PARAS JAIN

Helping founders launch and scale in the US 🇺🇸
International Incorporation Expert 📋

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

If Stripe is your only way to get paid, one risk review can freeze your revenue.

Founders with a US LLC usually find this out late. Set up a second processor and a second business bank account while things are calm.

It's much harder to open one in a hurry.

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Council of the EU https://t.co/nvI60FhBsx

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Europe is building its own answer to the Delaware company. EU Inc, registered online in two days for up to €100.

The EU Council agreed its position on 23 October. Parliament still has to agree, so nobody can form one yet.

If you're picking today, pick from what exists.

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Founders with a US company, what's the one thing nobody told you when you formed it?

For most people I talk to it's the yearly filings. Curious what it was for you.

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

IRS instructions for Form 5472 https://t.co/vevnZ7vBiw
Not legal or tax advice.

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

If you own a US LLC from India, Form 5472 is the filing that catches people.

It goes with a pro forma 1120, by fax or mail only, and it can be due even in a year with no sales. Miss it and the IRS penalty is $25,000.

Put it on your calendar today.

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

https://t.co/2ghkk6RQOd

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Stripe just launched stripe pay. One business pays another instantly by Stripe handle, $1 to $50,000 a transfer.

The catch for founders with a US LLC is that both sides need a Stripe financial account. Check you have one before you ask a client to pay you this way.

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

@pirwot Stripe's country page doesn't list Uganda, so founders end up choosing between a merchant of record and a company in a country Stripe supports.

The second one works, but price in the yearly filings before you pick it. (I run Incorple)

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

@PhantomStays Agree with this. I tell every non US founder to open the second account while the first one is working fine.

Same EIN letter and formation docs either way, so it's an afternoon now versus weeks once you're frozen. (I run Incorple)

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

@itsnadora That's rough. With a new Wyoming LLC I'd apply to two US banks or fintechs at the same time, so one closure never stops everything again.

Keep the EIN letter, articles and your passport ready. They all ask for the same set. (I run Incorple)

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Stripe is invite only in India, so it's really merchant of record vs your own US company.

Mostly INR customers, Razorpay. Global customers and you want to start fast, an MoR. A US company with its own Stripe once US revenue is real, it comes with yearly filings. (I run Incorple)

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Stripe's note https://t.co/pwqQkAdkjw

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

If you run Stripe through an AI agent, put 30 November in your calendar.

Stripe says its MCP server stops accepting full access secret keys and untagged restricted keys from December. Agent API keys or OAuth only.

The swap takes minutes. A dead checkout agent takes longer.

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

SEC filing record https://t.co/BNvAgpc2L1

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Anthropic filed its S-1 on Monday. SEC records list the company, Anthropic, PBC, as incorporated in Delaware.

That's why founders keep hearing "Delaware". US investors and their lawyers already know its rules.

If you're not raising, an LLC is often simpler.

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Founders outside the US, what took longer, forming the US company or getting the EIN?

For most people I talk to the company is done in days. The EIN is the part that drags.

How long did yours take?

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Stripe's requirements https://t.co/gly1cyv7fS
IRS EIN options https://t.co/PGQT9glSJW

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Stripe doesn't support the country you live in, so you're thinking of forming a company somewhere it does.

Five checks before you pay anyone.

[PARAS JAIN @designedbyparas]

Price the yearly part before day one. State tax, a registered agent and, for a foreign owned US LLC, Form 5472 every year. Then check what your home country wants you to report.

Not legal or tax advice.