Launch Your Business with Confidence Training

You’ve got the product. You’ve mastered your Facebook and Instagram ads. Maybe you’ve even cracked the code on viral TikTok videos. But if you’re serious about scaling your Shopify store to six figures a month, there’s one make-or-break factor you can’t ignore: your payment strategy. For non-U.S. sellers expanding to the U.S. market, it’s not […]

As President Donald Trump prepares for a second term, e-commerce sellers—especially those with Amazon stores—are anticipating potential increases in tariffs on Chinese-manufactured goods and raw materials. For years, sourcing from China has offered affordability and reliability, but shifting trade policies and a growing trend toward “Buy American” are prompting sellers to rethink strategies. As a […]

We’re stepping into a whole new ballgame, folks, and you may need to make some changes as outlined in our non-resident Amazon seller’s guide. With Trump back in the White House, non-resident Amazon sellers have some big moves to make. This isn’t business as usual – the U.S. is doubling down on “Buy American” policies, […]

Learn the compliance essentials non-U.S. residents need to know before launching on TikTok Shop, from U.S. entity structure to beneficial ownership.

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, TikTok Shop is emerging as a leading platform for businesses to reach millions of customers globally. With the recent announcement of Amazon’s Buy with Prime integration into TikTok Shop, merchants can now display the Prime badge, offer real-time delivery estimates, and streamline the checkout process directly through TikTok. This […]

Expanding your business to the U.S. sounds great—until you hit the walls of Amazon’s verification process and IRS paperwork. If you’re a non-resident looking to launch on Amazon or Shopify, the journey can feel like a minefield of rules, regulations, and red tape. But here’s the deal—get your U.S. LLC and Amazon account set up […]

If you’re a non-resident looking to establish or maintain a U.S. business, there’s a new challenge you need to be aware of—compliance regulations are tightening. Maintaining U.S. bank accounts, especially with neo-banks like Mercury, Relay, and Wise, has become more complex. Update Oct 10, 2024: TD Bank Hit with a $1.3 Billion Penalty* by FinCEN—  […]

The Amazon account verification process is vital to your success on the platform, but it isn’t always easy to navigate. Explore real tips from the experts at Riverbend Consulting to ensure your account verification is successful.

Expanding your successful global Amazon brand to the U.S. market is filled with opportunity, competition, and risk. This endeavor requires careful overall e-commerce expansion and tax planning to navigate the complexities of this lucrative yet challenging market. Asking better quality questions for expanding your e-commerce business is essential for success. Most only don’t dig deep […]

Securing a business credit card can be a significant step toward financial growth for non-residents looking to establish a business in the U.S. Obtaining a business credit card often requires a strong personal credit score. This guide will help non-residents with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) build personal credit. It will enable them to […]

Why Choose an S-Corp?  For many small business owners, selecting the right business structure can be pivotal. An often underutilized but highly beneficial option is forming an S-Corporation. Here are the top reasons why an S-Corp might be the right choice for your business: Limited Liability Protection: As a shareholder or officer of an S-Corp, […]

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is a new federal law requiring most domestic and foreign business entities formed or registered to do business in the United States to disclose information about their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Update August 15: Here is our recommended company BOI filing resource if you want […]

Navigating the complexity of U.S. tax and legal compliance can often seem like a formidable challenge, particularly when it involves a single-member LLC disregarded to expand your U.S. e-commerce business to the U.S. You will now realize that a U.S. single-member LLC disregarded is NOT your best option when doing business in the U.S., not […]

  E-commerce is booming, as are the complexities of navigating U.S. tax regulations! This is a must-read if you’re an e-commerce seller, particularly one that deals with major platforms like Amazon. Need help with the tax interview required by the marketplaces? Are you exempt from U.S. taxes? Dive in! W-8BEN or W-8ECI? Understanding the Nuances […]

As an existing non-resident Shopify seller, you likely started your Shopify store with Shopify payments linked to your region.  However, if you’d like to set up a Shopify Payments account for a region different from your location, such as the U.S., you can submit your case to the Shopify Support Team and follow the steps […]

Navigating Amazon’s tax interview for non-residents with U.S. LLC can be complicated, particularly regarding tax compliance. Many non-residents choose to operate as individuals or entities from their home country and will complete the W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E form during the Amazon tax interview. Forming a U.S. single-member LLC often becomes necessary, especially in dropshipping scenarios where […]

