Launch your US business with peace of mind. Expert support for non-resident founders: registration, EIN number, US bank account, and tax compliance (Form 5472).
The appeal of the US market for international entrepreneurs has never been stronger. As the world's leading market for innovation and growth, the USA offers unique opportunities. However, setting up shop across the Atlantic requires precision. From choosing the state of incorporation (Delaware, Wyoming, Florida) to navigating federal and state tax complexities, every decision matters.
Hayot Expertise, a Paris-based accounting firm and digital partner, supports you in every step of your US business journey. We combine bilingual tax expertise (French/English) with modern management tools like Pennylane and a network of local US partners (CPAs, agents, banks) to secure your US presence.
In 2026, the United States remains the engine of the global economy. Whether you are a Tech startup, an independent consultant, or an e-commerce player, the US market offers:
The LLC is preferred by solo entrepreneurs and small teams. It offers personal liability protection with "pass-through taxation".
If you plan to raise funds from US VCs or hire a large team, the C-Corp is essential.
Preferred by 60% of Fortune 500 companies. Its Court of Chancery is a dedicated business court with century-old case law. Mandatory for startups seeking VC funding.
The best choice for online entrepreneurs and "bootstrapped" structures. No state corporate income tax and strong privacy laws for LLC members.
Every state requires a Registered Agent to serve as your official legal mailbox.
We handle the drafting and filing with the Secretary of State. For LLCs, we provide a robust Operating Agreement.
The EIN is your US tax ID. Essential for taxes and banking. We manage the manual process for non-residents without SSNs.
We guide you toward Pro-fintech solutions (Mercury, Wise, Relay) that accept remote onboarding for documented structures.
If you own at least 25% of a US company, you must report all related-party transactions. The penalty for failure to file is a minimum of $25,000, even if zero profit was made.
Mandatory since 2024: the BOI report with FinCEN. All US companies must declare their beneficial owners' identities.
Sales Tax is the US equivalent of VAT. We help you determine your collection obligations based on each state's "Economic Nexus".
Context: A French SaaS startup wants to hire its first sales reps in the USA and sign US-law contracts.
Challenges:
Solution:
Result: Fully operational in 28 days, 100% compliance, and the CEO focused on closing deals.
The single most important decision for a French company expanding to the US — or a US entrepreneur establishing a legal entity — is the choice of vehicle. It shapes fundraising, taxation, and compliance for years.
LLC (Limited Liability Company):
Delaware C-Corp:
Wyoming LLC:
Branch vs Subsidiary: for French companies opening a US office, a branch is not a separate legal entity (US liabilities flow back to the French parent). A subsidiary (C-Corp or LLC) rings-fences US liability. For any significant US operations, we recommend a subsidiary.
Beyond the federal and state tax compliance discussed above, US operations involve costs that are frequently underestimated in French-prepared business plans:
Health insurance: unlike France where employer contributions to mutuelle are capped and the state provides baseline health coverage, US employers either provide health insurance (premium: $600–$1,200/employee/month) or accept losing talent to employers who do. For a 5-person US team, health insurance alone adds $36,000–$72,000/year to payroll costs.
Workers' compensation insurance: mandatory in most states. Rate varies by industry (0.5%–3% of payroll). Not well-understood by French founders.
US payroll payroll tax (FICA): the US equivalent of French social contributions. Employer pays 7.65% of gross salary (6.2% Social Security capped at $168,600 + 1.45% Medicare). Much lower than French employer charges (~45%), but the employee also pays 7.65% — so total is 15.3% vs French total of ~80%. US net pay thus appears much higher than equivalent French gross pay.
State-specific compliance: Massachusetts, California, and New York impose state-level income tax, payroll tax registration, quarterly state tax filings, and additional employer obligations (California CFRA family leave, New York paid leave law, etc.). Multi-state compliance for a distributed US team adds meaningful administrative cost.
If your French company owns a US subsidiary and there are intercompany transactions (management fees, IP royalties, shared services, loans), both the French and US sides require documented transfer pricing. In France, the obligation kicks in above thresholds (Article L.13 AA): €400M revenue or €100K intercompany transactions per category per year.
Below these thresholds, documentation is optional but strongly advised — both the French Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP) and the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS Section 482) can challenge intercompany pricing during audit. We produce bilingual transfer pricing memos that satisfy both authorities.
| Deadline | Filing |
|---|---|
| January 31 | Distribute W-2s (employees) and 1099s (contractors) |
| March 15 | S-Corp/partnership Form 1065/1120-S |
| April 15 | C-Corp Form 1120, individual Form 1040 (with Schedule K-1 if LLC) |
| May | FBAR (FinCEN 114) if foreign bank accounts above $10,000 in aggregate |
| June / September | Delaware Annual Report + Franchise Tax |
| Ongoing quarterly | State payroll tax filings (varies by state) |
| Filing year + 3 | BOI FinCEN Form (one-time, due date based on formation date) |
We manage this calendar for all our US-entity clients, ensuring zero missed deadlines.
📞 Ready to conquer the US market? Contact Hayot Expertise today for a bilingual strategy session. Custom quote within 24 hours.
Wherever you are in France, we deploy a 100% digital interface to deliver fast, highly-structured accounting and financial steering.
Samuel Hayot is a French chartered accountant and statutory auditor registered with the Paris professional bodies.
The firm is based in Paris 8 and operates with a delivery model designed for businesses located across France.
Pennylane, Dext, Silae and an automation-first setup built for visibility and speed.
Visible phone number, simple contact path, fast engagement letter and tighter qualification of the mandate.
30 complimentary minutes with Samuel Hayot to challenge your reporting and surface your priority levers.
A practical guide for foreign companies assessing whether French people, agents, contractors or offices create a permanent establishment risk.
A practical guide for foreign companies comparing bookkeeping support with a regulated French accountant.
LLC, C-Corp or French parent's US subsidiary: three vehicles, three tax outcomes both in the US and in France. The 2026 decision guide for French SME owners and startup founders.
No, you can own and run a US business without a visa. A visa (E-2, L-1, O-1) is only needed if you wish to physically work within the USA.
State registration takes 24-72h. Obtaining an EIN for non-residents takes 2-4 weeks. Total operational setup takes about a month.
Yes, through our fintech partners like Mercury or Wise Business, we handle 100% remote bank openings.
It is the automatic IRS penalty for failing to report related-party transactions. We secure this critical compliance point.