual Nigerian payment processor. Declined. That’s strange; try it one more time. Declined again: Your account doesn’t recognize or support international cards; contact support.
You panic.
You’re about to lose a $5,000 project, just like that. Think fast!
So you suggest using an invoicing software, but your client has never heard of it. To pay you, they are required to create an account on the platform and save their credit card details.
That’s never going to happen. They just met you 30 minutes ago. Why would they trust you with their credit card on a platform only you claim is legit?
Finally, in one last desperate attempt, you give them your Nigerian bank account details and ask them to directly wire the money to you. $5,000, irreversibly wired from their U.S. business bank account into your Nigerian personal account.
This is where you stop looking like a professional and start sounding like a scammer.
It’s not because you’re not good at what you do or that you’re unable to effectively communicate your solution to the client. You’re losing money because you’re operating an online business structure that causes your international clients to distrust your motives and intentions.
And while all of this is happening, Naira remains unstable, falling from ₦440 in 2023 to ₦1,400 within just 3 years. So, you’re effectively losing your hard-earned money for every international client you manage to close.
2023
₦440
→
WITHIN JUST 3 YEARS
₦1,400
Naira per U.S. dollar. Every month of delay is another month invoicing in a currency that works against you.
THE SOLUTION
Build a business structure your clients will trust.
The easiest and most reliable solution to the payment and banking problem is to form a U.S. single-member LLC.
As a Nigerian founder, entrepreneur, or online freelancer, running a U.S. LLC gives you access to banking and payment processing options that are otherwise unavailable to you.
With an LLC, you have access to U.S. banking and financial services as well as Stripe, one of the world’s most reliable fintech companies and online payment processors. Stripe powers more than 5 million businesses directly or via platforms and processed $1.9 trillion in total payment volume in 2025 alone.
The advantages are undeniable. Forming a U.S. LLC gives you a credible and easily recognizable business structure, smooth business operations, and fast, reliable payment processing. Enjoy the benefits of using the same software used by many Fortune 500 companies, including Amazon, Apple, Shopify, and Meta.
No longer will you have to worry about finding prospects who you can convince to work with you. Now, you can rest assured that when you close them, they will pay you.
5M+
businesses powered by Stripe, directly or via platforms
$1.9T
total payment volume processed in 2025 alone
WHAT WE DO
We handle the complex paperwork so you can focus on growing.
Many Nigerian founders come to this same solution on their own through researching blogs and YouTube videos. They get the general gist of the matter, file in the state of Wyoming (because that’s what the video said), and trial-and-error their way through the entire process.
It’s not uncommon to find these individuals 2 or 3 months later paying hundreds of dollars to fix easily avoidable filing errors. They discover that the EIN process they used was designed for people with a U.S. social security number, and so they have to redo the entire process.
Weeks pass.
Stripe rejects their application because their business website was never audited against Stripe's requirements.
The bank asks for documents nobody even anticipated.
And every step, every correction, costs more money.
Then, a year later, they get in trouble with the IRS because nobody told them that a foreign-owned single-member LLC must file Form 5472 and a pro forma Form 1120 every single year it exists, active or not, profitable or not.
PENALTY PER MISSED FILING
$25,000
And the penalty for each missed, late, or substantially incomplete filing is $25,000
What many entrepreneurs don’t understand is that Form 5472 is not a tax return. It is an information return. Simply put, it informs the IRS about your business transactions, even if you made no sales or purchases.
So you need to remember these three rules:
01
A dormant company still has obligations.
Whether you have zero income, zero customers, and zero business activity, as long as the LLC has not been dissolved, you still need to file.
02
Filing badly is treated as failing to file.
The IRS treats a substantially incomplete Form 5472 as though you filed nothing at all and imposes the exact same $25,000 penalty.
03
Form 5472 cannot be e-filed.
Form 5472 and the pro forma 1120 must be faxed or mailed to a specific IRS department. Filing without an EIN or sending it to the wrong address gets it rejected and penalized.
So for many Nigerian entrepreneurs, what was supposed to be a simple and straightforward solution becomes an unbearable headache.
You, however, don't have to endure any of that.
At Legacy Filings, we handle all your filings so that you can focus on growing your online business. We handle everything from LLC formation and EIN to registered agent services, Stripe application, bank account opening, and annual federal filings that keep your business in good standing with the U.S. government.
One service, one secure point of contact. Simple and straightforward to navigate.
