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EIN by Industry Guide

Industry-specific EIN guides. Whether you are a freelancer, restaurant owner, or YouTuber — find your guide here.

EIN guides for 35+ industries help you confirm whether your business type needs an Employer Identification Number and how to get one. ein.so files Form SS-4 for non-US residents at $49 Standard (4-7 business days) and $97 Express (2-3 business days). The IRS charges $0 for the EIN. Non-residents enter a passport number on Line 7b and fax the form to 855-215-1627.

This hub links to every industry-specific EIN guide on ein.so. Use it to find your business type, confirm your EIN requirement, and start your application. The EIN is the 9-digit federal tax ID the IRS assigns to a business entity. Restaurants, freelancers, crypto founders, truckers, and YouTubers all use the same EIN for the same core jobs: filing federal taxes, opening a US business bank account, and connecting payment processors. The application method is identical across industries. Only Line 16 of Form SS-4, the principal activity field, changes.

Factor	DIY (IRS direct)	ein.so Standard	ein.so Express
Price	$0	$49	$97
Processing time	4-7 business days (fax)	4-7 business days	2-3 business days
SSN required	No (fax method)	No	No
Method	Self-faxed SS-4	We file SS-4	We file SS-4
Error handling	You fix rejections	We prevent errors	We prevent errors
IRS fax number	855-215-1627	Handled for you	Handled for you

Overview

What Does the EIN by Industry Hub Cover?

The EIN by Industry hub covers 35+ business-type guides, each explaining whether that industry needs an EIN and how to file. Whether you are a freelancer, restaurant owner, or YouTuber, you find your guide here. The application steps are the same; the guides cover industry-specific licensing, banking, and platform notes.

All Industry Guides

Quick Links

Requirement

Which Business Types Actually Need an EIN?

Most business types need an EIN, and any foreign-owned US LLC needs one regardless of industry. A US business needs an EIN to hire employees, file federal taxes, open a bank account, or run payment processing. A foreign-owned single-member LLC needs an EIN to file Form 5472, even with no employees.

The list below groups the industries on this hub by their primary EIN driver. Every group still applies for the EIN the same way.

Online Sellers and Marketplaces

Dropshipping, eBay, Fiverr, Upwork, and import-export businesses need an EIN to complete platform tax interviews and connect a US bank account. See EIN for dropshipping and EIN for eBay sellers.

Tech and Digital

SaaS founders, web developers, graphic designers, podcasters, and crypto businesses use an EIN to bill in USD, integrate Stripe, and verify on platforms. See EIN for SaaS founders and EIN for crypto.

Trades and Local Services

Construction, HVAC, plumbing, electrician, landscaping, and cleaning businesses need an EIN to hire crews, get licensed, and bill clients. See EIN for construction and EIN for HVAC.

Licensed and Regulated

Restaurants, law firms, medical and dental practices, daycares, and churches need an EIN for licensing, payroll, and regulatory filings. See EIN for restaurants and EIN for medical practice.

When a sole proprietor can skip the EIN

A US sole proprietor with no employees can sometimes use a Social Security Number instead of an EIN.
A foreign owner cannot rely on this; non-residents have no SSN and the foreign-owned LLC must file Form 5472.
Banks and processors increasingly require an EIN even for sole proprietors, so most owners get one anyway.
The EIN is free from the IRS, so there is no cost reason to avoid it.

How to Choose

How Do You Choose the Right Industry Guide?

Choose the guide that matches your main revenue source, because that maps to the principal activity you enter on Form SS-4 Line 16. The industry guide adds context on licensing, banking, and platforms, but the EIN application steps stay identical across all 35+ business types.

Use this decision table to pick your starting guide and confirm your EIN driver.

