US or UK? Where Should You Set Up Your Company?

First ask: where are your customers?

The most important question when choosing a country is who you will sell to. Setting up where most of your customers and your marketplace are usually makes everything easier.

Good news: you can set up in either country remotely from Turkey. You don’t need to travel to either one.

US LLC in short

An LLC is a company formed under a US state’s law. Its owners are called members and, as a rule, are not personally liable for the company’s debts. Every company has a Registered Agent in its state who accepts official mail.

A single-member LLC is disregarded for federal income tax. That doesn’t mean “no filings”: an LLC wholly owned by a foreign person files Form 5472 with the IRS every year, and depending on the state there may be an annual report or state tax.

UK LTD in short

A private limited company (LTD) is registered with Companies House and is a separate legal person from its owners. Directors don’t need to live in the UK, but the company needs a registered office address in the UK. Since 18 November 2025, directors must also verify their identity with Companies House.

The company pays Corporation Tax to HMRC on its profits and files a return (CT600) for each accounting period. It also files annual accounts every year and a confirmation statement at least every 12 months with Companies House, even if it is dormant.

Which one, when?

If you’ll sell on US marketplaces like Amazon US, work with US customers and take payments in dollars, a US LLC is often the natural choice. If your customers are in the UK and Europe, you’ll work in pounds, or you’ll sell on UK marketplaces, a LTD stands out.

If you plan to raise investment, a corporation is usually preferred in the US — a separate decision we cover in “LLC or Corporation?”. Not sure yet? Our free Company type selector gives you a starting point in four questions.

Bank and payment accounts

In both countries you apply for bank and payment accounts after the company is formed. You’re usually asked for company documents, ID and address details; the bank or payment provider decides whether to open the account.