And what’s more, unlike other agencies that charge you additional fees for individual services, everything you need to run a legal and fully operational U.S. single-member LLC is included in our one, flat fee.
Zero hidden fees or charges. What you see is what you get.
SERVICES
Here's what's included.
LEGACY LAUNCH
MOST POPULAR
$649
One-time
Everything required to form, maintain, and legally operate a U.S. LLC as a Nigerian online entrepreneur.
Form My LLC- New Mexico Single-Member LLC formed in your name
- Federal EIN with CP 575 EIN confirmation from the IRS
- 12 months of registered agent services included
- Website audit based on Stripe requirements
- Stripe application guided support
- U.S. business bank account opening support
- Year one federal filings (Form 5472 and pro forma Form 1120)
- Secure client portal and document vault
- Direct founder access throughout the process
- Delivered within two weeks
After your first year, you get our full Legacy Compliance package for just $349 $299/yr, keeping your LLC in good standing year after year.
LEGACY COMPLIANCE
COMPLIANCE
$349
/yr
Already U.S. single-member LLC? Avoid penalties and stay compliant year after year.
Keep My LLC Compliant- Form 5472 and pro forma Form 1120 prepared, faxed, and confirmed
- Free registered agent transfer for your convenience, if you want everything under our roof
- Deadline tracking so you never miss a filing year
- LLC-related updates sent directly to your email
- Secure client portal and document vault
- Direct founder access throughout the process
- Delivered within two weeks
Zero delinquency. Active defense against the $25,000 IRS late filing penalty every year you are with us.
WHY NEW MEXICO
Here's why we exclusively file in New Mexico
New Mexico, Wyoming, and Delaware are the three most popular states for LLC formation. Depending on the source, one of the other two states may be more recommended than New Mexico.
As a Nigerian business owner, however, you will always find that New Mexico is the best choice for simplicity, ease of doing business, and reducing long-term operational expenses. Because at the end of the day, if your goal is simply to access U.S. business banking and payment processors, there is no reason to further complicate your business structure.
The state of New Mexico gives you the same tax treatment, financial services, privacy, and protection as Wyoming and Delaware without requiring extra annual reports and state fees. Over five years, that’s $300 you’ll never pay in Wyoming and $1,500 you’ll never pay in Delaware, not to mention the expensive professional and legal fees, for something you never even needed.
The result? Fewer filings. Fewer deadlines to miss. And you’ll save more on professional, government, and administrative expenses.
All things considered, a New Mexico registered company provides everything you need in a U.S. single-member LLC without the oversized corporate structure and skyrocketing maintenance expenses.
WORK WITH US
Ready to launch? Here's how it works.
1
Apply
Simply fill out our short application form to get started.
2
Audit and filing
We register your LLC and keep you updated during the EIN process. We also audit your website in accordance with Stripe’s outlined specifications and provide you with precise fixes you can implement.
3
Receive your documents
You get your company formation certificate, operating agreement, and EIN letter—everything you need to apply for a U.S. business bank account and payment processor.
4
Open your financial account
We walk you step by step through the U.S. bank and Stripe application processes, eliminating costly and easily avoidable mistakes. The entire process, from start to finish, typically takes less than two weeks.
5
Stay compliant
Your ongoing federal filings are tracked and submitted every year, keeping your LLC fully compliant and in good standing with the U.S. government.
1
Apply
Simply fill out our short application form to get started.
2
Audit and filing
We register your LLC and keep you updated during the EIN process. We also audit your website in accordance with Stripe’s outlined specifications and provide you with precise fixes you can implement.
3
Receive your documents
You get your company formation certificate, operating agreement, and EIN letter—everything you need to apply for a U.S. business bank account and payment processor.
4
Open your financial account
We walk you step by step through the U.S. bank and Stripe application processes, eliminating costly and easily avoidable mistakes. The entire process, from start to finish, typically takes less than two weeks.
5
Stay compliant
Your ongoing federal filings are tracked and submitted every year, keeping your LLC fully compliant and in good standing with the U.S. government.
You're just one click away.
Form My LLC
Chinemerem Andrew, MBA
Founder, Legacy Filings
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
I've faced the same struggles.
I am Chinemerem Andrew, an international business consultant and online entrepreneur. I hold an MBA with a specialization in International Business and I have spent nine years building online businesses. I currently operate two U.S. LLCs of my own alongside a number of online ventures.
