Changing currencies for your LLC with structure
FX is part of running internationally. Learn when to use Wise Business, an operating account and an FX layer without losing margin or documentation.
FX for an LLC is not about chasing one fixed fee: it is about separating collections, conversion, tax reserve and documentary proof so margin and traceability survive.
Currency exchange is not a side detail for an international LLC: it affects margin, documentation and how cleanly money moves between your operating account, Wise Business and your personal tax residence.
If you operate a US LLC and live in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, or anywhere outside the US, currency exchange is an essential part of your daily financial life. You bill in dollars, but your personal expenses are in euros, pesos, or another local currency.
The way you convert those currencies can cost you margin, order and traceability if your operating account, FX layer and distributions are not clearly separated.
The problem with traditional banks
When your local bank receives a dollar transfer, it converts to your local currency applying:
- A markup on the exchange rate (1-3% worse than the real rate)
- Reception fees ($15-50 per SWIFT transfer)
- Intermediary bank fees ($10-25 additional)
In total, you can lose meaningful margin on each transfer. If you move significant monthly volume, hidden FX costs and weak documentation become an operational problem, not just a fee.
The best options for currency conversion
1. Wise Business (the FX layer)
Wise offers the real exchange rate (mid-market rate) plus a small transparent fee:
- Fee: 0.4-1.5% depending on currency pair (EUR/USD is typically 0.4-0.6%)
- Exchange rate: Real, no hidden markup
- Speed: 1-2 business days
- Advantage: You see exactly how much you'll receive before sending
- Note: Wise is an EMI, not a bank. Not FDIC insured. Use for conversion, not storage.
2. Mercury (direct from your account)
Mercury can be useful for USD operations, but wire pricing must be checked against the current schedule and the receiving or correspondent-bank path. If the transfer involves currency conversion, compare the all-in cost against Wise before moving funds.
- Wire fee: $0 (sending and receiving, domestic and international)
- Exchange rate: With markup if converting currency (less than traditional banks)
- Speed: 1-5 business days
- Best for: USD transfers without conversion, or large one-off transfers
3. Revolut Business
Similar to Wise but with a monthly subscription model. Competitive rates for high-volume businesses.
- Free plan: Limited free conversions
- Paid plans: Better rates and higher limits
- Multi-currency: EUR, GBP, USD and many more
- Best for: High-frequency conversions in EUR/GBP/USD
4. Airwallex
A global payments platform that allows opening multi-currency accounts and receiving payments in local currencies from 60+ countries.
- Conversion fee: Competitive, with low markup on interbank rate
- Speed: 1-2 business days
- Advantage: Local accounts in multiple countries — your clients pay you as if you were local
If you need to spend in local currency without manually converting:
- Wise Card: Converts at the real exchange rate when you pay. No surprises.
6. PayPal (avoid for conversions)
PayPal applies a 3-4% markup on the exchange rate. It's the worst option for currency conversion. If you receive payments via PayPal, transfer the dollars to Mercury first and then convert through Wise.
Recommended flow
The most efficient flow for most LLC owners:
- Bill in USD → Mercury (LLC account)
- Move USD to Wise → ACH or wire according to current terms, limits and supporting documentation
- Convert in Wise → at the real exchange rate (0.4-1.5% fee)
- Send to your local account → SEPA (Europe) or local transfer
This flow reduces avoidable friction when pricing, FX, limits and documentation are checked before moving money.
Quick comparison
| Method | Exchange rate | Fee | Total estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Business | Real | 0.4-1.5% | 0.4-1.5% |
| Mercury wire | With markup if converting | Current fee table and bank path to verify | Real cost must be checked before moving funds |
| Revolut Business | Near real | Plan-dependent | 0.5-2% |
| Traditional bank | With markup | -50 + intermediaries | Variable, often opaque margin |
| PayPal conversion | With 3-4% markup | Variable | 4-6% |
Tips to save on currency conversion
- Consolidate your withdrawals: make one or two large transfers per month instead of many small ones
- Use Wise whenever possible: the exchange rate is significantly better
- Avoid PayPal conversions: withdraw the money in dollars and convert via Wise
- Compare before sending: fees vary by amount and currency pair
- Keep reserves in USD: the US dollar is strong and your LLC expenses are in USD, only convert what you need for personal expenses
- Set rate alerts: Wise and Revolut let you set alerts when rates reach your target
A couple of adjacent reads worth having open alongside this one: <a href="/en/blog/routing-9-digits-swift-iban-when-to-use-each">IBAN, SWIFT and routing numbers: understanding international banking codes</a> and <a href="/en/blog/llc-for-amazon-tap-a-600b-usd-us-ecommerce-market">Selling on Amazon with your US LLC: complete guide for international sellers</a>, which sharpen exactly the edges we skimmed above.
Separate currency conversion from cash custody
In FX, the decision is not just the fee; origin, beneficiary, statement quality and reconciliation matter:
- Mercury: it is not the FX answer by itself. Use it for USD operating needs, then decide separately how the LLC converts, holds and documents foreign-currency exposure.
> <a href="/en/book">Review my structure</a>
- Mercury: for Changing currencies for your LLC with structure, the question is not whether the brand is familiar, but whether it supports collections, settlements and refunds without leaving the business without a backup route. It is a fintech built on US partner banks; if used, the file should explain activity, source of funds, processor, backup account and operating continuity.
- Payoneer operates through European entities (Payoneer Europe Ltd, Ireland) that are also in scope for CRS for clients resident in participating jurisdictions.
Plan currency conversion with tax and banking traceability
Currency conversion is not a small operational detail once a US LLC invoices, holds balances or pays suppliers in several currencies. Exentax reviews the account stack, FX path, invoices and bookkeeping trail so the company can move money with clean evidence instead of scattered screenshots and unexplained spreads.
Currency conversion inside an LLC should be reviewed as part of treasury, not as a standalone fee comparison. Before moving volume, confirm where revenue is earned, which account receives funds, whether conversion gains are tracked, how reserves are held and which records support each transfer. The right FX route is the one that keeps cost, banking and tax evidence aligned.
_More on this topic: LLC in the United States: complete guide for non-residents._