Prohibited and restricted businesses

1. Why this list exists

Three sets of rules sit behind this page. US law governs what a company formed in the United States may do and who may own it. Our US filing and registered agent partner sets its own conditions on the companies it will act for. Our payment processor, Stripe, has a list of businesses it will not process payments for. We cannot serve a customer that any one of those three rules out.

There is a fourth reason, and it matters to you more than the other three. A company formed for a purpose on this list tends to collapse expensively: banks close the accounts, payment processors withhold funds, the registered agent resigns, and the owner is left with a US entity they cannot use and cannot easily wind up. Declining an order is usually the cheaper outcome for everyone.

2. Businesses we will not form a company for

We do not take these orders, and we will not continue serving a company that turns out to be doing any of them:

• anything unlawful under US federal or state law, wherever the owner or the customers are;
• sanctions evasion, or business with sanctioned countries, entities or people;
• money laundering, shell companies formed to disguise who really owns or controls something, or any refusal to identify the real owners;
• fraud in any form — phishing, fake invoicing, business email compromise, carding, and the trade in stolen card or identity data;
• unlicensed money transmission, unlicensed lending, unregistered securities offerings, and investment schemes that promise a return;
• Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, and recruitment-driven schemes whose income comes from signing up new members rather than selling a product;
• illegal drugs and controlled substances, and the equipment and precursors for making them;
• weapons, ammunition and explosives;
• human trafficking, prostitution, and any sexual content involving minors;
• counterfeit goods, pirated media and software, and services that help distribute them;
• malware, hacking or account-takeover services, credential stuffing, spam and bulk-messaging operations;
• guaranteed immigration, visa, green card or credit-repair claims — an outcome no private company can guarantee;
• gambling operated without the licences the relevant jurisdiction requires;
• harvesting, scraping or reselling personal data without the consent of the people it describes.

3. Businesses we review case by case

These are legitimate industries, and we form companies in them. They also carry extra legal and banking risk, so an order in one of these areas goes to review before we file. We ask more questions, we sometimes take longer, and sometimes we still say no. We would rather be honest about that than take your money and refuse the work afterwards.

• crypto and digital-asset businesses, including exchanges, wallets, mining and token projects;
• money services businesses, payment facilitation, remittance and currency exchange;
• adult content involving legal, consenting adults only;
• firearms accessories and related equipment;
• cannabis and CBD, including in states that permit it, because US federal law still restricts it and banks and processors follow federal law;
• pharmaceuticals, supplements, medical devices and telehealth;
• lending, debt collection, credit repair and credit services;
• gambling, betting, gaming and prize competitions;
• charities, religious organisations and political fundraising;
• multi-level and direct-sales businesses;
• dropshipping and reselling at scale, where chargeback rates are typically high;
• politically exposed persons, their families and close associates, and owners resident in jurisdictions subject to heightened financial-crime controls.

4. What we ask for, and when

We may ask for any of the following before we file, or after a company is already formed if something changes or comes to light:

• a government-issued identity document for each owner and manager;
• proof of address, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement;
• an ownership breakdown showing who ultimately owns and controls the company;
• a plain description of what the business actually does, who its customers are and how it gets paid;
• copies of any licences the activity requires.

An order can be paused until we receive what we asked for. A paused order is not a cancelled one — tell us if you need more time. How we handle these documents is set out in our privacy policy.

5. When we decline

If we decline before filing, we refund our service fee under our refund and cancellation policy, less any government fee already paid on your behalf.

We may decline without giving a detailed reason. That is not evasiveness for its own sake: where a decision follows a legal requirement or a partner's condition, explaining the detail can itself be restricted. A decision by us is not an accusation and not a finding about you.

6. If a company is already formed

Where we find that an existing company falls into section 2, or refuses the checks in section 4, we can stop acting as registered agent and end service with notice, as described in our terms of service.

If that happens, act quickly. A company must have a registered agent in its state. Appoint a replacement before our appointment ends, or the company falls out of good standing — which can mean penalties, loss of the right to do business in the state, and eventually administrative dissolution. We will tell you the date our appointment ends and give you your documents.

7. Two things this page does not do

This list is not exhaustive, and it changes. Law, partner conditions and payment rules move, and a business can fall outside this page and still be one we decline. We keep the right to refuse or end service in any case where we believe there is a legal, financial-crime or reputational risk we should not take.

Being accepted is not approval of your business. We form companies; we do not vet business models, and we are not a law firm or an accountancy firm. Nothing here is legal or tax advice. You remain responsible for the licences, registrations, tax obligations and consumer rules that apply to you — in the United States and in your own country. Our acceptable use policy covers how you may use the site and the account itself.

8. Contact

Quick LLC, 30 N Gould St Ste R, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA. If you are unsure whether Register Quick LLC can form a company for your business, ask us first at [email protected]. Describe what the business does in a few sentences and we will tell you before you pay.