Opening a Relay Account takes about 10 minutes online. You'll need your EIN, formation documents, and personal ID for every beneficial owner.
What you need before you start
Gather these items before you begin so you can finish the application in a single sitting:
Your legal business name, business address, and any DBA name
Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) and formation documents (Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, or equivalent)
Personal information for every beneficial owner: full legal name, date of birth, residential address, Social Security Number (SSN), and a government-issued photo ID
A valid U.S. phone number and an email address you check regularly
A computer or mobile device with internet access and a working camera for identity verification
Who can open a Relay Account?
Relay serves U.S.-registered small businesses whose owners live in eligible countries and whose industry is not on the prohibited list. Your business must be legally registered and operating in the United States, and every beneficial owner must have a valid SSN. Relay does not open personal accounts, escrow accounts, trust accounts, or 401(k) accounts.
For the current lists, see Prohibited industries and Prohibited Countries.
How do I apply for a Relay Account?
Follow these eight steps to submit your application:
Visit the Relay sign-up page. Go to relayfi.com and click Sign up.
Enter your email address. Use an email you check regularly. Relay sends account communications and any follow-up requests here.
Confirm eligibility. Confirm that you are at least 18, have a valid SSN, and are opening the account for a U.S.-registered business.
Add your business details. Enter your legal business name, any DBA, entity type, EIN, business address, and industry.
Add owners and beneficial controllers. Enter the full legal name, date of birth, residential address, and SSN for every beneficial owner. Upload a government-issued photo ID for each.
Upload formation documents. Attach the formation document that matches your entity type. If you need help locating this, see Getting Your EIN and Articles of Incorporation.
Complete identity verification. Take a live selfie inside the sign-up flow. Use good lighting, remove hats and glasses, and hold the phone at eye level.
Review and submit. Check every field on the review screen and submit your application.
For a full breakdown of documents by entity type (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, sole proprietorship, non-profit, holding company), see Required Documents and Organization Details to Open a Relay Account by Entity Type.
What if I use a Registered Agent address?
You'll need to provide a second address for the location where your business actually operates. A Registered Agent address is a legal service address, so Relay also needs your operational business address to complete your application. Enter both when the sign-up flow asks for a business address.
How long does approval take?
Most applications are reviewed within 1-2 business days. Some applications need follow-up documentation or clarification before approval, and Relay's Customer Experience team will contact you by email if anything is missing. Once your account is approved, you can fund it and start using it right away. For a full walkthrough of the post-submission steps, see What Happens After You Submit Your Application.
What are common issues during signup?
If the sign-up flow stops you before submission, one of these is usually the cause:
Document upload rejected. Make sure the file is a clear PDF or photo, all four corners are visible, and the text is legible. Re-upload if the image is blurry or cropped.
Identity verification failed. Retake the selfie in a well-lit room, remove hats and glasses, and hold the phone at eye level. See Verifying your identity for the accepted document types.
EIN doesn't match IRS records. Check the confirmation letter from the IRS (Form CP 575) and re-enter your EIN exactly as it appears there.
Owner information is incomplete. Every beneficial owner with 25% or more ownership needs a full profile, including SSN and photo ID. Missing profiles pause the review.
Application is under review longer than 2 business days. Check the inbox tied to your sign-up email for a message from Relay's Customer Experience team requesting more information.
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