How To Open Stripe Account In South Africa

There are articles on the internet that show you how to open a Stripe account in South Africa, but in this article, you will learn how you open an account so easily by saving costs.

South Africa is not listed among the 46 Stripe-supported countries, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use Stripe in South Africa.

To avoid wasting much of your time, I will go straight to the requirements to open a Stripe account in South Africa.

Requirements To Open A Stripe Account In South Africa

Here are the requirements for opening a working Stripe account in South Africa to receive payment globally.

1. Form an LLC in the US
2. Obtain an EIN (Employer’s Identification Number)
3. A US business Address
4. A US phone number
5. A US bank account

Why do you need all of this? Because you will be opening a business Stripe account, which doesn’t require an SSN (Social Security number).

This particular method is accepted by Stripe. I will be showing you how to go about it without having issues with the setup.

How To Form Your LLC For Opening A Stripe Account In South Africa

There are 3 ways to form an LLC in the United States of America. The first way is to do it yourself. Since you are not in the US, it won’t be possible. The second way is to use a lawyer. It’s effective but very expensive. You might spend up to or more than $1000 using a lawyer. The third way is the most recommended because it saves you time and money, which is using an LLC formation service.

There are many LLC formation services, but for reliability and cost-effectiveness, using Bizee is the best. Bizee offers one free year of registered agent service, unlike some others that charge $127. Bizee service is free, but you will pay the mandatory fee for forming an LLC with the State. You get an EIN when you use Bizee to form your LLC.

Why You Need An EIN For Your Stripe Account

Under normal circumstances, opening a USA Stripe account as an individual will require a Social Security number, which is often referred to as an SSN. But since you are a non-US resident, you don’t have it. That is where EIN (Employer Identification Number) comes in. It is an alternative to the SSN that permits you to have a business in the United States.

How To Get A US Address

Several platforms provide a US address. I will always recommend Shipito because it is free and faster to obtain. Visit the Shipito website and sign up. You will be given a California-based address. As you read further, you will know how to make use of the address.

How To Get A US Phone Number

The reason why you will need a US phone is to verify your identity and that you have a legitimate business in the United States. You cannot use your home country’s phone number for a US-based business. It is easy to get a working USA phone number. Services like Dingtone can help you get a US phone number.

How To Get A US Bank Account

Every Stripe account with US business details needs a US bank account for payouts. This means that when you receive payment with your verified Stripe account, the funds will be sent to your United States bank account.

There are several options to get a US bank account. Payoneer and Wise are some of those options. You can create an account with them.

If you are from Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda, you can easily create a US bank account using Geepay.

If you are from the following countries, you can easily create a US bank account using Grey (more countries will be added soon).

Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cote D’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, South Africa, Greece, Holy See (Vatican City State, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova (Republic of), Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, South Africa, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania (United Republic of), Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Togo, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zambia.

The Best State For Forming An LLC As A Non-US Citizen

Generally, there are no restrictions on forming an LLC in any state in the US as a foreigner, but there are factors to consider when choosing a state.

1. Cost of formation
2. Tax
3. Privacy

With these factors mentioned, the three best options are Wyoming, Delaware, and New Mexico.

Wyoming

Wyoming is an attractive option for non-US residents seeking a cost-effective way to establish a business. The initial filing fee for forming an LLC in Wyoming is approximately $105, and the state does not impose any corporate-level taxes.

However, it is essential to note that federal taxes will still apply. Wyoming is also recognized for its business-friendly environment, making it particularly appealing to entrepreneurs looking to start their companies. Lastly, you can designate a nominee to shield your identity as the LLC owner.

Delaware

Delaware is a favored choice for companies looking to attract future investment, with nearly 80% of U.S. public companies opting to incorporate there. The state boasts a robust legal framework and a business-friendly atmosphere, which contribute to its appeal.

However, incorporating in Delaware comes with higher costs for filing and maintaining a business compared to other states. Despite this drawback, the advantages of Delaware’s established legal system and supportive environment often outweigh the expenses for many entrepreneurs.

Lastly, Delaware ensures privacy for business owners by permitting the concealment of their names on company registration papers.

