Promote:
Invest in the United States
A short guide for companies expanding into the United States: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. United States at a glance
Population
341.8 million
The World Bank reports a population of 341,784,857 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, United States population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$30.8 trillion
The World Bank reports GDP of US$30,769,700,000,000 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, United States GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$90,027
The World Bank reports GDP per person of US$90,026.5 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, United States GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
2.2%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of 2.2 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, United States real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
3.7%
Consumer prices rose 3.7 percent over the 12 months ending September 2026, before seasonal adjustment.
Source: BLS, Consumer Price Index summary, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$277.3 billion
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$277,300 million in 2025, from UNCTADstat.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment inflows, United States, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the United States dollar.
Source: IMF, United States 2026 Article IV staff report (opens in a new tab) · as of April 2, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
SelectUSA, a program of the Department of Commerce, is the federal program that promotes and facilitates business investment into the United States.
Source: ITA, SelectUSA, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Company registration is handled by each state, and the federal government runs no single registration shop for investors.
Source: NASS, corporate registration by state, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
No single list reserves sectors for nationals; limits sit in sector laws such as the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and the Communications Act radio license rules.
Source: SelectUSA Investor Guide, FDI restrictions chapter (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board counts 260 approved foreign-trade zones in 2024, of which 199 were active.
Source: FTZ Board, annual report to Congress, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in the United States
- Ask whether a federal screening review applies to the investment under section 721.Committee on Foreign Investment in the United StatesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Treasury, CFIUS page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Choose the state and register the company with that state's secretary of state or similar office.National Association of Secretaries of StateOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: NASS, corporate registration by state, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Obtain an employer identification number; companies based outside the United States apply by phone, fax or mail.Internal Revenue ServiceNo fee for an EIN.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: IRS, get an employer identification number, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- If a foreign company registers to do business in a state, check the beneficial ownership reporting rule.Financial Crimes Enforcement NetworkOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: FinCEN, beneficial ownership information reporting, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Show 5 more set-up steps
- Check federal and state sector licenses and ownership limits for your industry.SelectUSAOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: SelectUSA Investor Guide, FDI restrictions chapter (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Arrange work and residence status for investors and staff, for example E-2 treaty investor status.U.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: USCIS, E-2 treaty investors, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Check land and property rules, which states set, including limits on agricultural land purchases in some states.SelectUSAOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: SelectUSA Investor Guide, FDI restrictions chapter (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Report the new investment to BEA on the BE-13 survey when it applies.U.S. Bureau of Economic AnalysisOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BEA, surveys of foreign direct investment in the United States (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Contact the state economic development organization about incentives and sites.SelectUSAOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ITA, SelectUSA state development organizations, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with SelectUSA and CBP. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Investment promotion program
SelectUSA
Facilitates business investment into the United States and lists state development organizations.
Visit SelectUSA (opens in a new tab)Source: ITA, SelectUSA, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Meet requirements
Foreign investment screening body
CFIUS
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
Reviews certain foreign investment transactions for national security effects and accepts filings.
Visit CFIUS (opens in a new tab)Source: CFIUS home page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Show 5 more organizations
- Get advice
State registries association
NASS
National Association of Secretaries of State
Links to each state's company registration page and corporate name search.
Visit NASS (opens in a new tab)Source: NASS, corporate registration by state, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Meet requirements
Immigration services agency
USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Handles investor and worker visa petitions, including E-2 treaty investor status.
Visit USCIS (opens in a new tab)Source: USCIS, E-2 treaty investors, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Financial crimes enforcement bureau
FinCEN
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Sets the beneficial ownership reporting rules that apply to certain foreign companies.
Visit FinCEN (opens in a new tab)Source: FinCEN, beneficial ownership information reporting, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Research markets
Economic statistics agency
BEA
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Collects mandatory surveys of new foreign direct investment in United States businesses.
Visit BEA (opens in a new tab)Source: BEA, surveys of foreign direct investment in the United States (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Get advice
Foreign-trade zone authority
FTZ Board
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
Approves foreign-trade zones and publishes zone information and annual reports.
Visit FTZ Board (opens in a new tab)Source: ITA, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
CBP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Runs ACE, the Single Window for import and export processing, and administers drawback.
Visit CBP (opens in a new tab)Source: CBP, ACE import and export processing system, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
IRS
Internal Revenue Service
Issues employer identification numbers and administers federal business taxes.
Visit IRS (opens in a new tab)Source: IRS, get an employer identification number, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
National business federation
U.S. Chamber
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Represents businesses and chambers of commerce across the country.
Visit U.S. Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, home page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
- Get advice
Manufacturers' trade association
NAM
National Association of Manufacturers
Represents manufacturers in the United States.
Visit NAM (opens in a new tab)Source: National Association of Manufacturers, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Get advice
International trade business association
NFTC
National Foreign Trade Council
Gives member companies advice and advocacy on international trade and tax policy.
Visit NFTC (opens in a new tab)Source: National Foreign Trade Council, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Import tariff changes
Section 301 duties of 10 or 12.5 percent apply to products of 60 economies entered from July 24, 2026, with exemptions, under USTR's July 28, 2026 notice.
What to do: Check the current tariff schedule and CBP notices before you price or source goods.
Sources: Federal Register, Section 301 forced labor notice, July 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab); CBP, Trade Remedies page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Metals tariffs
Proclamation 11021 of April 2, 2026 set 50 percent duties on aluminum, steel and copper, 25 percent on derivatives and 15 percent on a subset; Proclamation 11032 modified them.
What to do: Confirm whether your product or its inputs fall under the covered lists before you quote.
Sources: Federal Register, Proclamation 11032, June 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab); CBP, Trade Remedies page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Public debt
IMF staff calls rising public debt and federal rollover needs a systemic stability risk, citing persistently high fiscal deficits in its April 2026 Article IV report.
What to do: Check how Treasury yield moves affect your financing costs before you commit capital.
Sources: IMF, United States 2026 Article IV staff report (opens in a new tab); IMF, United States country page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Tariff refunds for importers
CBP accepts requests for refunds of IEEPA duties through a CAPE declaration filed in the ACE Secure Data Portal.
What to do: Ask your customs broker whether past entries qualify before you file.
Source: CBP, IEEPA duty refunds, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Show 3 more
Reserved sectors
Federal law limits foreign ownership in nuclear energy, radio licenses, coastwise shipping and domestic air service, and some states restrict agricultural land purchases.
What to do: Check the sector statute and state law for your project before you structure the investment.
Source: SelectUSA Investor Guide, FDI restrictions chapter (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
National security screening
CFIUS may review foreign investment in United States businesses and certain real estate transactions, and Treasury released its annual report for 2025 on August 7, 2026.
What to do: Ask your advisors whether the transaction needs a CFIUS filing before you sign.
Sources: Treasury, CFIUS page, 2026 (opens in a new tab); Treasury, CFIUS laws and guidance, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
Beneficial ownership reporting
FinCEN's final rule, effective August 14, 2026, exempts United States companies, so only certain foreign companies registered to do business in the United States must report.
What to do: Check FinCEN's current rule before you register a foreign company in any state.
Source: FinCEN, beneficial ownership information reporting, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 29, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your United States project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Free to start. No card required.
Already have an account? Sign in
Promote:United States is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.