General Business Information
The United States of America is a federal republic, consisting of 50 states and a federal district. The 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., are located in central North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwestern part of North America and the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The United States is the world’s third- or fourth-largest country by total area and third-largest by population. It is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The geography and climate of the United States is extremely diverse, and it is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
The United States, with its large size and geographic variety, includes most climate types. To the east of the 100th meridian, the climate ranges from humid continental in the north to humid subtropical in the south. The southern tip of Florida is tropical, as is Hawaii. The Great Plains west of the 100th meridian are semi-arid. Much of the Western mountains are alpine. The climate is arid in the Great Basin, desert in the Southwest, Mediterranean in coastal California, and oceanic in coastal Oregon and Washington and southern Alaska. Most of Alaska is subarctic or polar.
The United States has the world’s largest national economy. The economy is fueled by an abundance of natural resources and high worker productivity. While the U.S. economy is considered post-industrial, it continues to be one of the world’s largest manufacturers. The country accounts for 37% of global military spending, being the world’s foremost economic and military power, a prominent political and cultural force, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations.
About 82% of Americans live in urban areas (including suburbs);[145] about half of those reside in cities with populations over 50,000.
Reasons for Starting a Business in the U.S.
- More individual freedom than most countries
- Ease of obtaining credit is second in the world
- Highly protective of minority investors
- Ease of trade across borders
- Excellent reputation for contract enforcement
- Inexpensive natural resources
- The only one of the largest economies expected to increase in working-age population
- An economy stimulated by the world’s largest investments in R&D
- Enormous resident customer base
Fast Facts
| Capital | Washington DC |
| Time zone | EST, CST, MST, PST |
| Area | 9.8 million square miles |
| Population | 318.9 million |
| Climate | Predominantly temperate |
| Official Languages | English |
| Currency | US Dollar |
| Government | Constitutional federal republic with a strong democratic tradition |
| GDP per capita | $52,800 |
| Labor force | 155.4 million |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% |
| Main trading partners | Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, Germany |
| International dialing code | 1 |
| Internet domain suffix | .us |
| Quality of life | Rated #2 in the world, behind Switzerland |
| Doing Business rating | 7 |
| Starting a Business rating | 46 |
Market Entry
Starting a business in the U.S. typically involves the following basic steps.
- Reserve the company’s business name.
- File the company’s articles of organization and adopt the company’s operating agreement.
- Apply for federal identification number (EIN) for tax and employer purposes.
- Register to collect state sales tax.
- Obtain a business license from the local municipality.
- Register as an employer with the Unemployment Insurance Division at the State Labor Department.
- Arrange for workers’ compensation and disability insurance.
- Arrange for publication and submit certificate and affidavits of publication.
Investment Immigration Programs
All U.S. immigration is conducted under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The United States welcomes thousands of foreign workers in multiple occupations or employment categories every year. These include artists, researchers, cultural exchange participants, information technology specialists, religious workers, investors, scientists, athletes, nurses, agricultural workers and others. All foreign workers must obtain permission to work legally in the United States. Each employment category for admission has different requirements, conditions, and authorized periods of stay. It is important that you adhere to the terms of your application or petition for admission and visa. Any violation can result in removal or denial of re-entry into the United States.
Permanent Worker Visas are distributed according to Preference Categories.
| Preferences | General Description | Labor Certification Required? |
| First Preference EB-1 | This preference is reserved for persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; outstanding professors or researchers; and multinational executives and managers. | No |
| Second Preference EB-2 | This preference is reserved for persons who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees or for persons with exceptional ability in the arts, sciences, or business. | Yes, unless applicant can obtain a national interest waiver. |
| Third Preference EB-3 | This preference is reserved for professionals, skilled workers, and other workers. (See Third Preference EB-3 link on left for further definition of these job classifications.) | Yes |
| Fourth Preference EB-4 | This preference is reserved for “special immigrants,” which includes certain religious workers, employees of U.S. foreign service posts, retired employees of international organizations, alien minors who are wards of courts in the United States, and other classes of aliens. | No |
| Fifth Preference EB-5 | This preference is reserved for business investors who invest $1 million or $500,000 (if the investment is made in a targeted employment area) in a new commercial enterprise that employs at least 10 full-time U.S. workers. | No |
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
General Business Information
The United States of America is a federal republic, consisting of 50 states and a federal district. The 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., are located in central North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwestern part of North America and the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The United States is the world’s third- or fourth-largest country by total area and third-largest by population. It is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The geography and climate of the United States is extremely diverse, and it is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
The United States, with its large size and geographic variety, includes most climate types. To the east of the 100th meridian, the climate ranges from humid continental in the north to humid subtropical in the south. The southern tip of Florida is tropical, as is Hawaii. The Great Plains west of the 100th meridian are semi-arid. Much of the Western mountains are alpine. The climate is arid in the Great Basin, desert in the Southwest, Mediterranean in coastal California, and oceanic in coastal Oregon and Washington and southern Alaska. Most of Alaska is subarctic or polar.
