When international turnover begins to grow, the question arises whether it is worth making the leap from Spanish self-employment to a structure such as an American LLC.
| Aspect | Spanish self-employed | LLC in the USA |
|---|---|---|
| High complexity | Low, known procedure | Media, procedure in another country and language |
| Maintenance cost | Monthly self-employed fee | No fixed monthly fee, but mandatory annual report |
| Image before US clients | Low | High, especially in tech |
| Tax complexity | A declaration (Spain) | Informative declaration in the USA + declaration in Spain |
When does the self-employed continue to compensate
If your international billing is still moderate or you have few clients from the US specifically, freelancing is usually simpler and cheaper to maintain. The added complexity of an LLC (information return Form 5472/1120) only pays off above a certain volume or when your image with American clients weighs heavily on your business.
If you want to dig into the full process of opening an LLC, <a href="https://crea-tu-llc.surpermarketing.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crea tu LLC</a> has a dedicated step-by-step guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does an LLC in the US free me from paying taxes in Spain?
Not necessarily. If you remain tax resident in Spain, you normally maintain tax obligations here regardless of where the company is incorporated. It is a decision that must be evaluated with a tax advisor before taking the step, not only looking at the US side.
Can I start as a self-employed person and convert to an LLC later?
Yes, it's the usual path: start out as a freelancer while volume is moderate and consider moving to a structure like an LLC when billing and US clients justify it.