I created Legacy Filings because, having gone through this process as a Nigerian myself, I saw that it was unnecessarily difficult to access for individuals like us. The information exists, but it is written in dense legal and tax jargon, buried across IRS publications and confusing online forums, and controlled by professionals who charge eye-watering fees just to explain the basics.
And even when you finally get to the point of understanding what to do, you often discover that the solution simply does not work for Nigerians because it assumes you have a U.S. ID, a local U.S. address, or eligibility requirements Nigerians simply cannot meet.
Legacy Filings is built to help you legally bypass those limitations and expand your business on the world stage. An agency for Nigerian businesses, run by a Nigerian business owner.
So, if you want a solution that works specifically for you, apply now and let's get started.
FAQ
Questions Nigerian founders ask us.
Do I need an SSN or ITIN?
No. We obtain your EIN through the IRS process built specifically for foreign applicants without a U.S. tax ID. Your Nigerian international passport is sufficient identification in this regard.
Do I need to travel to ship my passport?
No. The entire process is remote, including the bank account. You will not ship your passport anywhere.
Do I need a Nigerian CAC registration first?
No. A U.S. LLC is a separate legal entity formed under U.S. state law. Your CAC status in Nigeria is not related to it. You can form a U.S. LLC whether or not you have a registered Nigerian business.
Does forming a U.S. LLC create Nigerian tax obligations?
Your Nigerian obligations arise from your income and your residency, not from the act of forming and operating a U.S. entity. Please, speak to a competent Nigerian tax adviser about your personal tax position. Let us handle the federal side of your U.S. business.
How long will it take to form my U.S. LLC?
Formation is typically complete within days. EIN, Stripe onboarding, and banking are typically wrapped up within two weeks.
What do I need to get started?
A chosen company name, a scanned international passport, proof of your current Nigerian address, and a live website for Stripe application.
Why does my website matter?
Stripe reviews your business website before approving your account. Sites can get rejected for several reasons, including missing terms of service, unclear pricing, no contact information, or falling into a restricted business category. So, we audit your site before you apply and tell you exactly what to change, which makes the difference between approval and a rejection that is difficult to reverse.
Are Stripe and U.S. approvals guaranteed?
Banks and Stripe reserve the right to reject or deny any business application on a case-by-case basis. Consequently, no professional or service provider on earth can legally guarantee an approval.
What we can guarantee is that your application will be prepared correctly to meet Stripe’s stipulated terms. If you encounter a hurdle during your business bank account opening, we will re-route your banking applications to one of the alternative, premium U.S. fintech platforms we trust.
Rest assured, we are with you all the way.
What is Form 5472, and why does it keep coming up?
Every foreign-owned single-member LLC must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 annually for as long as it exists. This is regardless of how much revenue the business generated that year or whether or not it even conducted any business activity. As long as the LLC is not dissolved, it needs to file this form.
The penalty for missing a filing is $25,000 per year. This is the most common and costly mistake Nigerian founders make with their U.S. companies, which is why we proactively include it in both services.
With Legacy Filings, you stay legally compliant and avoid avoidable penalties.
Can't I just file Form 5472 myself?
Yes, you can, but we don’t recommend it.
The risk is that even though you keep track of the deadlines and updates, the IRS treats a substantially incomplete form as though you filed nothing whatsoever. So, even an honest attempt with one error carries exactly the same $25,000 penalty as failing to file the entire thing altogether.
The rules governing which transactions must be disclosed, how they are described, and how the accompanying Form 1120 is structured are strict and unforgiving. Every mistake is costly to correct, and some mistakes directly attract severe penalties.
You built a business. You should be running it, not second-guessing a form. That is what you are actually paying us for: peace of mind, not just paperwork.
What happens to my LLC after the first year?
Your first year of federal filings is already included in your Legacy Launch package.
From year two, you'll get our full Legacy Compliance package for only $349 $299/yr, covering your registered agent, annual federal filings, and ongoing LLC-related updates. Everything you need to keep your LLC in good standing year after year.
That renewal rate stays locked for as long as you remain a Legacy client, and it is $50 less than what our standalone compliance clients pay.
I formed my U.S. single-member LLC somewhere else. Can you take it over?
Yes. Our Legacy Compliance page is built for exactly that. We will file your federal returns and transfer your registered agent to us at no additional charge. Why pay for multiple services when you can have everything under one roof?
Make the Best Decision for Your Business Today
Every month you delay means another month of invoicing in a currency that works against you and a business structure that deters prospects.
No SSN or ITIN required. 100% remote.