How to Set Up Stripe for Your US LLC — Step-by-Step Activation Guide

Prerequisites

Before you begin Stripe activation, make sure you have the following ready. Having everything prepared in advance will make the process smooth and avoid delays.

• EIN from the IRS — or you can apply and start with limited features while waiting
• US bank account — Mercury is recommended for foreign-owned LLCs
• Registered agent address — this will be your business address on Stripe
• US phone number — required for the customer support field

Step 1: Create Your Stripe Account

Start by creating your Stripe account. This is straightforward and takes just a few minutes.

1. Go to stripe.com and click "Start now" or "Create account"
2. Sign up with your business email address — use the same email you use for your LLC
3. Select your country as United States
4. Choose your business type — select LLC or C-Corp depending on your entity

Step 2: Verify Your Business

Stripe needs to verify your business identity. This is where your registered agent address and LLC documentation come in.

• Enter your business address — use your registered agent address (e.g., your Wyoming or Delaware address)
• Select your industry — choose the category that best describes your business (e.g., "Software" or "Consulting")
• Fill in company representative info — your personal address can be your home country address, but it must match what you used during LLC formation

Step 3: Business Details

This section asks for information that Stripe uses to understand your business and set up your public-facing payment pages.

• Company description — write a clear, professional description of what your business does
• Website URL — this is important. Make sure your website looks professional before submitting
• Customer support phone number — must be a US number. This is why getting a US phone number first is important

Step 4: Link Your Bank Account

Connect your US bank account so Stripe can deposit your earnings. This is where your revenue will be paid out.

• Connect your Mercury bank account (or other US bank) — Stripe supports instant verification with most major banks
• All payouts will go to this account — you can set up automatic daily or weekly transfers
• You can change banks later — if you switch banks in the future, simply update your payout settings

Step 5: Tax Settings

Configure your tax settings correctly to avoid issues down the road. This is especially important for foreign LLC owners.

• Enable automatic tax collection if you are selling to US customers — Stripe Tax can handle sales tax calculations
• Select "I do not have an SSN" — foreign owners use their EIN only, not a Social Security Number

Step 6: Submit for Review

Before submitting, take a moment to review all the information you have entered. Once submitted, Stripe will review your application.

• Review all information for accuracy — double-check your business name, address, and EIN
• Submit your application — approval is usually instant for straightforward applications
• If rejected, check your website and business description — these are the most common reasons for rejection

After Activation

Congratulations! Once approved, you can immediately start accepting payments. Here is what to do next:

• Start accepting payments immediately — integrate Stripe into your website or use Stripe Payment Links for quick setup
• Payout schedule: 2-day rolling (US) — funds are available in your bank account 2 business days after a successful payment
• Consider setting up Stripe Tax for automated sales tax collection if selling to US customers
• Read our Stripe Account Health Guide to maintain a healthy account and avoid risk flags

Troubleshooting

Running into issues during setup? Here are solutions to the most common problems.