New Mexico

New Mexico is one of the cheapest states to form an LLC. The state offers a more affordable and convenient option for non-US residents to establish an LLC. The filing fees are low ($50 filing fee), annual reports are not required, and the member’s or manager’s name can remain confidential.

How To Form Your LLC To Open A Stripe Account

Using an LLC formation service such as Bizee is the best way to form your LLC for opening a Stripe account in South Africa. There are several alternatives that others have also recommended, one of which is Northwest Registered Agent, StartGlobal, Doola, and Zenbusiness.

The first choice is always Bizee, and if you prefer another, go for Zenbusiness. In this guide, I am using Bizee.

Step 1. Visit the Bizee website. Click ‘form your LLC now’.

 

Step 2. Select the entity type, which is ‘LLC’. Select your filing state. I am using New Mexico because it is one of the cheapest states in the United States to form an LLC. Choose the ‘Standard package’.

 

Step 3. Fill in your LLC name. The designator should remain as an LLC. Type in your business purpose.

 

Step 4. Choose the state filing time. If you’re not in a hurry, you can choose the 3-week filing time, which costs $0.

 

Step 5. Add your name, email, and US phone number.

 

Step 6. Fill in your company information. You can use the Shipito US address or your home country address. You can choose a professional business address to maintain privacy.

 

Step 7. You can ignore the premium service package. This is optional.

 

Step 8. Select ‘1’ if you are the only LLC member. It means that you have 100% ownership.

 

Step 9. Assign Bizee as your registered agent. It’s free for one year, unlike others that charge for registered agent service for the first year.

 

Step 10. Choose if you’re a foreign individual and do not have a Social Security number.

 

Step 11. You can skip small business banking. This is optional.

 

Step 12. If you need the tax strategy/business consultation, you can choose. It’s free.

 

Step 13. You might need the business licenses and permits depending on your nature of your business. It cost $99. If not, you can skip it.

 

Step 14. Review your order to make sure all the information you filled in is correct.

 

Step 15. Make your payment using PayPal or a Debit card. If you follow the exact procedures, your final cost should be $278, except if you choose other states or include add-on services.

Get started with Bizee

This is not the end of everything, but part one has ended. Part two is opening a Stripe account to receive payment while in South Africa.

You can go ahead and move to the next stage if you have gotten your EIN, US Business Address, US bank account, and South African government-issued ID.

The EIN and US business address (registered agent address) will be given by Bizee. This might take some weeks.

How To Set Up Your Stripe Account In South Africa to Process Payments Online

Step 1. Visit https://dashboard.stripe.com/register

 

Step 2. Go to your email inbox to find the verification message.

 

Step 3. Verify your email.

 

Step 4. Click on the arrow section in the photo below to complete your business profile.

Step 5. The business location should remain in the United States. The type of business is a company. The business structure is a single-member LLC.

 

Step 6. Fill in your legal business name, which is your LLC name. Add your EIN. The registered business address is the registered agent address from Bizee. Choose your industry, and type your product description.

 

Step 7. Add your name, email address, and date of birth. Your home address should be your country of residence. The phone number should be your home country’s number. Lastly, choose to provide a government-issued ID.

 

Step 8. Check if the details provided are correct.

 

Step 9. In the statement descriptor, add the name of your LLC or something related to it. The shortened descriptor is optional. The customer support phone number should be your US phone number. The customer support address should be your business address (registered agent).

 

Step 10. Add your US bank account to receive payouts. If your bank is not listed, click Enter bank details manually instead.

 

Step 11. Enter the bank details.

 

Step 12. Select payout schedule. You can leave it in automatic or manual.

 

Step 13. You need to keep your account secure by adding two-step authentication. You can choose an authenticator app.

 

Step 14. You can skip the automate sales tax calculation

 

Step 15. You can skip showing customers your climate commitment.

 

Step 16. Review all your information to make sure it’s accurate. After that, you can submit.

 

This is not the end. Stripe will email you to notify you if the information submitted was verified. They may ask for further details for verification. If you submit the right details, you should have no issue.

Summary of The Whole Process of Opening a Stripe Account in South Africa

1. Form an LLC (Bizee is recommended)
2. Obtain an EIN
3. Get a US phone number (use Dingtone or Skype)
4. A US address
5. A US bank account (Payoneer, Wise, Grey, or Geepay)