If you are here, it's because you know you can open an LLC in the United States from Chile. But did you also know you can do it without a visa and without traveling to complete the process?
That's right: you can handle the process online and run the company from Chile.
That said, forming it is only the beginning. You will also have to choose the right state, obtain the EIN, apply for a bank account and keep the company's obligations up to date.
In this guide you will find what you need, how much it may cost and the steps you will have to follow. If you want to avoid the paperwork and coordinate everything in one place, at Start Companies we can handle the formation of your LLC, the EIN, the Registered Agent and the bank account application.
What is an LLC and how does it work from Chile?
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a business structure created under the laws of a U.S. state.
It can have a single owner or several partners, legally known as members. An LLC legally separates the business from its owners, as long as the company is formed and managed properly. For example, you should keep the company's money, contracts and accounting records separate.
Its tax treatment is not the same in every case. The IRS explains that an LLC's classification depends on the number of members and the tax elections made:
A single-member LLC is usually treated as an entity disregarded from its owner for federal income tax purposes.
An LLC with two or more members is usually treated as a partnership.
In certain situations, the company can elect to be taxed as a corporation.
That's why, when someone searches for information about a “Chile LLC”, they are actually evaluating a company formed in the United States that they will manage from Chile. If you want to understand its features better, you can read our guide on what an LLC is and how it works.
Can I open an LLC from Chile without traveling to the United States?
Yes. You can complete the formation remotely and operate the company from Chile. You don't need to be a U.S. citizen, have residency, hold a visa or travel to the country to file the state documents.
The formation of an LLC for non-residents can be handled online. What often causes confusion is that opening the company, getting a bank account and obtaining authorization to live in the United States are separate processes.
To make it clearer:
You can own an LLC without living in the United States.
You can apply for a business account remotely, as long as you find an institution that works with your activity and your country of residence.
You cannot live or physically work in the United States just because you have an LLC. For that you need immigration authorization. USCIS provides specific pathways for foreign entrepreneurs, each with its own requirements.
Having a U.S. company can help you operate internationally. It does not work as a visa and does not grant immigration rights on its own.
Who can benefit from opening an LLC from Chile?
The relevant question is not whether an LLC “works for everything”. The question is whether it fits the way your business operates.
Entrepreneurs, freelancers and digital businesses
An LLC can make sense if you sell services or products outside Chile and need a structure to sign contracts, issue invoices and receive payments in the name of a U.S. company.
It is an option commonly considered by:
Consultants and independent professionals.
Marketing, design, development and IT agencies.
SaaS companies and app developers.
Digital product and online education businesses.
Content creators with international clients.
Entrepreneurs who use global payment platforms.
These are some of the common uses of an LLC. Whether it makes legal and tax sense will depend on where you do the work, who your clients are and how you receive your income.
E-commerce and international operations
It can also be useful for an online store, an Amazon seller or a company that needs to get paid and pay in dollars.
Imagine, for example, that you have a Chilean company and want to separate the sales made in the United States. The LLC can help you organize that operation, work with local suppliers and keep separate books.
The analysis changes if you keep inventory, employees, an office or another physical presence in a specific state. In that case, you may have to register the company and meet additional obligations in that jurisdiction.
Cases where another structure may be better
A startup planning to raise institutional capital should compare the LLC with a C-Corporation. The latter can issue shares and is usually better suited to the agreements investment funds use.
The following also need a specific review:
Professions that require state licenses.
Regulated businesses.
Companies with partners or investors from different countries.
Activities that will be carried out physically in the United States.
The right LLC is not the one that costs the least on day one. It's the one that fits your operation and keeps you from having to rebuild the structure when the business starts to grow.
Requirements to open an LLC from Chile
You don't need to put together an endless folder of documents. To get started, the following information is usually requested:
A valid passport or ID document for each owner.
The proposed name for the company.
A clear description of the business activity.
The members' address and contact details in Chile.
The information needed to verify identity and the origin of the activity.
A Registered Agent in the state of formation.
The Registered Agent is the person or company authorized to receive state notices and legal documents on behalf of the LLC. It must have a physical address in the state and be available during business hours.
You don't have to obtain the EIN, the Articles of Organization or the Operating Agreement before you start. Those documents are generated or prepared during the process.
Nor should you assume you will need your own U.S. address, an apostille or your Chilean RUT in every case. For example, at Start Companies we currently ask for a valid passport to open your LLC. However, the final list may change depending on the state, the number of members, the activity and the financial institution. That's why it is confirmed during the initial assessment.
How to open an LLC from Chile step by step
The process below is what generally happens. However, it may vary depending on your company's characteristics, the state where you want to open your LLC and other factors to consider.
