Starting a US based business from the UK

[silobass]

Some of my customers have a US need for what we do but currently I can't service them as shipping and import duties are an issue so I was considering setting up a US based company that I can point them towards. It would only be a very small business (just me probably) and I'm aware that I can't actually work myself in the US. I have a company earmarked in the States that I will approach to do provide and ship goods for me directly to clients in the US.

I've looked into Delaware corporation set ups and think this would be the way to go - has any one done this sort of thing and was it easy enough to do?

I can't decide if it's a good idea or not.

[silobass]

I guess so but haven't looked into their site properly just yet. It wasn't so much the how to go about it I'm after, I've been researching companies that help register companies etc., more if it's a good idea or not.

Thanks for the site though, I'll take a look.

[silobass]

Jeremy-75qq8 said:

We were a software company with a USA operation and company ( whole business now sold)

The paperwork etc is extraordinary. We were in New York. You register the company then with the state then with the city. Payroll is staggering and you need a payroll company for deductions you can’t imagine

The tax forms ( I have done all company and personal ones in U.K. for decades) are simply mind boggling and they use lawyers for anything and everything.

If there is a way to avoid registering then explore the option.

Don’t open and office of the U.K. comment. You still need to register to trade and then the fed can look at your U.K. operation and you don’t want to risk that.

Good luck

Cheers, this isn't really what I'm looking at doing, I'll be much smaller. I'm going to be based in the UK still and it will just be me so won't have payroll etc to sort out. I've looked into the set up part though and our government recommends a corporation so they can't look at UK activities, just the US based ones.

I can't bulk import to the US as the product needs customising. The US wholesaler will do this for me.

I pretty much made my mind up I should do it but since then I've not had a chance to do anything about it!