As we gear up for the INFORM Consumer Act’s enforcement on June 27, 2023, its impact on Amazon’s reverification process is indisputable. This consumer protection law aims to bolster online transparency, ensure fairness, and hold platforms accountable for their activities. Update June 26th: We would like to inform you that starting July 7th, 2023, Amazon […]

Are you looking to form a Wyoming LLC to establish a dropshipping business in the U.S.? If so, there are many factors to consider, including the legal structure of your business. One popular option for entrepreneurs is forming a limited liability company (LLC) in Wyoming. In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of a Wyoming […]

As a non-U.S. resident with a U.S. single-member LLC, staying compliant with tax laws is crucial. Whether for Amazon Insurance, Shopify payments, or bulk purchases from a U.S. manufacturer, IRS forms 5472 and proforma 1120 for your U.S. single-member LLC disregarded likely must be filed annually.  LLC may require filing Form 5472 and proforma 1120 […]

If you form a “simple” LLC online with an EIN and a basic operating agreement. With the first legal issue, you may be “financially paralyzed” even if you win the lawsuit! You will not be able to get any loans or financing, which is paramount in today’s economy. What is a “simple” LLC? That is […]

Suppliers often require an exemption certificate when they ship products from the US. In addition, some B2B marketplaces have created Sales Tax Exemption Programs, such as Amazon (ATEP) and Alibaba (ASTEP), that can quickly help buyers identify as eligible tax-exempt for US sales tax purposes. You may enroll in their program to acknowledge and ensure […]

Keeping your Amazon Seller Central account active is vital to your seller ranking and overall Amazon business. Amazon’s suspension for Insurance non-compliance could happen soon. Ignoring repeated Amazon notices to comply with insurance is not a good idea. Amazon will force compliance and take action for non-compliant people, but the unknown is when. If you […]

Determining your crypto taxation starts with knowing if your crypto transactions are taxable or not. Below are the most common crypto activities that you do need to report on your tax form: Selling your crypto for cash or converting to a stable coin. Trading one cryptocurrency for another digital currency (such as Ethereum). Using cryptocurrency at […]

LLCs are more popular than corporations for a few reasons, including flexibility in the management structure, taxation options, and the bonus of the “charging” order protection in most states. When you operate a business, you must consider what happens if your business is sued directly. Will your business liability insurance policy protect your business assets, […]

If you are selling through Shopify or your own website, you may have crossed the economic thresholds in several states, which means you have a responsibility to register for a sales tax permit, update your Shopify tax settings (or shopping cart), and collect and remit sales taxes. Even as a non-resident selling in the U.S., […]

Expanding to Walmart is a popular trend for non-resident sellers who have shown success on Amazon.com. There are many steps involved in correctly forming a U.S. LLC for your e-commerce business (when required), and one of the key areas is to avoid issues with both the marketplace and the IRS. We have seen sellers reach […]

Amazon is now enforcing insurance requirements to sell on their marketplace. Per Amazon’s terms of service, business liability insurance protection is required for all sellers. Do you carry business liability insurance? If not, your Amazon seller account is not protected. Take the steps now to avoid any limited access or account suspension. Don’t drop your […]

Cryptocurrency is classified as property by the IRS.  Property can be a target of legal action, similar to real estate, and you can lose 100% of your property, or in this case, your cryptocurrency, even if it is DEFI. The blockchain allows the tracing of all transactions involving a given bitcoin address, all the way […]

Every successful business counts on countless good decisions – enough to overcome those that inevitably prove totally wrong. A good business proves itself over and over in its resiliency. I challenge anyone to think of a bigger decision than to find a LEGALLY CLEAR name for your new business or product start-up. A LEGALLY CLEAR […]

There are many U.S. LLC questions to ask before formation when you expand your e-commerce business to the U.S. These questions could be more precise. Most sellers only anticipate 1-2 steps ahead (or questions) with their U.S. formation and need to be made aware of these costly mistakes they have already made. Why does this […]

Learning how to protect your corporate or LLC veil is an important foundation for protecting your personal assets from your business. If you operated your business as a sole proprietorship and sued, you may potentially lose all your personal assets.  There is no separation between you personally and your business. This is the simplest form […]

