Wyoming vs Montana vs Missouri LLC: Which Is Best for Non-Residents? (2026)

Every non-US founder asks the same question before forming a US LLC: which state? We form LLCs in three states, Wyoming, Montana and Missouri, and all three work the same way for EIN, Mercury Bank and Stripe. The differences are speed, yearly cost and a few state rules. Here is the honest comparison, with our real prices and timelines as of October 2026.

The quick answer

• Want it fastest? Choose Wyoming. Ready in 3–5 business days, or 2 with expedited filing.
• Want the lowest yearly cost? Choose Missouri. There is no state annual report.
• Buying equipment or software for the business? Montana has no state sales tax and low yearly fees.

Factor	Wyoming	Montana	Missouri
Entryly package (one-time)	$260	$180	$160
Ready in (EIN included)	3–5 business days (2 with expedite)	7–14 business days	7–14 business days
State annual report	Yes, due the first day of your formation month	Yes, due April 15 (state fee waived until 2027)	None
Yearly cost from year 2	$278	$198	$198
State income tax	None	Yes, but usually none for a non-resident with no Montana income	Yes, but usually none for a non-resident with no Missouri income
State sales tax	Yes (4%)	None	Yes

Yearly costs are what we charge from the second year: the registered agent ($99), the state annual report where there is one, and the yearly IRS filing that every foreign-owned LLC needs (Form 5472, $99). Live prices are always on our pricing page.

Wyoming: the fastest, with strong privacy

Wyoming created the LLC in 1977 and has kept its rules simple for owners. Your name does not have to appear in the public formation filing, and the state has no income tax.

Wyoming costs

• Formation: $260 with Entryly, including the state fee, registered agent for the first year, EIN, operating agreement and Mercury Bank and Stripe setup help.
• From year 2: $278 a year: registered agent $99 + annual report $80 (the $60 state fee plus our $20 filing) + IRS Form 5472 filing $99.

Choose Wyoming if

• You want your LLC as fast as possible (3–5 business days, or 2 with expedited filing).
• Privacy matters to you.
• You plan to grow, raise money or sell the business later. Wyoming is well known to investors and banks.

What to watch

The annual report is due on the first day of the month you formed the LLC, every year. If it is more than 60 days late, Wyoming dissolves the LLC. We remind you and file it for you, but it has to be paid on time.

Montana: low fees and no sales tax

Montana is one of five US states with no general sales tax. It is a quiet, low-cost choice for founders who don't need Wyoming's speed.

Montana costs

• Formation: $180 with Entryly, with the same inclusions as Wyoming.
• From year 2: $198 a year today: registered agent $99 + IRS Form 5472 filing $99. Montana's own annual report fee is waived until 2027; the report itself is still due every April 15, and filing late adds a $35 state fee.

Choose Montana if

• You will buy equipment, software or other goods through the LLC and want to avoid state sales tax on them.
• You want low yearly costs but still prefer a state with an annual report on record.

A note on Montana tax

You may read that Montana has "no state income tax". That is not true: Montana taxes income at 4.7% to 5.65% (2026). What matters for most of our customers is that a non-resident owner whose LLC earns nothing from Montana usually owes no Montana income tax. Ask a tax adviser about your own situation.

Missouri: the lowest yearly cost

Missouri is one of the few states with no annual report at all. Once your LLC is formed, the only things to keep up are the registered agent and the yearly IRS filing.

Missouri costs

• Formation: $160 with Entryly, with the same inclusions.
• From year 2: $198 a year: registered agent $99 + IRS Form 5472 filing $99. No state report, no state fee.

Choose Missouri if

• You want the lowest, most predictable yearly cost.
• You don't want a state deadline to remember.
• You can wait 7–14 business days for your LLC and EIN.

What is the same in all three states

• EIN: we get it from the IRS for you, with no SSN or ITIN, and it is included in the time above.
• Banking and Stripe: Mercury Bank and Stripe treat all three states the same. What matters to them is where you live, not the state. Check your country page to see what works from your country.
• Federal tax: a single-member LLC owned by a non-resident must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 by April 15 every year, even with no income. Missing it can cost a $25,000 penalty. A multi-member LLC files Form 1065 by March 15. We prepare and file these as a yearly service.
• 100% remote: you only need your passport and a proof of address. No US visit, no notary.

Our recommendation

If you are not sure, choose Wyoming when speed matters and Missouri when yearly cost matters most. Choose Montana if you will buy goods through the LLC. All three are real, respected US states, and you can run the same business from any of them.

Have a question about your situation? Message us on WhatsApp or start your application.