1. Define the structure and choose the state
Before filing any form, decide who will own the LLC. Will the company be yours alone or have several members? Will it operate entirely online or have physical activity in the United States? Are you looking for a simple structure or do you plan to bring in investors?
These answers influence the choice of state.
For example, Wyoming and New Mexico are often considered for remote businesses. Florida may make more sense when there is a real connection to that state. Delaware is known for its corporate framework, but its annual cost may be unnecessary for a simple business without investors.
Don't choose a state because you saw it was “the best for foreigners”. That state may suit another company and be inefficient for yours.
2. Choose and check the name
The LLC's name must be distinguishable from companies already registered in the state. It will normally have to include “LLC”, “L.L.C.” or “Limited Liability Company”.
The check is done in the official registry of the chosen jurisdiction. For example, the Florida Division of Corporations instructions require the name to be distinguishable from others and recommend checking its availability before filing the documents.
Use this moment to check the web domain, social media handles and possible trademark conflicts. The state accepting your LLC's name does not mean you automatically have the commercial rights to it.
3. Appoint a Registered Agent
Every LLC needs to maintain a registered agent in its state of formation.
This agent receives lawsuits, administrative communications and other official documents. It does not serve the same function as a business address or a virtual office.
If you live in Chile and don't have a physical address in the state, you will have to hire the service. Start Companies' formation plans include a Registered Agent. When the included period ends, you will have to renew it or appoint another agent to keep the company in good standing.
4. File the Articles of Organization
This is the step that gives the LLC its legal existence.
The Articles of Organization (called a Certificate of Formation in some states) are filed with the Secretary of State or the relevant authority. The form collects basic information about the company and must be accompanied by payment of the state fee.
The price and processing time depend on the jurisdiction. Some states let you complete the filing online and others offer expedited services for an additional cost.
5. Prepare the Operating Agreement
The Operating Agreement is the agreement that explains how the LLC will work internally.
In a company with several members, it can set out:
What percentage belongs to each partner.
How profits are distributed.
Who can make decisions.
What happens if a member joins or leaves.
How disagreements are resolved.
And if you are the sole owner? It's still a good idea to have one. The document records the structure and helps show that the company operates independently.
A basic template may be enough for a simple LLC, but if there are investors, different contributions or special rules, the agreement will need to be tailored.
6. Apply for the EIN with the IRS
The EIN is the number that identifies the company to the IRS. You will need it for various tax, banking and business procedures. In fact, you can obtain it even if you don't have a Social Security Number. And at Start Companies we make it easy with our EIN service for owners without an SSN.
Keep in mind that the state and the IRS are different agencies. The LLC being approved does not mean the EIN will arrive immediately. Timelines can vary, and it's not a good idea to plan your bank account opening around a date the IRS has not yet confirmed.
7. Apply for a business bank account
The business account lets you separate the business's money from your personal finances. This separation makes bookkeeping easier and helps support the LLC's receipts, payments and transfers.
Some institutions accept remote applications from non-resident owners. Even so, having a company and an EIN does not guarantee approval.
The institution may ask you for:
Formation documents.
EIN.
Members' identification.
Residential address.
Website or business profiles.
Contracts, invoices or proof of activity.
Information about clients, suppliers and the countries involved.
8. Get the LLC ready to operate
Once you have the formation, the EIN and the account, it's time to organize operations.
Set up invoicing, decide how you will receive payments and keep contracts, receipts and accounting records. Also document any contributions or withdrawals you make as the owner. Moving money between your personal and business accounts without explaining why complicates bookkeeping and can cause problems when preparing tax returns.
After that, you will need to keep the Registered Agent active, pay the corresponding fees and file the applicable state reports or tax forms.
How much does it cost to create an LLC from Chile?
The final price does not depend only on the formation. You must consider the state fee, the service you hire, the Registered Agent and compliance in the following years.
These are some of the state fees in effect at the time this guide was updated:
State | State formation fee | Common state maintenance | May be a good fit when… |
|---|---|---|---|
New Mexico | USD 50 | No routine annual report for a domestic LLC | The business is remote, simple and has no presence in another state |
Wyoming | USD 100 | Annual report and minimum fee of USD 60 | You want predictable annual maintenance |
Florida | USD 125 | Annual report of USD 138.75 | There is activity, staff or another real connection to Florida |
Delaware | USD 110 | Annual tax of USD 300; the LLC does not file an Annual Report | There are investors or specific legal reasons to choose it |
Official sources: New Mexico Secretary of State, Wyoming Secretary of State, Florida Division of Corporations and Delaware Division of Corporations.
Although these are the current amounts, keep in mind that the authorities may change them. There may also be additional costs for certificates, expedited filings, licenses or registrations in other states.
To handle these procedures, most entrepreneurs choose solutions like Start Companies, which offer different plans that include formation, the EIN, corporate documents, the Registered Agent, banking assistance and access to the platform.