Forming a U.S. entity correctly is a crucial step to protect your business as it grows for either sale or a profit center to support you and your family. Nothing is worse than building a U.S. brand, working 12+ hours a day to build it up, getting ready to sell, and losing everything because you […]

There are a lot of steps to protect your business and your family properly.  Here’s a common question that is important that comes up often: “When should I form another entity for my business?” Actually, the more I think about it, that question is not as common as it should be. It is like the quote […]

Even with the government’s $2 Trillion aid package, it is key that you have the right information for the best coronavirus financial survival strategies. In a recent interview with Todd Rooker, the #1 financial crisis recovery expert in the U.S., he blew everyone away with very detailed steps that any business owner must take to protect their […]

Sole proprietors are taking a significant risk in today’s business climate, much more than they have been told. It is time they know the facts and what they are up against to put the odds back in their favor. In today’s ultra-competitive and dangerously litigious business climate, you can’t afford to throw the dice with […]

Over the years, we have heard the sad stories of clients who had their businesses protected with a separate legal entity. Still, when sued personally, they forgot or never focused on protecting their safe assets (which many times is the savings and investment accounts for their financial future) and lost ALL safe assets. The reasons […]

As you grow your product or services with your business, you will come to the point that you may consider forming a new entity or instead just filing a DBA linked to your operating entity. It is one thing to grow a business and your net worth, and it is another to keep it. The […]

Investing in U.S. real estate is still one of the best investment opportunities loaded with tax advantages. The key is to make sure your real estate is protected beyond just having insurance. When investing in U.S. real estate, it is important to make sure you protect your investments properly. The challenge is real estate has […]

Asset protection and privacy is a necessity to protect your wealth in today’s litigious world. There are over 80-million lawsuits in the United States alone each year. Over $200 Billion in frivolous lawsuits every year. In our research, we found a lady that has sued over 700 people during her lifetime. That was her wealth […]

It is important to understand the basic LLC terms and what they mean. You will notice many sounds like corporate terms but keep in mind they are different. Many times, in business situations, people will use inappropriate terms when referring to an LLC. You will come across as more organized and professional when you know […]

If you’re unsure when to form your LLC, I’m here to tell you: form it now. As a certified tax advisor, I’ve seen countless entrepreneurs make the mistake of waiting until January. The logic seems sound—new year, new business, right? But here’s the problem: that approach could cost you in tax savings, compliance complications, and […]

When you form an LLC, you have four options on how it may be taxed, disregarded, S or C corporation, or a partnership. There are a lot of factors to consider which taxation type may be best for your situation. In this case study, we address the key questions you must consider. Here is our […]

One of the requirements, when you form a corporation or LLC, is to operate the entity as a separate legal entity from yourself. Corporate formalities are the operating rules and guidelines a corporation must follow to be recognized as a separate legal entity. If corporate formalities are not followed, it is one of the areas […]

When forming an LLC, choosing how you want to be taxed is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make. With four taxation options to consider—Partnership, Disregarded Entity, S Corporation, and C Corporation—it’s essential to understand how each one works and the impact it will have on your tax situation. The way your LLC is […]

A sole proprietorship is the simplest form of business. It’s not a separate entity. Instead, as a sole proprietor, you own the business and are directly responsible for its debts. Remember that whenever you do something the “simplest” way, it’s typical for your results to be directly proportional to the effort required. It is the […]

There are several benefits of incorporating your business, including separating your business liability from your personal assets, your personal and business credit, and potential tax savings depending upon levels of profits. Here are additional benefits of incorporating your business that most don't consider but should to grow your business. The benefits of incorporating include increasing [...]

Mastering the art of starting a company in the U.S. is the ultimate key to unlocking your company's full potential in the American e-commerce scene. By doing so, you open up a world of opportunities to maximize your business's value, from joint ventures and affiliate sales to investments in lucrative U.S. real estate and tax [...]

If there is any industry where you want to make sure you have extra layers of protection for your business and personal assets, it’s the cannabis (CBD oil) industry. The U.S. is the land of opportunity and also the land of lawsuits. We have more lawsuits than any other country in the world. Selling products […]

You need to protect your assets, especially during difficult times such of when the country was shut down during the pandemic due to COVID-19 or now with rising interest rates and higher inflation. The fragile economic conditions are a strong signal to protect your assets now before it is too late. Many businesses had to […]