Short answer: Most US clients pay by ACH or wire into your LLC’s US business account. For both, you share the account name, routing number and account number. A check needs a US bank check and a provider that takes mobile deposits. Card payments need a payment processor, which decides its own approvals.
This answer is for the owner of a US LLC who lives outside the US and invoices US clients. Once the company has a US business account, it can take the same payments a US company takes. US clients usually prefer ACH or a wire, because both run inside US banking. Which one they use is often their choice, so it helps to know what each needs from you.
The four ways, side by side
- ACHThe usual way US businesses pay invoices. You share the account name, routing number and account number. Nacha says about 80% of ACH payments settle in one banking day or less.
- Domestic wireCommon for larger amounts. The client needs the same details, and some providers give a separate routing number for wires. The Federal Reserve says a Fedwire transfer is final once processed.
- CheckSome US business accounts take paper checks by mobile deposit. The check must be from a US bank, made out to the company. Providers review checks, so they post more slowly.
- CardThe client pays online by card. You need a payment processor for this. Each processor sets its own rules and decides its own approvals.
ACH timing comes from Nacha, which runs the ACH network. Wire finality comes from the Federal Reserve. Both were checked in November 2026.
Before the first payment
- Fees. Some providers charge nothing to receive ACH or wires, and some charge for an incoming wire. Read your provider’s pricing page before you choose which details to share.
- The tax form. A US client will usually ask for a tax form before paying. If you are the only owner and not a US person, you give a Form W-8BEN in your own name, not a W-9. The IRS W-8BEN instructions say the owner of a disregarded entity, not the entity, must submit it. Our W-9 or W-8BEN guide covers the other cases.
- The invoice. Issue it in the company’s name, with its address, and keep a copy. It supports your records for the yearly filings.
Client payments are business income. They are not money between you and the company, so keep them apart from what you put in or take out.
What we do
Formation does not include a bank account, and approval is always the provider’s decision. We prepare the documents banks usually ask for. These are the Articles of Organization, the EIN letter, the Operating Agreement and a business address. We do not provide an invoicing tool. If you use our accounting, connect the account where client payments arrive, so they appear in your books.
Read more: the US bank account guide and how to pay yourself.
Next step
See what providers usually ask for on our banking and payments page, or write to us.
Sources checked November 2026
- Nacha: How ACH payments work
- Federal Reserve: About the Fedwire Funds Service
- IRS: Instructions for Form W-8BEN
What we do comes from our own banking and payments page, read in November 2026.
