What is the cost of setting up a US company? A first-year budget

The cost of setting up a US company is low at the start and higher to run than most founders plan for. Formation can cost a few hundred dollars. The real first-year number comes from recurring lines: registered agent, Delaware annual tax, bookkeeping, tax filing, banking and payroll. Every price below was read on an official or vendor page in October 2026, and any line without a verified price says so.

Formation: state fees and service packages

If you file directly with the state, Delaware's fee schedule (revised August 1, 2026) lists $109 for a certificate of incorporation, noting that the amount varies based on stock, and $110 to form a domestic LLC. Delaware also charges for speed: $50 for 24-hour service and $100 for same-day service. Wyoming's fee schedule (effective July 1, 2026) lists $100 for articles of incorporation and $100 for LLC articles of organization.

Most founders use a formation service instead. The prices below were read on each provider's pricing page in October 2026; Stripe Atlas is the first row.

Firstbase's site also runs a promotion saying formation is free and you pay only the state fee, with no end date shown.

Registered agent

A Delaware company needs a registered agent with a street address and office in Delaware. If your package does not include one, or after the first year, this becomes a recurring line. As of October 2026, Harbor Compliance lists $99 for the first year for new customers, renewing at $159 per year. Stripe Atlas renews at $100 per year after the first year. Firstbase's registered agent service is $299 per year per state and also covers annual report and franchise tax filings. Clerky does not state its renewal price on its pricing page, so check it before you choose.

EIN: free, but it costs time

The IRS states that you never have to pay a fee for an EIN. The cost is time. A founder without an SSN or ITIN cannot apply online and must use phone, fax or mail. Stripe Atlas says it gets the EIN in 10 to 35 business days after incorporation when the founder has no SSN. Budget for that delay, because banks and payroll providers need the EIN.

Delaware annual tax

For a Delaware corporation, the annual report and franchise tax are due by March 1 each year, with a $50 annual report fee. The minimum franchise tax is $175 under the Authorized Shares method and $400 under the Assumed Par Value Capital method. Delaware sends notices using the Authorized Shares method, which can produce large bills for companies with more than 5,000 shares. A Delaware LLC pays a flat $400 annual tax by June 1, according to Delaware's official page.

Neither amount is prorated, so a company formed late in December still owes the full year.

Our guide to Delaware franchise tax explains the two methods.

Bookkeeping and tax filing

These are usually the largest non-payroll lines. As of October 2026, doola's Pulse automated bookkeeping is $300 per year, and its Tax and Compliance plan is $1,999 per year plus state fees, including federal and state filing. Firstbase lists accounting at $599 per month or $5,990 per year, and tax filing at $1,799 per year for C corporations and multi-member LLCs, or $899 per year for non-US-owned single-member LLCs. If you prefer an independent US accountant, there is no published benchmark in our sources, so get two or three written quotes.

Banking and payments

Mercury's pricing page lists a $0 per month plan, Mercury Plus at $29.90 per month and Mercury Pro at $299 per month, with $0 domestic and USD international wires and a 1% FX fee on non-USD international wires. Wise lists no fee to receive ACH into USD account details and 6.11 USD for domestic wires and Swift. Card processing is a cost that scales with revenue. Check Stripe's current US rates on its own pricing page, since we did not verify them. Stripe Atlas refunds its $500 fee if the company deposits $5,000 into Stripe Treasury within 90 days.

Payroll or an employer of record

Payroll software costs little compared with salary, but it is a line. As of October 2026, Gusto Simple is $49 per month plus $6 per person per month. Justworks payroll is $8 per employee per month plus a $50 monthly base fee. Rippling starts at $8 per employee per month with a base fee it does not state. If you hire before you have an entity, Deel's employer of record service starts at $599 per employee per month. None of these figures include salary, employer taxes or benefits.

Two estimated first-year budgets

These are estimates, not quotes, built from the October 2026 prices above. Estimate A is a Delaware C corporation; Firstbase tax filing is used as a published reference price. Estimate B adds one US employee on Gusto Simple.

Estimate A excludes card processing, legal advice, insurance, foreign qualification in other states and any salary. The franchise tax line falls due on March 1 of the following year, and your actual amount depends on your share structure, so run Delaware's calculator. Estimate B's $660 in software ($588 + $72) excludes salary and employer costs. For comparison, one employee through Deel's employer of record at the listed starting price costs $599 x 12 = $7,188 per year in fees, without the entity lines.

A budget like this only makes sense next to the commercial plan it pays for. Greatweek's US Market Entry work pressure-tests whether the US opportunity is real at your stage or a year too early, and ends in a 90-day recommendation with sequencing and cost you can take to the board. The free US Market Entry Playbook is a good starting point.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to incorporate in Delaware?

Delaware's fee schedule (revised August 1, 2026) lists $109 for a certificate of incorporation, varying based on stock, and $110 for an LLC. Formation services charge more because they bundle the registered agent and paperwork.

Is getting an EIN free?

Yes. The IRS states that you never have to pay a fee for an EIN. Be wary of any service that presents the EIN itself as a paid government fee.

What is the minimum Delaware franchise tax?

As of October 2026, $175 under the Authorized Shares method and $400 under the Assumed Par Value Capital method, plus a $50 annual report fee for non-exempt domestic corporations.

Is Wyoming cheaper than Delaware?

On filing fees, slightly: $100 versus $109 or $110. Wyoming's annual license tax is $60 or $0.0002 per dollar of Wyoming assets, whichever is greater. Price is rarely the deciding factor, as explained in why incorporate in Delaware.

For the bigger question of whether a US entity is worth these costs yet, read the benefits of incorporating in the US, or book a 20-minute US Entry Review through our contact page. Prices change often, so confirm each one on the official page, and check tax lines with a qualified US tax advisor before you commit.