Your situation	Start here	Primary EIN driver
Selling on US marketplaces	Dropshipping, eBay	Platform tax interview
Freelancing for US clients	Upwork, Fiverr	USD invoicing and banking
Building software	SaaS founders, web developers	Stripe and US entity
Creating content	TikTok, podcasters	US payout rails
Running a trade	Construction, plumbing	Hiring and licensing
Operating a licensed practice	Law firm, dental	Payroll and compliance

If your exact business is not listed, pick the closest match. The EIN you receive works for any lawful activity. You can describe your real activity in plain words on Form SS-4 Line 17. Read the parent guide Who Needs an EIN? to confirm your requirement before you file.

Step-by-Step

How Do You Apply for an EIN in Any Industry?

You apply by submitting IRS Form SS-4, and non-residents fax it to 855-215-1627 using a passport number on Line 7b. The IRS online tool requires an SSN, so non-residents use the fax method. The IRS issues most correctly filed EINs within 4-7 business days. The steps do not change by industry.

Form Your US Entity

Register your LLC or corporation first, because the EIN attaches to a named entity. Most non-residents form a Wyoming, Delaware, or New Mexico LLC online. The IRS needs your entity name and state for Form SS-4 Line 1.

Gather Your Documents

You need a valid passport, your entity formation details, and your address. No SSN or ITIN is required. Decide your principal activity for Line 16 based on your main industry.

Complete Form SS-4

Enter your entity name on Line 1, your address on Line 4, your name as responsible party on Line 7a, and your passport number on Line 7b. Enter your industry on Line 16. ein.so completes this to prevent rejections. See the SS-4 form guide.

Submit by Fax and Receive Your EIN

The SS-4 is faxed to the IRS at 855-215-1627. Standard delivery is 4-7 business days; Express is 2-3 business days. The IRS returns your EIN assignment letter (CP 575).

The single most common rejection cause for non-residents is malformed international address formatting, which the IRS rejects silently. ein.so reformats your address to an IRS-accepted style. Read the full EIN application process and the EIN without SSN guide for the complete non-resident path.

Cost & Time

How Much Does an EIN Cost by Industry?

An EIN costs $0 from the IRS in every industry, and ein.so charges $49 Standard or $97 Express for filing assistance. No industry pays a higher IRS fee. Restaurants, crypto firms, and freelancers all receive the same free EIN through the same Form SS-4. Processing time also does not vary by business type.

Item	Cost	Notes
IRS EIN fee	$0	Same for all industries
ein.so Standard	$49	4-7 business days
ein.so Express	$97	2-3 business days
ITIN add-on (Standard)	$197	If you need a personal US tax ID
ITIN add-on (Express)	$297	Faster ITIN processing

The EIN price never changes based on your industry, revenue, or entity state. Costs you may add later are state-specific, such as annual report or franchise fees; confirm those with your registered agent or a CPA. For a complete breakdown of DIY versus assisted pricing, see EIN cost. For delivery windows, see EIN processing time.

Banking & Compliance

What Do Industries Do With the EIN After Approval?

After approval, every industry uses the EIN to open a US business bank account, connect payment processors, and meet federal filing duties. The EIN is the federal tax ID that links your entity to the US financial system. Foreign-owned LLCs add an annual Form 5472 filing on top of these steps.

Open a US Bank Account

Mercury, Relay, and Wise accept non-resident LLC owners with an EIN and a passport. You receive US account and routing numbers for ACH and wires. See EIN for a bank account.

Connect Payment Processors

Stripe, PayPal, and Payoneer link to your EIN so you can bill US customers and settle in USD. Online sellers and SaaS founders rely on this step to start collecting revenue.

File Form 5472 Annually

A foreign-owned single-member US LLC files Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 each year. The penalty for not filing is $25,000. This is an information return, not always a tax bill.

File Your BOI Report

Most US LLCs report beneficial ownership to FinCEN. Review the BOI filing rules to avoid penalties. Confirm current deadlines, since FinCEN rules have changed.

ein.so handles the EIN application and does not provide tax advice. Confirm your federal and state tax obligations with a US CPA familiar with non-resident matters. Your EIN is the starting point for US compliance in every industry. See EIN for non-residents for the full non-resident playbook.

