Compare US‑friendly banks and formation services with step‑by‑step checklists. For web founders worldwide, open accounts in 2–5 days, save 6–12 hours, and connect the tools investors expect.
You’re juggling entities, KYC, addresses, and fees while your product sits idle. Forums are contradictory, bank pages are vague, and formation upsells bury what matters for venture-friendly setups. We map the exact path for your situation, compare credible providers, and help you finish documents correctly the first time.
You’re choosing Delaware vs. Wyoming, C‑Corp vs. LLC, then deciphering KYC, virtual addresses, and payment rails. One wrong click locks fees, delays banking, or spooks investors. Meanwhile, your runway burns and opportunities slip.
The non-obvious insight: success is about sequencing, not just picking a provider. We route you through the right entity, address, EIN, and bank order—for your passport, market, and funding plan. Before: scattered tabs, stalled approvals. After: a 4-step checklist, docs correct, account live, tools connected.
Our founder spent three late nights trying to open a US account for a remote-first SaaS—while the demo video trended on Product Hunt. The trigger: a declined bank application due to a mismatched address and missing manager resolution. We realized founders don’t lack options; they lack a reliable sequence. So we mapped provider flows, documented every required field, and pressure-tested checklists with real applications. We’ve since interviewed compliance analysts, watched KYC workflows change, and updated comparisons to reflect actual approval paths. Today, our mission is simple: remove friction so you can ship and get paid. If we can help one more founder avoid a month-long delay, it’s a win.
We tailor steps for US, visa holders, and non‑US founders with concrete document requirements. That precision helps prevent manual reviews and restarts that delay onboarding and burn credibility.
We surface differences that matter: supported countries, card controls, wires, and multi‑user permissions. Expect practical tradeoffs, not marketing slogans, so you submit the right application the first time.
We outline when a C‑Corp simplifies fundraising and when an LLC keeps paperwork lighter. You’ll see board consents, bylaws, and annual fees laid out before you commit a dollar.
Follow plain-language steps for EIN retrieval, responsible party details, and virtual mailbox documentation. Fewer mismatches mean fewer compliance flags and faster onboarding to payment processors.
Understand when to route funds via ACH, wires, or balance transfers to control fees. We include example flows for marketplaces, SaaS subscriptions, and agency invoices.
Templates match the fields banks actually ask for, reducing clarification emails. Store them once, reuse across multiple providers as your stack evolves.
Expect honest pros and cons, including when a free option is enough for your stage. Our incentives are disclosed so you can choose with confidence.
Providers iterate; we do too. Our update cadence keeps your checklists aligned with what reviewers and formation teams are using today.
Answer a few context questions—passport, funding plan, revenue model. In 2–3 minutes, we map your exact entity and banking sequence. Expect instant clarity and reduced anxiety.
Complete formation, address, EIN, and bank application in order. Most founders finish core tasks over 1–3 days. You’ll feel in control at every step.
Use our doc pack and field notes to submit clean KYC. Typical first‑try approvals come in 24–96 hours. Enjoy fewer follow‑ups and faster access.
Hook up payouts, payroll, and analytics the same day you’re approved. In 30–60 minutes, your stack is live. Relief replaces guesswork.
Real experiences from people who trust us
“I’m in India and needed a US account fast. Their Delaware + EIN sequence got me approved in 72 hours with Mercury, and I avoided $600 of upsells I didn’t need.”
“The side‑by‑side on Relay vs Novo showed the exact multi‑user controls we needed. We finished the whole setup in two days and onboarded finance the same week.”
“Their payouts section saved us from a messy funds flow. Wise for vendors, bank for platform fees—processing costs dropped by 23% in month one.”
“I kept bouncing between forums. The checklists ended the spiral. Application went through first try, and my Stripe account connected the same day.”
“We planned an LLC, but their investor notes convinced us to go C‑Corp. Avoided a costly re‑incorporation later and kept diligence clean.”
Ideal for early founders validating an idea. Get the essentials to form and bank without guesswork.
For serious launchers. Templates, advanced notes, and priority updates to speed approvals and integrations.
White-glove guidance through entity, EIN, address, and bank application with live check-ins.
| Feature/Criteria | Our Solution | Alternative A | Alternative B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sequenced steps (entity → EIN → bank) | ✓ Guided and explained | ✗ Self-serve research | Partial, depends on provider |
| KYC document checklist and templates | ✓ Complete with examples | ✗ Generic FAQs | Limited to their product |
| Side-by-side banks and fees | ✓ Cross-provider view | Bank-only perspective | Service-only perspective |
| International founder guidance | ✓ Passport-specific paths | ✗ Often unclear | Varies by jurisdiction |
| Integration notes (ACH, API, users) | ✓ Practical details | ✗ Marketing-level claims | Limited coverage |
| Deep entity tax advice | Curated CPA list only | Hire CPA separately | Hire CPA separately |
| Cost transparency | ✓ Upfront totals & renewals | Fragmented pricing | Bundled upsells |
| Support responsiveness | 24h email (Pro), concierge optional | Depends on forum or queue | Ticket-based, variable |
Everything you need to know
No. Banks make independent decisions based on their risk policies. Our role is to help you submit a complete, accurate application that typically reduces back-and-forth. Many teams report faster decisions when they follow our document guidance.
We provide educational guidance and checklists only. For legal or tax advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified attorney or CPA. We include a curated directory so you can find the right professional when needed.
You can piece this together from forums, vendor pages, and old blog posts. Founders choose us to save time and avoid rework. Our comparisons and templates reflect what reviewers actually look for, which most free guides don’t capture.
We earn affiliate commissions from some providers if you click and sign up. We disclose these relationships and still include options without programs. We show pros, cons, and fees transparently so you can decide with confidence.
Many banks support non‑US founders, but documents and address requirements vary. Our paths outline supported countries and required paperwork. If your scenario isn’t supported, we’ll show alternatives like Wise or Payoneer flows.
Most Pro users report saving 6–12 hours and avoiding $200–$600 in unnecessary fees. Concierge users typically finish core setup in 1–3 days with fewer revisions. Results vary, but time back during launch week is often the biggest win.
Yes. We cover LLC and C‑Corp paths with clear tradeoffs. If you plan to raise from institutional investors soon, we explain why C‑Corp is usually cleaner. Bootstrappers often prefer LLC simplicity early on.
We maintain a public change log and review provider policies quarterly, with interim updates when banks adjust KYC. You’ll see update dates on every comparison and checklist so you know what’s current.
If you want a fast, compliant setup with investor-ready hygiene, yes. It might NOT be for you if you require bespoke legal structuring, tax treaty analysis, or specialized licensing—hire counsel for those cases and use our checklists as context.
We only collect what’s needed to provide the service and never store sensitive documents without consent. Your provider applications are completed on provider systems, not ours. See our Privacy Policy for details.
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Compare US‑friendly banks and formation services with step‑by‑step checklists. For web founders worldwide, open accounts in 2–5 days, save 6–12 hours, and connect the tools investors expect.
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