Freelancing in the US
Setting up as a freelancer in the United States? These guides cover how to structure your business, how freelancer taxes work, and what foreign nationals need to work legally — with official sources. General information, not legal or tax advice.
- LLC vs sole proprietorshipLLC or sole proprietorship as a US freelancer? How they differ on personal liability, pass-through taxes and paperwork — plus how to form an LLC and get a free EIN. Sourced from IRS & SBA.
- Freelancer taxes & 1099sHow US freelancer taxes work: 1099 vs W-2, the 15.3% self-employment tax, quarterly estimated taxes and Schedule C. Plain-English overview sourced from the IRS.
- Work authorization for foreignersThere is no US 'freelance visa'. What foreign nationals actually need to work in the US — citizens, green-card holders, EAD or status-based authorization — sourced from USCIS. Not legal advice.
FAQ
Freelancing in the United States.
Q01Do I need an LLC to freelance in the US?
No. By default you are a sole proprietor the moment you do paid work for yourself, with no registration required. An LLC is optional — its main benefit is protecting your personal assets from business debts and lawsuits (per the SBA). See the LLC vs sole proprietorship guide for the details.
Q02How do US freelancer taxes work?
As a freelancer the IRS treats you as self-employed: no employer withholds tax, so you report profit on Schedule C, pay self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) and usually pay quarterly estimated taxes. See the freelancer taxes guide for a full, sourced overview.
Q03Is there a freelance visa for the United States?
No. The US has no dedicated 'freelance visa' — what matters is work authorization (citizen, green-card holder, or a noncitizen with a status or work permit that allows it). See the work authorization guide. It's general information, not legal advice.
Q04Is it free to use Workwave AI as a freelancer?
Yes — creating a profile and getting matched with projects is free. An optional subscription lets you reply to projects. Workwave takes 0% commission on what you earn.