Before you compare providers, check what will happen after formation. A low price stops being low if you later have to pay separately for the EIN, the agent, the tax return and the renewal.
Taxes and obligations of an LLC managed from Chile
This is where it's worth pushing back on one of the most repeated promises online: opening an LLC does not automatically mean you will pay “0% tax”.
The answer depends on who the owners are, where they live, what activity the company carries out, where that activity takes place, where the income comes from and what tax classification the LLC has.
Obligations in the United States
The IRS determines an LLC's tax treatment based on its number of members and the elections made.
A U.S. LLC with a single foreign owner, treated as a disregarded entity, may have to file Form 5472 together with a pro forma Form 1120 when it carries out reportable transactions with a related party. The Form 5472 instructions explain when this obligation applies.
An LLC with several members is usually treated as a partnership and may have to file Form 1065, unless it has elected a different classification.
There may also be obligations related to:
Taxes on U.S.-source income.
Sales taxes.
Hiring employees.
Business licenses.
State fees and reports.
The LLC may have no federal tax to pay and still have to file forms. “Not paying” and “not filing” are not the same thing.
As for the Beneficial Ownership Information Report, or BOI, FinCEN confirms that companies formed in the United States are exempt under the final rule in effect since August 14, 2026. This exemption does not automatically apply to entities created outside the country that register to do business there.
The owner's obligations in Chile
The LLC is in the United States, but you still live and carry out your activity from Chile. That detail matters.
Article 3 of Chile's Income Tax Law establishes that people domiciled or resident in Chile are, as a general rule, taxed on income earned both inside and outside the country. The SII also explains the exception that applies to certain foreigners during their first three years after arriving in Chile.
So leaving the money in a U.S. account does not make the income disappear from your tax obligations. Depending on your situation, you may have to report income, holdings or transactions abroad.
The treatment of profits, contributions, withdrawals and tax credits will depend on your case. The best approach is to coordinate the professional who manages the LLC in the United States with a Chilean tax advisor.
And remember: if a state offers some privacy in the public registry, that does not mean you are anonymous to the IRS, the bank or the SII. Registry privacy and tax invisibility are completely different concepts.
Mistakes when opening and managing an LLC from Chile
Most problems don't show up when you register the company. They show up months later, when a renewal comes due, the bank asks for information or you discover you were supposed to file a form.
These are the mistakes to avoid:
Choosing a state because it has the lowest initial fee.
Believing the LLC grants a visa or work permit.
Mixing personal and business money.
Creating the company without assessing the bank account application.
Assuming that having no tax to pay eliminates the tax returns.
Ignoring tax obligations in Chile.
Confusing state privacy with tax anonymity.
Paying only for formation and forgetting about maintenance.
In short, opening an LLC from Chile is possible and you can complete the process online. The important part comes before and after registration: choosing a coherent structure, preparing the bank account application and staying compliant in both the United States and Chile.
If you want to get started with support in Spanish and have the formation, the EIN, the Registered Agent and operations organized from the start, you can open your LLC with Start Companies or schedule a free call.
Frequently asked questions about LLCs in Chile
Can I open an LLC from Chile without traveling to the United States?
Yes. You can handle the state formation, the documents and the EIN application remotely. Some financial institutions also accept remote applications. Account approval will depend on your activity, documentation, residence and business profile.
Do I need a visa, residency or an SSN to create an LLC?
You don't need a U.S. visa or residency to own an LLC. You can also apply for the EIN without a Social Security Number through the procedure for international applicants. Having an LLC does not authorize you to live or physically work in the United States.
What is the best state to open an LLC from Chile?
There is no single state that is best for everyone. New Mexico and Wyoming are often considered for remote businesses; Florida may make sense if you have activity there; and Delaware is usually evaluated when there are investors or more complex partnership agreements.
How much does it cost to create an LLC from Chile?
It depends on the state and the service you hire. Among the states analyzed, formation fees start at USD 50. To that amount you will have to add formation services and subsequent costs. Start Companies' plans currently start at USD 599.
Does an LLC allow me to live or work in the United States?
No. Having a company and having immigration authorization are different matters. If you want to relocate or work within the United States, you will have to meet the requirements of the corresponding immigration category.
Written by
Ignacio Navarro
Ignacio Navarro is a Certified Public Accountant, founder of Start Companies and a specialist in U.S. companies for entrepreneurs, freelancers and digital businesses in Latin America. With training in international taxation and studies at UCEMA, he advises non-resident clients on forming and maintaining LLCs, opening bank accounts, invoicing, accounting and taxes. His experience combines tax strategy, compliance and practical vision for operating in the U.S. in a simple, organized and professional way.
