Head-to-head snapshot
| Factor | US LLC (Wyoming) | UK LTD |
|---|---|---|
| Time to form | 1–3 days | 24 hours |
| Cost year 1 (all-in) | $600–$1,200 | £400–£900 |
| Tax (non-resident, no local income) | 0% federal + Form 5472 | 19–25% corp tax on worldwide profits |
| Banking | Mercury / Relay / Wise | Tide / Wise / Airwallex |
| Payment gateway | Stripe US, PayPal US | Stripe UK, PayPal UK |
| Customer perception | Best for US buyers | Best for UK/EU buyers |
| Ownership disclosure | BOI (private) | PSC register (public) |
When a US LLC wins
If your customers are primarily in the US, or if minimizing tax as a non-resident with no US operations is critical, the US LLC is usually the right pick.
When a UK LTD wins
If you sell into the UK or EU, need EUR/GBP settlement, or your customers are B2B buyers in Europe, the UK LTD's credibility wins.
Running both
It's common to run both — a UK LTD as the primary brand and a US LLC as a subsidiary for US operations. We often structure this for e-commerce brands scaling across both continents.
Frequently asked questions
Both offer limited liability. The UK LTD has more public transparency; the US LLC has more privacy.