Freelancers across the UK and Europe increasingly work with clients around the world — and the United States is often the most valuable market. Whether you are a developer, designer, consultant, or online entrepreneur, receiving USD payments efficiently is a critical part of making that work commercially viable. The wrong setup means slow international wires, high conversion fees, and friction that costs you time and money on every transaction.
This guide explains how UK and EU freelancers can open a US business bank account remotely — which platforms work, what documents you will need, and why forming a US LLC first is the most effective foundation.
Why a US Business Account Matters for Freelancers
Receiving USD into a UK or EU account via international wire works — but it is slower, more expensive, and more friction-prone than domestic ACH transfers within the US banking system. US clients paying a domestic bank account (routing number and account number) pay via ACH, which typically settles in one to two business days with no wire fees. Clients paying an international account face SWIFT fees, manual wire processes, and sometimes additional compliance steps from their own bank's international payments team.
Beyond payment speed and cost, a US business account makes your LLC a more credible vendor to US companies. Accounts payable teams process domestic invoices without additional steps. A US business account is also required to properly receive Stripe payouts, which go directly to a US bank account rather than requiring a cross-border transfer.
The Starting Point: You Need a US LLC and an EIN First
Every major US banking platform for non-residents — Mercury, Relay, Wise Business — requires a US business entity and an EIN before opening an account. You cannot open a US business bank account as an individual UK or EU resident; you need a US legal entity. The most common and cost-effective choice for freelancers is a Wyoming LLC. See our guide on starting a Wyoming LLC as a freelancer for the full formation process.
Once your LLC is formed and your EIN is confirmed, you can apply to any of the platforms below. For the full list of documents required at the banking stage, see our banking documents checklist.
The Best US Banking Platforms for Non-Resident Freelancers
Mercury is the most widely used banking platform among remote-owned US LLCs. It offers free business checking and savings, virtual and physical debit cards, a clean dashboard, and Stripe/PayPal payout integration. Mercury explicitly accommodates foreign-owned US entities and is generally the smoothest onboarding experience for non-residents who have their documentation in order.
Relay is an excellent alternative for freelancers who want more granular control — up to twenty separate checking accounts and fifty virtual cards within one company profile, making it useful for allocating funds by project, tax reserve, or expense category. Relay integrates natively with QuickBooks and Xero. No monthly fees on the standard plan.
Wise Business is the strongest option if your priority is currency conversion rather than a full US banking experience. Wise provides US routing and account numbers, holds balances in over forty currencies, and offers some of the most competitive exchange rates available for USD-to-GBP or USD-to-EUR conversions. If you are regularly taking money out of your US LLC into a UK or EU account, Wise Business saves meaningfully compared to traditional wire fees.
Documents You Will Need to Open a US Business Account
Having the following ready before starting any application makes the process significantly faster and reduces the risk of compliance review delays:
- Articles of Organization / Certificate of Formation — the state-issued LLC formation document
- EIN confirmation letter (CP 575) — the IRS letter confirming your Employer Identification Number
- Operating Agreement — the internal LLC governance document; banks ask for this as part of KYC
- Valid passport — clear scan showing all four corners
- Proof of residential address — utility bill or bank statement dated within three months
- Business description — two to three sentences describing what your LLC does, how it earns revenue, and who its customers are
Managing Multiple Currencies
Once your US account is live, you have several options for converting USD earnings to GBP or EUR. Wise Business is the strongest for ongoing conversion — receive into Wise's USD account and convert at near mid-market rates. Revolut Business is a strong alternative for European founders managing EUR alongside USD. Both platforms support multi-currency accounts that avoid the need for repeated conversion on each withdrawal.
Ready to Get Your US Banking Set Up?
We help UK and European freelancers form Wyoming LLCs and obtain EINs entirely remotely — and provide guidance on banking setup so your first application to Mercury or Relay is your best one.
How to Start a Wyoming LLC as a Freelancer
US Banking Documents Checklist
Best Fintech Tools for US LLCs
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