Twelve questions before the first dollar comes in.
Dropshipping checklist for the USA: preparing your e-commerce business the right way
Part of the guide Entering the US Market Without Costly Detours: Legal Form, Taxes, Law, Customs
1Answers to your questions
From sales tax and nexus to US taxes and company formation: entrepreneurs who want to run an e-commerce or dropshipping business in the States have a lot to think about. And especially at the start, plenty of questions come up.
Do I need a US company, or can I sell in the States through my existing business abroad? If a US company: LLC, C Corporation or Limited Partnership? Which US legal structure is right for e-commerce and dropshipping? Delaware, California or Texas? Which US state is best for forming my American company?
Once these fundamentals are settled, questions about American taxes follow. The key issues here are the nexus laws for sales tax in the various US states and the related registration requirements for marketplace sellers.
Entity type, state and tax consequences, before you commit.
2Checklist for e-commerce & dropshipping in the USA
To help you keep the details in view, we have put together a short checklist. Every e-commerce & dropshipping venture in the USA should think these points through in advance and settle them as needed and as possible.
- Existing business or US company
- Choosing the right legal structure
- Choosing the best US state
- Sales tax & registration requirements
- Tax planning & tax optimization
- Ongoing bookkeeping
- Legal protection
- Government grants & tax incentives
- Hiring staff
- Employer health insurance / Obamacare
- Visa and green card considerations
- Financing, bank loans & raising capital
Registration and returns in the states where you have nexus.
3Fully prepared for the USA
The firm supports you on all of these topics and works with you to develop an approach tailored to you and your business. With that kind of preparation (whether with your existing company or a newly formed US business), nothing stands in the way of your e-commerce or dropshipping venture in the States.
Everything you need to know about dropshipping in the EU is here. For an overview of every article in the series, see our E-Commerce & Dropshipping page.
- If you want to run e-commerce or dropshipping in the USA, first decide: existing business or US company, and if a US company, which legal structure and which state.
- Next come sales tax, the states' nexus laws and the registration requirements for marketplace sellers.
- The checklist runs from tax planning, bookkeeping and legal protection to staff, health insurance, visas and financing.
How we help you
- US Company FormationLLC, Inc or LP in Delaware, Florida, California, New York, Texas or Wyoming.
- Sales taxRegistration and returns in the states where you have nexus.
- Form a CorporationThe US corporation (Inc) for growth, investors and your visa.
- Tax structureA clean structure between parent company and US subsidiary, or between you and your US company, coordinated with your accountant.
- PayrollPayroll, payroll taxes and filings for your employees in the USA.
- Company formation consultationEntity type, state and tax consequences, before you commit.
More on market entry & e-commerce
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