Best US LLC Setup for Dropshipping (Shopify, Amazon) as a Non-Resident

Dropshipping has specific requirements. Here's the optimal stack.

The dropshipping stack (proven 2026)

1. LLC: Wyoming (privacy + Mercury-friendly)

2. EIN: required for Stripe + Shopify Payments + Amazon

3. Bank: Mercury (works with Shopify Payments) or Relay

4. Payment processor: Shopify Payments (powered by Stripe) — best for Shopify stores

5. Backup processor: Stripe direct, PayPal Business

6. Sales tax: TaxJar or Avalara if selling to US customers

Why Wyoming over New Mexico for dropshipping

• Mercury approves Wyoming LLCs slightly more often
• Shopify Payments has better historical approval for Wyoming entities
• $60/yr WY annual fee is a rounding error vs. NM $0 if you make any revenue

Common pitfalls

• Using a personal address: Shopify will flag mismatched addresses. Use a Wyoming registered office or virtual mailbox.
• No business website beyond your store: link your Shopify store as your "business website" in Stripe — they accept it.
• Sales tax confusion: you owe sales tax in US states where you have "nexus" (typically: $100K revenue or 200 transactions in that state). Use Shopify Tax or TaxJar to auto-calculate.
• Restricted products: Shopify and Stripe block CBD, supplements, weapons, adult — verify your niche before forming.

Recommended plan

Llcora Pro ($299) — gets you Wyoming + EIN + Operating Agreement + bank guide. Add the Premium ($499) if you want Form 5472 reminder (you'll likely need it as a foreign-owned single-member LLC).