Anyone here set up a multi-member U.S. LLC as a non-resident?

appalling

Hey all,

I’m in the process of forming an LLC in New Mexico, and since I’m not a U.S. resident, I’ve been reading up on what the best structure might be. Seems like going the multi-member route makes things a little easier in some cases, so I’m thinking of adding my mom as a 1% member just to make it multi-member.

I’m planning to use Bizee as my registered agent, but I wanted to double-check—aside from the registered agent and the operating agreement, is there anything else I should be prepping before I file?

Also, I looked into getting a lawyer to draft the operating agreement, but most are quoting $500+, which feels like overkill for a simple setup. I’ve been thinking about just using an AI tool to generate one instead. ChatGPT mentioned it’s generally fine for straightforward situations, especially for small businesses without complex needs. Anyone tried that route? Would love to know if that actually works in practice or if I should still get a human to look it over.
Appreciate any insights or personal experience—thanks a lot!

human

Following this thread — I’m also looking into setting up a U.S. LLC as a non-resident. Would love to hear from others who've been through it.

team511

Honestly man, if your operating agreement is super basic, AI is more than enough. Save the money for when tax season rolls around or if things start getting complicated later on.

appalling

Hey again,

So just to add a bit more context — I’m mainly setting up the LLC to run a digital shop on Etsy, using Stripe and PayPal. No physical store, no U.S. team, just me handling everything. Given how simple this is, do I really need a lawyer for the operating agreement, or is using an AI tool still okay?

Also, I saw a video saying Mercury isn’t accepting non-resident LLCs anymore. If that’s the case, are there any good alternatives for people like me who can’t physically go to the U.S. to open a business bank account?