Business banking
Opening a business bank account, including from abroad, and choosing between traditional banks, fintech accounts and corporate cards.
6 articles
Manage your finances and taxes
The money side of running a company, from banking and getting paid across borders to bookkeeping, invoicing, tax and cash flow.
Topics
Cross-border payments
How to send and receive money in other currencies, what you lose to fees and exchange rates, and the paperwork each country asks for.
4 articles
Accounting and bookkeeping
Bookkeeping software and services, what each covers, and when to hand your books to an accountant.
8 articles
Invoicing
Invoicing tools for freelancers and small businesses, and the practices that get invoices paid faster.
4 articles
Business taxes
What to file and when, what you can deduct, and when it is worth paying an accountant.
12 articles
Cash flow and funding
How long your cash will last, how to extend it, and the ways small companies raise capital.
Coming soon
Latest articles
Guide · Compliance and filings
Form 5472 and the other US filings for a foreign-owned company
A single-member LLC owned by a non-US person files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, by fax or mail, due April 15 for a calendar year. Putting money in or taking it out counts as a reportable transaction, so almost every such LLC has to file. Missing it costs $25,000.
· 7 min read
Guide · Business banking
A US business bank account for non-residents: who accepts founders abroad
Mercury accepts US companies with founders living abroad, but may ask for proof of US business activity and can close accounts that have none. Relay asks every owner for a physical US address. Airwallex's US service needs a US principal place of business. Wise Business works alongside any of them for currency. Here's how to choose.
· 7 min read
Guide · Cross-border payments
Stripe for non-US founders: a US company, a merchant of record, or local Stripe
If Stripe doesn't serve your country, you either form a US company and open a US Stripe account, or sell through a merchant of record such as Paddle, Lemon Squeezy or Stripe Managed Payments, which charge around 5% or more but take on sales tax and VAT. Here's how the three routes compare.
· 7 min read
Guide · Cross-border incorporation
ITIN for non-US founders: when you need one, and when you don't
You don't need an ITIN to get an EIN, file Form 5472 or claim a treaty rate on a W-8BEN if you have a tax number from home. You do need one to file a US return as a nonresident, for example when your business is engaged in a US trade or business. The IRS says allow 9 to 11 weeks from abroad.
· 7 min read
Guide · Cross-border payments
How Indian freelancers and agencies get paid by US clients
On a $10,000 invoice, Wise's US account details cost $186.97 in fees including GST, Payoneer's published rates come to between about $219 and $496, and PayPal comes to about $727. Services exported under an LUT carry no GST, but you still need the paperwork. Here's how to choose.
· 7 min read
Comparison · Business banking
Corporate cards for non-US founders: which ones a foreign-owned company can get
For a foreign-owned company with no funding, Mercury's IO card is the realistic first credit card: no personal guarantee, no separate application, and a cash-based limit that starts small. Ramp needs $25,000 and mostly US operations. Brex needs a verifiable physical US address. Traditional cards want an SSN or ITIN and US credit history.
· 7 min read