Market Entry USA
Project-based engagement of 6–12 weeks for Italian SMEs entering the US market. Project fee defined case-by-case based on scope and complexity, after a preliminary scoping conversation.
Project-based advisory for Italian SMEs entering the US market: entity selection, holding structure, contracts, tax planning, US attorney coordination.
What goes wrong when an Italian company enters the U.S. market
When project-based work fits
- Italian SME launching its first US subsidiary
- Italian manufacturer establishing a US distribution arm
- Acquisition of a US business by an Italian holding
- Italian software/SaaS company entering the US market with full structure
What the U.S. market entry project delivers
Project deliverables
- Entity selection analysis (LLC vs C-Corp, Florida vs Delaware)
- Italy-US holding structure design
- Italy-US tax planning (treaty positioning, transfer pricing baseline)
- Drafting of base contracts: distribution, employment, IP licensing
- US attorney coordination for State law matters
- Banking and operational setup support
- Management presentation of the final structure
Which Italian businesses are ready to open in the United States
Who it's for
- Italian SMEs (€5M–€80M revenue) opening their first US operation
- Italian holdings acquiring a US target
- Italian companies relocating their US activity from informal to formal structure
Cost of a U.S. market entry project
Engagement
Project fee defined case-by-case based on scope and complexity, after a preliminary scoping conversation. The preliminary consultation is a 45-minute paid online session ($250); the engagement letter with the agreed fee and milestones is signed before kickoff. US counsel coordination is included; US attorney fees are separate.
Questions about opening a business in the United States
How is the project fee determined?
Scope drives fee. We agree the fee in writing after a preliminary scoping conversation that maps the entities, jurisdictions and deliverables involved. The preliminary consultation is a 45-minute paid online session ($250).
Do you also handle the US legal work?
We coordinate with US counsel licensed in the relevant State. Their fee is separate. We handle Italian legal and tax work directly, plus the integration architecture.
How long does a typical engagement take?
6–12 weeks from kickoff to handover, depending on complexity. Banking onboarding can extend the operational handover by a few weeks.
Is post-launch support included?
30 days of transition support is included. After that, clients typically move to a Cross-Border Advisory Retainer.
Can you handle Italian-side restructuring (e.g. spin-off into a holding)?
Yes. Italian corporate restructuring is a core capability. We coordinate with notai for any deeds required.
What happens if the project scope changes mid-engagement?
We document scope changes via written change orders before any additional work begins. No surprise invoices.
Related services
- LLC Formation in Florida — End-to-end Florida LLC formation for Italian residents, with full coverage of the Italian fiscal implications most online services ignore.
- Transfer Pricing Italy-USA for SMEs — Arm's-length policy design and documentation for Italian SMEs with US subsidiaries. Methods, benchmarking, intercompany agreements, audit defense.
Guides related to this service
- Selling into the U.S. Without a U.S. Entity: USTB, ECI and the Italy–U.S. Treaty — An Italian company can sell to U.S. customers without a U.S. subsidiary, but that does not mean no U.S. tax. How the U.S. trade or business and ECI tests intera
- Beneficial Ownership Reporting After the FinCEN August 2026 Final Rule — On 11 August 2026 FinCEN permanently ended BOI reporting for US companies. Certain foreign entities registered in the US remain in scope, and federal tax report
- Choosing the Right U.S. State for a Foreign-Founder LLC: Delaware, Florida, Wyoming and the Trade-offs — Delaware, Florida or Wyoming for an Italian-owned US LLC? A practical comparison of state fees, disclosure, taxation, banking friction and the interface with th
- How Much Does a Florida LLC Really Cost? A Guide for Italian Entrepreneurs — The $125 State formation fee is only the beginning. Registered Agent, EIN, banking, bookkeeping, the $138.75 Annual Report with its $400 late fee, Form 5472 com
- Doing Business in the United States: Structure Comes Before Speed — Forming a U.S. company takes days; structuring a U.S. business correctly takes planning. Entity selection, governance and deadlock rules, dual-jurisdiction taxa
- Do I Need a U.S. LLC to Sell in America? A Decision Guide for Italian Companies — Selling to U.S. customers does not automatically require an American company. The ETBUS and effectively connected income analysis, treaty permanent establishmen
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About the firm
IIILEX International Consulting LLC is the Florida-based practice of Avv. Dott. Massimo Leonardi — Italian-qualified Attorney (Avvocato), Dottore Commercialista and Statutory Auditor (Revisore Legale), qualified in Italy. We work exclusively on cross-border matters between Italy and the United States, in coordination with licensed U.S. professionals for matters of U.S. law.
IIILEX International Consulting LLC · 1200 Brickell Ave, Suite 310, Miami, FL 33131 · us@3lex.us · +1 (786) 604-8763 · +39 335 344 9660
Versione italiana
Massimo Leonardi is admitted to practice law in Italy and is not admitted to practice law in Florida or elsewhere in the United States. He is qualified in Italy as Dottore Commercialista and Revisore Legale and is not a U.S. Certified Public Accountant. IIILEX International Consulting LLC provides cross-border consulting and Italian legal and tax advisory services. Matters requiring advice on U.S. or Florida law are handled in coordination with appropriately licensed U.S. professionals.