Apply

How Fast Can You Get Your EIN Today?

You can start your EIN application today and receive it in 2-7 business days. Standard processing costs $49 and delivers in 4-7 business days. Express processing costs $97 and delivers in 2-3 business days. The IRS charges $0 for the EIN; ein.so charges only for filing assistance.

Plan	Price	Processing
Standard	$49	4-7 business days
Express	$97	2-3 business days

Apply now

Next Steps

Start Your EIN Application

Confirm you need an EIN — check your business type against the requirement guide
Read your industry guide — pick the closest match from the 35+ guides above
Apply for your EIN — $49 Standard or $97 Express, filed by fax to 855-215-1627
Open a US bank account — Mercury, Relay, and Wise accept non-residents
File Form 5472 — annually for foreign-owned LLCs ($25,000 penalty for non-filing)
File your BOI report — required for most LLCs

Apply for your EIN — $49

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all business types need an EIN?

No. A US single-member LLC with no employees can sometimes use the owner's SSN. But a foreign-owned single-member LLC needs an EIN to file Form 5472, open a bank account, and run payments. Multi-member LLCs, corporations, and any business with employees need an EIN. When in doubt, get one; it is free from the IRS.

How do I get an EIN?

Apply online at irs.gov (instant, SSN required), by faxing Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627 (4-7 days), or through ein.so ($49 for non-residents). The IRS charges $0 for the EIN itself. Non-residents enter a passport number on Line 7b instead of an SSN, then fax the form. See how to get an EIN for the full process.

How much does an EIN cost?

The EIN is free from the IRS ($0). ein.so charges $49 Standard (4-7 business days) or $97 Express (2-3 business days) for filing assistance. There is no IRS fee for any industry. See the EIN cost page for a full comparison of DIY, ein.so, and competitor pricing.

Can non-residents get an EIN for any industry?

Yes. Non-residents in any of the 35+ industries listed here apply by faxing Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627. No SSN, ITIN, or US visit is required. The passport number goes on Line 7b. ein.so handles the process for $49. The industry you select on Line 16 does not change the application method.

How long does it take to get an EIN?

Online: instant (SSN required). Fax: 4-7 business days. Phone: same day for international applicants. Mail: 4-6 weeks. ein.so delivers in 4-7 business days on Standard ($49) and 2-3 business days on Express ($97). Processing time does not vary by industry. See EIN processing time for details.

What is an EIN used for across industries?

Every industry uses the EIN for the same core tasks: filing federal taxes, opening a US business bank account, hiring employees, and connecting payment processors like Stripe and PayPal. Restaurants and trucking add licensing and permits. Crypto and SaaS add platform verification. The EIN is the federal tax ID that links your entity to the US system.

Which industry do I select on Form SS-4?

You enter your principal activity on Form SS-4 Line 16 and a short description on Line 17. Examples include software, e-commerce, consulting, food service, and transportation. The IRS uses this for classification only; it does not affect approval or your EIN number. Pick the category that best matches your main revenue source.

Does a foreign-owned LLC owe US tax in every industry?

A foreign-owned single-member US LLC is usually a disregarded entity for US federal income tax, so the LLC itself often pays no federal income tax on non-US-sourced income. It still must file Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 every year. The penalty for not filing is $25,000. Confirm your tax position with a CPA.

Can I get an EIN before I form my LLC?

Form your LLC first. The EIN is issued to a named legal entity, so the IRS needs your LLC name and formation state on Form SS-4 Line 1. Most non-residents form a Wyoming, Delaware, or New Mexico LLC online, then apply for the EIN. ein.so files the SS-4 once your entity exists.

Do I need an ITIN as well as an EIN?

Not for the EIN itself; the passport number replaces the ITIN on Line 7b. You may need an ITIN later for personal US tax filing or certain treaty claims. The EIN belongs to your business; the ITIN belongs to you as an individual. ein.so offers ITIN filing at $197 standard / $297 express if you need one.

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