Do You Need a US Company to Run ChatGPT Ads?
The short answer
Yes — you effectively need a US company. OpenAI requires advertiser accounts on ChatGPT Ads to pass a manual business verification that checks three things: a US Employer Identification Number (EIN), a US business address, and a web presence. Without all three, you cannot create an advertiser account and cannot spend.
As of May 2026, OpenAI has stated that non-US advertiser onboarding — for markets including the UK, Canada, Australia, and others — is "rolling out in the coming weeks." But as of this writing (2026-05-31), those markets had not confirmed open access. For the purposes of planning, treat US entity ownership as the current gate.
What does ChatGPT Ads verification require?
To open a ChatGPT Ads account at ads.openai.com, your business must provide:
- A US Employer Identification Number (EIN) — the federal tax ID issued by the IRS to US-registered businesses.
- A US business address — a genuine registered address for that entity, not a mail-forwarding service.
- A web presence — a live website associated with the business.
Verification is manual: a human at OpenAI reviews all three fields before your account is approved to spend. Field guides report the wait is typically several business days. Ad creative is reviewed separately and is usually approved within 24 hours once the account is verified.
One important detail: there is no minimum spend requirement as of May 5, 2026. OpenAI removed the previous $50,000 floor when self-serve opened to all US businesses. Any US-verified business can now run ChatGPT Ads regardless of budget size.
Can a non-US business advertise?
Not directly — not yet, for most markets.
If your business is registered and operated outside the United States, you cannot currently create a ChatGPT Ads advertiser account. The platform's verification system requires a US EIN tied to a verifiable US business. Attempting to use a shell US holding company set up specifically to obtain an EIN is reported to fail: OpenAI's verification checks whether the EIN corresponds to a genuine, operating US business entity, and a hollow structure does not pass that test.
This means a Hungarian company, a UK company, an EU company — any business without a legitimate US legal presence — is currently locked out from independently creating an advertiser account, even if those businesses want to reach US customers.
There is a meaningful distinction here between where ads serve and who can buy. ChatGPT Ads are now live in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several other markets. The inventory exists. The constraint is on the buyer side: the advertiser account itself must be US-verified. A non-US advertiser cannot yet buy that inventory directly.
Can my agency run it for me?
Not in the way you might expect from other platforms — but an agency can still manage your campaigns once your account is set up.
ChatGPT Ads does not have a Google Ads MCC or Meta Business Manager equivalent. Agencies cannot create accounts on behalf of clients, cannot own client accounts, and cannot set up billing on a client's behalf. The only supported structure is:
- The client creates the advertiser account at ads.openai.com.
- The client completes business verification (EIN + address + web presence — manual, several business days).
- The client sets up billing on the account.
- The client invites the agency from inside Ads Manager, granting the Ads Admin role.
- The agency builds and manages campaigns within the client's account.
This is WeDoPixels' operating model: we work inside your US-verified account, not around it. We do not own your account, and we do not circumvent the verification requirement. Your business owns and verifies the account; you invite us in; we handle strategy, creative, targeting, and optimization.
This model means the US entity gate is not optional for clients who want to work with us on ChatGPT Ads — the client must have (or form) a genuine, verifiable US business entity before we can do anything.
How do I set up a US entity?
This is a common question, and it has a reasonably straightforward answer — though we are not attorneys and this is not legal advice. The common path is:
Form a US LLC. Most non-US founders and business owners choose a single-member LLC in a business-friendly state — Delaware and Wyoming are popular. You do not need to be a US citizen or resident to own a US LLC.
Obtain a US EIN. Once the LLC is formed, you apply to the IRS for an Employer Identification Number. Non-US residents can apply by phone (IRS Form SS-4) or by fax; online applications are restricted to US residents. Turnaround varies.
Establish a US business address. A registered agent service can provide a legitimate business address. Note that a pure mail-forwarding service may not pass OpenAI's verification — the address needs to correspond to the registered entity.
Build and maintain a web presence. Your business website should reflect the US entity and its operations.
The process can typically be completed in days to a few weeks depending on IRS EIN processing times. Costs are modest (state filing fees plus registered agent fees). That said, consult a qualified US attorney or formation service before proceeding — entity structure, tax implications, and compliance obligations depend on your specific situation.
Once your US LLC has an EIN and a verified address, you meet the threshold to create a ChatGPT Ads account and pass OpenAI's manual verification.
If you are unsure whether your business qualifies today, or you want to understand what steps you need to take to get there, see if you qualify. We can walk you through the US entity and account setup requirements before any campaign work begins.
For a full breakdown of which countries can currently advertise and where ads are served, see Advertise on ChatGPT by Country. For the step-by-step account and campaign setup process, see How to Set Up ChatGPT Ads.