Founder guides

The EntityEngine Blog

Practical writing on LLCs, EINs, and forming a US company from anywhere in the world. Written by founders, for founders.

Entity Types

Picking the right legal structure for what you actually want to build.

Entity Types

LLC vs C-Corp: Which entity should you form?

A practical comparison of LLCs and C-Corps for founders: tax treatment, ownership, fundraising, paperwork, costs, and when to convert one to the other.

10 min readRead post
Entity Types

What is an S-Corp? The short, founder-friendly version

An S-Corp is a tax election, not an entity. Here is what it actually does, who can elect it, and when an LLC should consider it.

4 min readRead post

Foundations

The forms, numbers, and paperwork every US LLC owner deals with.

Foundations

What is an EIN and why does your LLC need one?

An EIN is your LLC’s federal tax ID. Here’s what it does, why your bank will ask for it, and how to get one with or without a US Social Security number.

4 min readRead post
Foundations

What is a W-8BEN? A quick guide for non-US founders

The W-8BEN tells US payers that you are a foreign individual and lets you claim a lower tax-treaty withholding rate. Here is what to put on it.

4 min readRead post

International Founders

Country-specific guides for forming a US LLC from outside the US.

International Founders

Forming a US LLC as an Indian founder: a complete guide

Everything Indian founders need to form a US LLC from India: state selection, EIN without an SSN, banking, RBI rules, and US tax filing obligations.

11 min readRead post
International Founders

Forming a US LLC as a British founder: a complete guide

How UK-resident founders form a US LLC from the UK: state selection, EIN without an SSN, banking, HMRC reporting, and US tax obligations.

10 min readRead post
International Founders

Forming a US LLC as a Nigerian founder: a complete guide

How Nigerian founders form a US LLC from Lagos or anywhere else: state selection, EIN without an SSN, banking around CBN limits, and tax obligations.

11 min readRead post

Banking & Operations

What to do after the LLC is approved.

Banking & Operations

Top 5 banking options for new LLCs (US and non-US founders)

Five US business banks that actually accept new LLCs, including options for non-resident founders. Pros, cons, and who each one is for.

5 min readRead post