Starter
$129+ state fees
For founders who want a clean US LLC filed without extras.
- US LLC filing (state fee separate)
- No EIN included — self-file with the IRS, or add for $49
- Guided founder intake
- Order tracking
- Document checklist
For Kenyan founders
Form a US LLC from Kenya and get the real Stripe.
Stripe lists Kenya under its extended network — which means Paystack, not a Stripe account. M-Pesa is built for Kenyan customers. A Wyoming LLC with an EIN is how Kenyan founders reach Stripe proper and USD banking.
No charge until secure checkout. State fees shown before payment.
Extended network
Stripe in Kenya
Paystack — not a Stripe account
$500,000
CBK approval threshold
Investing abroad above this needs approval
No treaty
US–Kenya tax treaty
Kenya is absent from the IRS treaty index
Why Kenyan founders need a US LLC
The challenges of building globally from Kenya.
Stripe's "extended network" is Paystack, not Stripe
Kenya appears on Stripe's availability page only under extended network, alongside Nigeria and Ghana — that is Paystack, the company Stripe acquired. A Paystack account is a genuinely useful product, but it is not a Stripe account: no Stripe Billing, no Checkout, no Connect, and none of the global card coverage that a SaaS business builds its pricing page around.
M-Pesa is superb domestically and irrelevant internationally
M-Pesa is one of the best domestic payment systems in the world, which is exactly the point — it is designed for Kenyan customers paying Kenyan merchants in shillings. A founder billing subscriptions to customers in San Francisco or Berlin cannot route that through it.
Foreign currency purchases carry documentation thresholds
Residents may buy and sell foreign exchange with authorised dealers up to the equivalent of USD 10,000 without restriction; above that, you produce documentation showing the purpose of the transaction. That is manageable, but it is friction that sits between you and your own revenue.
There is no US–Kenya tax treaty
Kenya does not appear on the IRS list of countries with a United States income tax treaty in force. That affects how US-source income is withheld and taxed, and it is a real reason to take cross-border tax advice rather than assuming your position matches a founder in a treaty country.
The solution
What a US LLC gives Kenyan founders.
1
You get Stripe proper, not the extended network
Stripe supports US businesses holding an EIN through ordinary self-serve signup — the full product, not the Paystack pathway. For a Kenyan founder selling software or subscriptions internationally, that is the practical difference a US entity makes.
2
Kenya permits investing abroad, with a clear threshold
Investments by Kenyan residents outside Kenya must be approved by the Central Bank through the facilitating bank once they exceed USD 500,000. For a founder forming an LLC that costs a few hundred dollars, that threshold is not the binding constraint — and unlike some markets, the right to invest abroad is not itself in question.
3
US banking is open to Kenyan founders
We read Mercury's prohibited-countries page directly in July 2026 and Kenya is not on it, which puts Kenyan founders in a better position than several neighbouring markets. Payoneer serves Kenya. Always check the provider's own page before committing.
Nairobi has one of Africa's deepest developer and product-design talent pools, and Kenyan founders selling into the US and Europe hit a specific version of the regional problem: the domestic payment infrastructure is genuinely world-class and completely domestic. The gap is not capability, it is that the rails serving Kenyan customers cannot serve customers who are not in Kenya.
Pricing
Packages built for Kenyan founders.
One-time service fee. State filing fees are separate and shown at checkout.
Most popular
Growth
$249+ state fees
Most popular for founders who need everything to run correctly from day one.
- Everything in Starter
- EIN included — unlocks Stripe & US banking
- Registered Agent (1 year)
- Operating Agreement template
- Wyoming or Delaware recommended
Complete
$499+ state fees
For founders who want full setup, compliance monitoring, and priority support.
- Everything in Growth
- Annual compliance monitoring
- Compliance task reminders
- Priority founder support
- Business banking guidance
FAQ
Questions from Kenyan founders.
Specific answers for founders forming a US LLC from Kenya.
View full pricing →Is Stripe available in Kenya or not?
Both answers you will read online are half right. Stripe's own country page lists Kenya under extended network, which routes to Paystack — a Stripe-owned company, but a separate product with a separate feature set. If what you need is Stripe Billing, Checkout or Connect, that is not available to a Kenyan-incorporated business. A US LLC with an EIN is what gives you access to Stripe itself.
Can a Kenyan resident own a US LLC?
Yes. Kenya permits residents to invest abroad; investments above USD 500,000 require Central Bank approval through the facilitating bank, which is far above what forming an LLC involves. Foreign exchange purchases above roughly USD 10,000 require documentation of purpose. Speak to a Kenyan tax adviser about your reporting position — the right to hold the company is not the same as knowing how to declare it.
Which US banks accept Kenyan founders?
Kenya is not on Mercury's prohibited-countries list — we read that page directly in July 2026 — and Payoneer serves Kenya. That is a materially better position than founders in Nigeria or several other markets in the region face. Provider policies change without notice, so verify before you rely on it.
Is there a US–Kenya tax treaty?
No. Kenya is absent from the IRS list of countries with a US income tax treaty in force. It is worth understanding what that means for your specific income before you structure anything — a question for a cross-border tax professional, not a formation service.
How long does formation take?
Wyoming typically processes LLC filings in one to three business days after submission. The EIN follows by fax or mail, since the IRS online application is unavailable to applicants based outside the US.
Do I need to understand US legal paperwork?
No. RazorFile keeps the process plain-language and organised so you know what is needed, what is paid, and what happens next at every stage of your order.
What is a Registered Agent and do I need one?
A Registered Agent is required for every US LLC, regardless of where you live. They receive official government and legal correspondence on your company's behalf at a physical address in your formation state. RazorFile provides this service.
Going deeper on Kenya
Provider-by-provider detail, checked against each company's own published country list rather than a competitor's summary.
US banking
Which US banks actually accept Kenyan founders?
Kenya is absent from Mercury's prohibited list. Here is what a Kenyan founder with a US LLC can actually open, verified against each provider's own list.
Verified 2026-07-28
Stripe access
Is Stripe available in Kenya?
Stripe lists Kenya under extended network — that is Paystack, not a Stripe account. Here is the difference and what a US LLC changes.
Verified 2026-07-28
Tax position
How is a US LLC taxed for a Kenyan founder?
Kenya has no US income tax treaty. What that means for a Kenyan founder holding a US LLC, the Form 5472 obligation nobody advertises, and what we cannot tell you.
Verified 2026-07-28
RazorFile guides for founders in other countries
🇮🇳US LLC for India founders🇵🇰US LLC for Pakistan founders🇳🇬US LLC for Nigeria founders🇹🇷US LLC for Turkey founders🇮🇩US LLC for Indonesia founders🇦🇷US LLC for Argentina founders🇵🇭US LLC for Philippines founders🇻🇳US LLC for Vietnam founders🇪🇬US LLC for Egypt founders🇬🇭US LLC for Ghana founders🇧🇩US LLC for Bangladesh founders🇦🇪US LLC for United Arab Emirates founders🇬🇧US LLC for United Kingdom founders🇨🇦US LLC for Canada founders🇦🇺US LLC for Australia founders
Ready to form your US LLC from Kenya?
Start with a simple package, add only what you need, and complete checkout in one guided flow. No charge until you confirm payment.