Comparable in title and operation to businesses in other countries, the primary business formation structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and LLCs.

Certain business structures restrict whether non US citizens can be owners of a business formed as a company or corporation in the United States. With LLCs, there are no limitations on the number of investors who can own interests in the business and no restriction on non US citizens assuming roles as members (owners). By contrast, if the corporation distributes profits to the shareholders in the form of dividends, shareholders pay income tax on those distributions; thus, C corporations are often criticized for imposing "double taxation".