The short answer
For most freelancers and online founders outside these countries, a US LLC in a low-cost state is the cheapest to start, a UK limited company is the fastest, and an Estonian OÜ is the most digital-native route but costs more upfront. The right choice depends on where your clients are, which payment gateway you need, and how much yearly maintenance you are willing to handle. All fees below are official government fees checked against state sources on 2 November 2026; formation providers charge their own service fees on top.
What does it cost in 2026?
US LLC: every state sets its own fee. Wyoming charges $100 to file the articles of organization; Delaware charges $90 for the certificate of formation. Yearly costs differ just as much: Wyoming's annual report carries a license tax with a $60 minimum - two-tenths of one mill on the dollar of assets located and employed in the state, whichever is greater - while Delaware charges LLCs a flat $400 annual tax due by 1 June. A registered agent with an address in the state is required and is usually a paid service.
UK Ltd: £100 to incorporate online, and a confirmation statement each year at £50 when filed online. You need a UK registered office address.
Estonia OÜ: a €265 state fee to register the company, plus €150 for the e-Residency application you need first. An annual report is required every year. If the management board is located outside Estonia, the company must have a legal address and a licensed contact person in Estonia by law. The minimum share capital is €0.01 per shareholder.
How long does registration take?
The UK is the fastest: online applications are normally processed within 24 hours, and a same-day option (£156) exists only through software filing with a 3pm weekday cutoff. In the US it depends on the state - from a few business days to a few weeks for standard online filing. Estonia is two stages: the e-Residency application itself takes 3-8 weeks including card pickup, and once you hold the digital ID, registering the OÜ online takes 1-2 days.
What documents do you need?
For all three routes: a passport, a company name that passes the local availability check, and details of directors and shareholders. The US additionally requires a registered agent with an address in the formation state, the UK requires a registered office address, and Estonia requires a legal address plus, when the board lives abroad, a licensed contact person by law.
Which route works with Stripe and payment gateways?
Stripe does not currently support businesses registered in Egypt, so Egyptian founders typically form a US, UK or Estonian entity first, then open Stripe and a business account under that company. The US and UK routes are the most widely supported by payment gateways and digital banks; Estonia works well with EU-focused fintechs.
How do I choose?
A freelancer billing international clients usually looks first at a US LLC in a low-maintenance state. An e-commerce seller who needs speed gets the fastest result from the UK route. A founder targeting EU customers, or who wants a fully digital EU entity, accepts Estonia's higher upfront cost and the contact-person requirement.
Open your company with FoundStart
FoundStart forms your company in 9 countries - the US, UK, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Ireland and Egypt - at one clear service fee per company type, with no add-ons. The full requirements and the exact price are shown inside your dashboard before you pay, and you track documents and payments in one place.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change; confirm the details for your situation with a licensed professional.
