Why fitness coaches need a Wyoming LLC
Fitness coaching at scale needs three things. Recurring subscription billing for monthly coaching clients. One-time charges for meal plans and digital programs. And a way to invoice corporate wellness clients in USD.
Stripe US handles all three cleanly. The Wyoming LLC + EIN + Mercury bank gives you the US Stripe account you need. Without it, you are stuck with PayPal or limited local processors that fitness platforms do not integrate with well.
Wyoming specifically wins on cost. Year 1 is $397. Year 2 is about $160. Delaware would cost $300-$400. For a fitness coach running modest margins on $50K-$200K annual revenue, the savings compound.
The fitness coach stack after formation
- Wyoming LLC formed under Title 17, Chapter 29 ($397, 24 hours)
- EIN via IRS Form SS-4 (8 to 10 business days)
- Mercury business bank for Stripe payouts
- Stripe US linked to fitness coaching platform (Trainerize, TrueCoach, etc.)
- Coaching platform registered to LLC name and EIN
- Optional: separate Shopify store for supplements or merch under the same LLC
- Form 5472 + pro forma 1120 filed annually ($99 add-on)
Fitness coaching platforms compared
| Platform | Stripe integration | Monthly fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainerize | Native US Stripe | $5-$20/month per active client | 1:1 PT coaching |
| TrueCoach | Native Stripe | $19-$159/mo flat | Strength coaching |
| MyPTHub | Stripe + PayPal | $30-$150/mo flat | Group fitness |
| PT Distinction | Stripe | $45-$135/mo flat | Hybrid coaching |
| Everfit | Stripe | Pay per active client | Programs + community |
| Mighty Networks | Stripe | $41-$179/mo flat | Community-based fitness |
| Custom Stripe + Notion | Direct Stripe | Stripe fees only | Tech-savvy coaches |
How tax works on fitness coaching revenue
Fitness coaching delivered remotely from outside the US is generally not Effectively Connected Income for a non-resident pass-through LLC. You have no US employees, no US gym, no US fixed location. The coaching happens online.
So US federal income tax owed is typically zero. Form 5472 + pro forma 1120 is mandatory annually regardless. Subscription revenue, meal plan sales, supplement margins all flow through the LLC.
If you sell physical supplements shipped from a US warehouse (ShipBob, Easyship US), that may create ECI. Most fitness coaches we serve either dropship supplements globally or use the LLC for the digital coaching side and a separate structure for supplement sales.
Banking and Stripe for fitness coaches
Mercury approves fitness coaches at roughly 75% in our intake. The business description matters. 'Online fitness coaching for busy professionals through Trainerize, average client pays $150/month for 6 months, monthly revenue $5K' beats vague descriptions.
Stripe approves fitness coaching at high rates. Some specific niches face manual review (medical-adjacent fitness coaching, weight loss claims). Use clean, claim-light copy on your coaching platform to speed approval.
Relay works if you also sell supplements or merch and want to separate revenue. Wise Business is the fallback at 95% for tightened country profiles.
Common fitness coach mistakes with Wyoming LLCs
- Linking fitness platform to personal Stripe instead of LLC Stripe
- Making medical or weight-loss claims that trigger Stripe restrictions
- Skipping Form 5472 because coaching feels like a side hustle ($25K penalty)
- Mixing supplement sales (potentially ECI if shipped from US) with coaching (not ECI)
- Not having a coaching liability waiver from clients
- Forgetting professional liability insurance for fitness-related injuries
- Selling regulated products (CBD, supplements with health claims) without compliance review
What is included for fitness coaches at $397
- Wyoming LLC formation under Title 17, Chapter 29 within 24 hours
- Wyoming registered agent for year 1
- Custom operating agreement for solo or partner fitness coaching practices
- EIN via IRS Form SS-4 (no SSN required)
- Direct introductions to Mercury, Relay, and Wise Business
- Document delivery as searchable PDFs
- WhatsApp and email support across NYC and Dhaka time zones
- Stripe US setup guidance for Trainerize, TrueCoach, and similar platforms