Mercury logoThe logo for Mercury, featuring a circular emblem with abstract, interconnected swirling lines on the left, and the word "MERCURY" in clean, uppercase letters to the right.

Set up your business with clarity and confidence

Registering an LLC or corporation can be tricky, for emerging and established entrepreneurs alike. Below are some resources and formation perks to get you started on the right foot.

Forming your business

Whether you’re starting something you intend to grow into the next great tech company, or forming your own agency or consulting business, check out these helpful resources on acing the registration process.

Illustration of incorporation document with a list and checkmarks.

Four steps to incorporate your startup

Explore the pros and cons of incorporation and see the whole process broken down into steps.

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"LLC" label within co-centric circles

How to form and register an LLC

Dive into the world of limited liability companies and how to set one up.

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Trusted partners to help you get started

LegalZoom

LegalZoom is the #1 online legal service, empowering over 9M people to confidently manage their legal journey. From business formation and compliance to ongoing legal support, they provide intuitive tools and access to attorney guidance for building your business on solid ground.

LLC partner perk

20% off Pro and Premium LLC Plans (excluding state filings fees)

Stripe Atlas

Join the 1 in 5 US founders who use Atlas to incorporate their startups. Within 2 business days, you'll have everything you need to fundraise, open a bank account, and accept payments.

Incorporation partner perk

30% off when you sign up through Mercury (including all state fees)
Get Started

Additional resources

From in-depth articles to practical guides, see all of our resources to help you start your business here.

Why startups should always incorporate

Explore the details of different business structures before making your decision.

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How to register a name for your company

Everything you need to know about choosing a business name and safeguarding your brand.

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How to trademark a company name

Why and how getting a trademark helps protect your brand, logo, and company name.

Read the Article

Why so many startups choose to incorporate in Delaware

Incorporating in one of the most business-friendly states in the U.S. has its advantages.

Read the Article

How to start a U.S. ecommerce business

Navigating some of the early decisions that can have a long-term impact on your business.

Read the Article

How to choose the structure of your ecommerce company

The structure of your business determines your legal protections, taxes, and more.

Read the Article

Frequently Asked Questions

There are many business structures available to startups and small businesses, including LLCs and corporations.The easiest business structure is to operate as a sole proprietor, because you do not need any formal business registration or separate tax return filing. This may work best for small scale operations if you’re not hiring employees, opening a business bank account, or signing contracts in a business name.For many founders, forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is the smartest starting point. It offers flexibility, protects your personal assets, and sets you up for future growth. Learn more about how to register an LLC here.The best business structure for any business owner hoping to grow their company, raise venture capital funding, and protect their personal assets from liabilities incurred by their business is a corporation. Incorporation can give your company notable advantages, but it also has implications when it comes to tax structures and costs. You'll want to weigh the pros and cons relative to your business's needs. Learn more about how to incorporate your business here.

Yes, you can form a business on your own. It’ll take a bit more legwork to handle the paperwork and requirements yourself. Check out our step-by-step guides on how to incorporate your business or how to register your LLC on how to get started.

Yes — every state requires one. You can be your own, but a professional service may offer better privacy and consistency.

You can, but make sure you're available during business hours and okay with your address being public.

A business bank account is not legally required to form a company, but there are many benefits to opening a business bank account once you start your business, including:  
  • Separation of finances: Keeps your personal and business finances distinct, which is critical for liability protection and bookkeeping.
  • Professionalism: Helps establish credibility with clients and vendors.
  • Tax and legal compliance: Makes it easier to track expenses, prepare taxes, and provide clear records if audited.

Mercury was founded with the idea of making banking better for startups. We spent our first five years creating a powerful bank account that made banking feel less like an obstacle and more like a catalyst.Now, we’re building software to run all your financial operations from that powerful bank account so your company can perform at its best — that means more precision, more control, and more focus. We call it “operational excellence.”We offer:
  • Checking and savings accounts with no monthly fees
  • The protection of up to $5M in FDIC insurance through our partner banks and their sweep networks
  • Debit and credit cards for your whole team
  • Reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses
  • Wires, ACH, and check payments
  • Treasury management and venture debt options
  • Time-saving finance automations, including bill pay, invoicing, accounting automations, and expense reimbursements
  • Customizable permissions that keep you in control
  • The knowledge, network, and connections you need
  • An experience over 200K startups love

You’ll need your company’s official formation documents, your IRS-issued EIN document (for U.S. entities only), and a picture of the government ID (e.g., a passport or U.S. driver’s license) for each founder or majority owner of your company. You'll also need to provide some information about your company and each company owner.Customers must have some type of existing or planned operations in the U.S. and a U.S. or international address for their principal place of business. This can be a residential address, but may not be a registered agent, PO box, or UPS box address. Our customer base includes startups and ecommerce companies, as well as venture capital firms with entities in the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, and United Arab Emirates. Upon applying, we’ll review to ensure you have up-to-date formation documents and otherwise satisfy our onboarding requirements.We cannot currently support accounts for businesses with founders or financial controllers living in the countries and regions listed here.For more information on eligibility and required documents, please see this article.

Yes, we’re proud to support U.S. companies founded by people across the globe, as well as founders and venture capital firms with an entity based in the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, and United Arab Emirates. Customers must have some type of existing or planned operations in the U.S. and a U.S. or international address for their principal place of business. This can be a residential address, but may not be a registered agent, PO box, or UPS box address.We cannot currently support accounts for business with founders or financial controllers living in the countries and regions listed here.We’d love to support residents of more countries over time, so let us know at [email protected] if you live in one of the above countries and we’ll let you know if anything changes.

Mercury supports all types of businesses — from SaaS and ecommerce companies, to agencies, consultants, law firms, and real estate developers. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur, managing a team, or overseeing multiple businesses, Mercury is designed to fit your business as you grow. We accept most U.S. companies that aren’t money services businesses or involved with adult entertainment, cannabis or internet gambling. Our product might not be the best fit for businesses frequently dealing with physical cash and we cannot open accounts for trusts.

Mercury checking and savings deposits are FDIC-insured up to $5M through our partner banks and their use of sweep networks. As a broader effort, we are working on expanding all coverage even further. You can learn more about FDIC insurance here.

Disclaimers and footnotes

Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC. Deposit insurance covers the failure of an insured bank.