The United States has the world’s largest national economy. The economy is fueled by an abundance of natural resources and high worker productivity. While the U.S. economy is considered post-industrial, it continues to be one of the world’s largest manufacturers. The country accounts for 37% of global military spending, being the world’s foremost economic and military power, a prominent political and cultural force, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations.
About 82% of Americans live in urban areas (including suburbs);[145] about half of those reside in cities with populations over 50,000.
Reasons for Starting a Business in the U.S.
- More individual freedom than most countries
- Ease of obtaining credit is second in the world
- Highly protective of minority investors
- Ease of trade across borders
- Excellent reputation for contract enforcement
- Inexpensive natural resources
- The only one of the largest economies expected to increase in working-age population
- An economy stimulated by the world’s largest investments in R&D
- Enormous resident customer base
Fast Facts
| Capital | Washington DC |
| Time zone | EST, CST, MST, PST |
| Area | 9.8 million square miles |
| Population | 318.9 million |
| Climate | Predominantly temperate |
| Official Languages | English |
| Currency | US Dollar |
| Government | Constitutional federal republic with a strong democratic tradition |
| GDP per capita | $52,800 |
| Labor force | 155.4 million |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% |
| Main trading partners | Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, Germany |
| International dialing code | 1 |
| Internet domain suffix | .us |
| Quality of life | Rated #2 in the world, behind Switzerland |
| Doing Business rating | 7 |
| Starting a Business rating | 46 |
Market Entry
Starting a business in the U.S. typically involves the following basic steps.
- Reserve the company’s business name.
- File the company’s articles of organization and adopt the company’s operating agreement.
- Apply for federal identification number (EIN) for tax and employer purposes.
- Register to collect state sales tax.
- Obtain a business license from the local municipality.
- Register as an employer with the Unemployment Insurance Division at the State Labor Department.
- Arrange for workers’ compensation and disability insurance.
- Arrange for publication and submit certificate and affidavits of publication.
[Source: World Bank Group]
Investment Immigration Programs
All U.S. immigration is conducted under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The United States welcomes thousands of foreign workers in multiple occupations or employment categories every year. These include artists, researchers, cultural exchange participants, information technology specialists, religious workers, investors, scientists, athletes, nurses, agricultural workers and others. All foreign workers must obtain permission to work legally in the United States. Each employment category for admission has different requirements, conditions, and authorized periods of stay. It is important that you adhere to the terms of your application or petition for admission and visa. Any violation can result in removal or denial of re-entry into the United States.
Permanent Worker Visas are distributed according to Preference Categories.
| Preferences | General Description | Labor Certification Required? |
| First Preference EB-1 | This preference is reserved for persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; outstanding professors or researchers; and multinational executives and managers. | No |
| Second Preference EB-2 | This preference is reserved for persons who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees or for persons with exceptional ability in the arts, sciences, or business. | Yes, unless applicant can obtain a national interest waiver. |
| Third Preference EB-3 | This preference is reserved for professionals, skilled workers, and other workers. (See Third Preference EB-3 link on left for further definition of these job classifications.) | Yes |
| Fourth Preference EB-4 | This preference is reserved for “special immigrants,” which includes certain religious workers, employees of U.S. foreign service posts, retired employees of international organizations, alien minors who are wards of courts in the United States, and other classes of aliens. | No |
| Fifth Preference EB-5 | This preference is reserved for business investors who invest $1 million or $500,000 (if the investment is made in a targeted employment area) in a new commercial enterprise that employs at least 10 full-time U.S. workers. | No |
[Source: USCIS]
American Corporate Services offers experience and expertise for astute investors who wish to establish businesses in the USA. Whether an investor wishes to immigrate or simply to establish a business entity, our network of professionals has the ability to advise, assist, direct and enable clients to understand and navigate the process for US company formation.
Our services include everything you need for starting a new business in the USA. In addition to helping to establish a US business bank account, helping you set up your business to conform to US accounting standards and to comply with US taxes, we also offer boutique amenities such as US secretarial services. We can even help you to create a US virtual office that will appear to others as though you are actually in the USA, even though you may be just about anywhere else on the globe at the time. Our business is making your investment a success.