Why Wyoming?
Wyoming was one of the first states to create the LLC structure, and it has continuously refined its laws to be as business-friendly as possible. For most non-residents — freelancers, e-commerce operators, IT service providers, and online businesses — Wyoming offers a clean combination of low government fees, strong privacy protections, and simple compliance requirements.
Unlike New York, Wyoming has no publication requirement — there is no need to publish your LLC formation in a newspaper, which saves hundreds of dollars for NY-formed entities. Wyoming's framework is straightforward and the state actively competes for business registrations.
Privacy is one of Wyoming's strongest features. Member names are not part of the public record in the same way they are in many other states. This matters for founders who prefer to keep their business structure out of public databases.
Charging Order Protection in Wyoming is among the strongest in the US — it limits the ability of a creditor to claim your LLC's assets to satisfy a personal judgment against a member.
State Fees
These are government fees paid to the State of Wyoming — not Edeal's service fee. Edeal registers your Wyoming LLC for $1 + state fees.
LLC Formation
- Articles of Organization filing fee: $100 — one-time, paid to Wyoming Secretary of State
- Annual Report (License Tax): minimum $60/year — this is the state-mandated annual government fee to keep your LLC in good standing. It is calculated based on assets located in Wyoming, with a statutory minimum of $60/year. This is a government fee, not an income tax rate.
- Registered Agent: required by law — Edeal provides a registered agent as part of its service
All fees are set by the State of Wyoming and are publicly available at the Wyoming Secretary of State.
Who Wyoming Is Right For
- Freelancers and independent contractors — straightforward compliance, low annual costs
- E-commerce businesses operating online without physical US presence
- IT and software service providers billing US clients internationally
- Founders who value privacy — member names not publicly searchable
- Most non-residents without VC investment plans — Wyoming's $60/year minimum beats Delaware's $300/year minimum significantly
- Businesses concerned about asset protection — strong charging order provisions
Who Wyoming Is Not the Best Fit For
- Startups seeking VC funding — venture capital investors and accelerators strongly prefer Delaware, especially for C-Corp structures
- Founders joining US accelerators (YC, Techstars) — these programs typically require Delaware entities
- Businesses with physical operations or customers in a specific state — if you have actual nexus in Florida or California, registering in Wyoming may require additional foreign qualification filings anyway
Not sure if Wyoming or Delaware is right for you? See our guide on how to choose a state, and Edeal can help you compare before you start.
For Non-Residents: What to Consider in Wyoming
Citizenship and residency do not prevent you from owning a Wyoming LLC — a non-resident can be the sole member. A few practical points matter more than the filing fee itself:
- Nexus and foreign qualification. If your actual operations run in another state, a Wyoming registration alone is not enough — you will likely need a foreign qualification where you do business, meaning extra fees. Form your home state where you actually operate.
- Registered agent is mandatory. You need an agent with a physical Wyoming address to receive official correspondence — Edeal provides this as part of the service.
- Bank account and EIN. Opening a US bank account generally requires an EIN; a physical visit is usually not needed, but banks look at the company's structure and ties.
- Annual reporting. The annual report with a minimum fee from $60/year is filed every year; missing it leads to penalties and, eventually, administrative dissolution of the LLC.
FAQ
Can a non-resident from any country form a Wyoming LLC?
Yes. Wyoming has no residency or citizenship requirements for LLC members or managers. Non-residents can form and own a Wyoming LLC entirely remotely, without an SSN or US address. Edeal handles the registered agent and the filing.
What is the Wyoming Annual Report fee?
Wyoming requires an annual report with a minimum license tax of $60 per year. This is a government fee paid to the Wyoming Secretary of State to keep your LLC active. The fee scales with the value of Wyoming assets — for most non-resident LLCs with no physical assets in Wyoming, the minimum applies.
How does Wyoming privacy protection work?
Wyoming does not require member names to appear in the public Articles of Organization filing. This means your name as an LLC owner is not easily searchable in the state's public business database. A registered agent (provided by Edeal) satisfies the public address requirement.
Wyoming LLC vs. Delaware LLC — the cost difference
Over five years, the difference in recurring state fees alone is significant: Wyoming minimum annual fee is $60/year ($300 over five years) versus Delaware's minimum franchise tax of $300/year ($1,500 over five years). For a solo business without investment plans, Wyoming is substantially cheaper.