Delaware C-Corp for non-residents
VC-default US corporation for raises. Delaware Chancery Court. Franchise tax compliance autopilot included. 1-2 business days via same-day electronic filing.
- Tier
- REPUTABLE
- Formation
- up to 3 business days
- KYC
- Tier 0
- Renewal
- $389/yr
What is the Delaware C-Corp for non-residents and what does it cost?
VC-backable US corporation. The standard for raises. It is $299 all-in / ₿0.00375628 / 375,628 sats, paid in Bitcoin or USDT, and formation takes 3 business days.
- Tier
- REPUTABLE
- All-in price
- $299 all-in / ₿0.00375628 / 375,628 sats
- Year-2 renewal
- $389/yr
- KYC tier
- Tier 0
- Formation time
- 3 business days
- EU / FATF status
- off both EU lists, off the FATF lists
What's included
- Delaware Division of Corporations filing fee: we file and pay it on your behalf
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Corporate Bylaws
- Initial Board Resolutions and Incorporator's Statement
- Stock ledger and initial share-issuance records
- EIN application packet (SS-4, no SSN required)
- Engagement Letter
- First-year registered agent service
- Sanctions screen on the order
What's NOT included
- Apostille (sold separately at $189; adds roughly 5 to 10 business days where a bank or counterparty needs legalized documents)
- Year-2+ renewal ($389/yr): covers your registered agent, the annual report, and Delaware's franchise tax at the standard minimum, all in
- EIN expedited service (we use the standard 4-6 week SS-4 fax)
- US bank account opening: we introduce you to a US business-banking partner from the perks portal
- Form 1120 + Form 5472 annual filing (foreign-owned C-Corps must file both; your responsibility, we refer you to a US Enrolled Agent, we do not file it)
- Mail forwarding
We list what's not included on every product page so there are no checkout surprises.
Operator-grade use case
The default when you are raising a priced round from US institutional investors. A Delaware C-Corp is the structure most US venture capital requires before it will wire: SAFEs, convertible notes, priced rounds, and option pools all assume Delaware C-Corp stock. The Court of Chancery has more decided corporate case law than any other US court, which is the predictability sophisticated investors are paying for when they insist on Delaware. That depth is the whole pitch.
Most appropriate for: founders with multiple co-founders, an option pool, or preferred stock in the plan; Bitcoin operators genuinely going the venture route who want a US-fronted company that accepts BTC via BitSettle and pairs with tech-leaning and Bitcoin-native banking rails; and anyone who has already been told by an investor that the term sheet requires it. Form the C-Corp first if a US round is the plan, because converting an LLC or a foreign entity mid-raise costs legal time you do not want to spend.
Less ideal for non-VC operators. The C-Corp carries double taxation: the corporation pays tax on its profits, and you pay again on dividends, plus board minutes, separate filings, and share-ledger upkeep with no upside if there are no outside investors. If you are not raising, a Wyoming LLC is cleaner, cheaper, and more private; if you want Delaware paper without the C-Corp, the Delaware LLC is the pass-through alternative.
What you'll need to hand us
- Email address
- Country of residence
- Intended use statement (free-text)
- Government-issued photo ID (passport or national ID)
- Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, or government letter, dated within 90 days)
- Source-of-funds attestation (drop-down + free text)
- Optional: PEP and adverse-media screening consent
- Everything in Tier 1
- Beneficial owner declaration for every party with 25%+ ownership
- Source-of-wealth documentation (tax return, employment letter, salary, asset proof)
- Manual enhanced-due-diligence reviewer notes from our KYC partner
Common questions
- When should I choose a Delaware C-Corp?
- When you are raising a priced round from US institutional investors. Most US VCs require it as a term-sheet condition. Outside that case, a Wyoming LLC is cleaner, cheaper, and more private.
- Can a non-resident form one?
- Yes, paid in Bitcoin. Note that the post-formation US-banking flow is built around US-resident founders, so plan an EIN-first path before applying.
- What are the ongoing costs?
- Your registered agent, the annual report, and Delaware's franchise tax at the standard minimum, all in. Foreign-owned C-Corps also file Form 5472 and an 1120 with the IRS each year, which is your responsibility.
Operators usually pair this with
EIN for non-residents
IRS tax ID without an SSN.
Registered Agent (50-state)
50-state US registered agent.
Delaware LLC
The Delaware brand on an LLC. $300/yr state franchise tax applies.
Wyoming LLC
US privacy LLC. W.S. § 17-29. 2-3 days.