US LLC already formed, but no bank account or business credit
A US LLC already formed is the easy part done. Formation platforms such as doola and Stripe Atlas stop at the company and the EIN. The US business bank account, the ITIN and the business credit that leads to US credit cards are what is still missing for most non-US founders who come to us with an LLC in hand.
Book a strategy call — we look at the LLC you already have and tell you which steps are left. See what each package includes.
Is Stripe Atlas enough if my goal is US banking and credit cards?
For the company, yes. Atlas forms it, files the EIN and refers you to a partner bank. It does not help with an ITIN, a referral is not a bank approval, and credit cards are not part of it. If your real goal is a US bank account that stays open and business credit cards in the company's name, Atlas is step one of four. The comparison is in Founders Credit vs Stripe Atlas.
What is still missing after formation
- A US business bank account that accepts your country. Providers review non-resident applications case by case, and some exclude whole countries.
- An ITIN, if the card plan needs one. Filed through a Certifying Acceptance Agent, so you do not post your original passport to the IRS.
- A business credit file. A D-U-N-S number and accounts that report, so the company has a history lenders can read.
- The cards, in the right order. Starter and EIN-only cards first, then the premium business cards such as Amex Business and Chase Ink.
- The annual filings. Form 5472 and the state report are due even when the company earned nothing; a missed 5472 carries a $25,000 penalty.
Who can take over and build the banking and credit on my LLC?
That is what Founders Credit does. We start from the LLC you already have: check the formation documents, the EIN and the filings, open the US business bank account, file the ITIN through a Certifying Acceptance Agent where your card plan needs one, and build the business credit file and the card ladder with you 1:1. You do not form a second company unless the first one cannot be fixed.
What nobody can promise you
A bank account or a card approval. Banks and issuers decide on their own criteria, and anyone who guarantees an approval is a reason to walk away. What we take over is the order and the paperwork, which is where most rejected applications actually go wrong.
Common questions
Do I need to form a new LLC?
Usually not. If the company has its EIN and is in good standing with its state, we build the banking and credit on the LLC you already have.
Does it matter who formed my LLC?
No. doola, Stripe Atlas, Firstbase or a cheap filing service all produce the same documents. What matters is that the documents, the EIN and the annual filings are in order.
Can you guarantee the bank account or the cards?
No, and nobody honestly can. Banks and card issuers make their own decisions. What we handle is the order, the documents and the applications, which is what makes approval far more predictable.
What does it cost?
Price on request. It depends on which steps you already have, which is why we start from your existing LLC rather than a fixed package. See what each package includes.
Next step
Price on request. Book a strategy call — bring your LLC documents and EIN letter, and we map the steps that are left. See what each package includes, or read best US bank account for non residents and the rest of the services.
Related
- Founders Credit vs Stripe Atlas — what Atlas covers and what it leaves
- Stripe Atlas vs a done-for-you US setup — where Atlas falls short for non-residents
- Best US bank account for non residents — the step after formation
- Business credit in the US for non-residents — the ladder, step by step
Sources
Founders Credit is not a law firm, an accounting firm or a bank. State filings are lodged by licensed providers, federal returns are prepared by licensed preparers, and bank decisions rest with the bank. We prepare the application; we do not promise the outcome.