Nearly half of global C-suite executives plan to establish a legal presence in the United States within the next 12 months, according to CSC’s report, ‘Navigating U.S. Market Entry: Insights, Risks, and Opportunities for Global Businesses’, highlighting continued demand for U.S. market access despite rising regulatory and operational complexity.
The data, based on a survey of 300 senior executives across Europe, the U.K., Asia-Pacific, and South America, shows 45% are actively planning U.S. entry in the near term, with an additional 27% considering expansion within two to three years.
Expansion decisions are being driven primarily by operational efficiency rather than market visibility. Around 65% of executives cite supply chain and manufacturing advantages as the main reason for entering the U.S., while over half point to access to capital markets and strategic deal opportunities, including partnerships and M&A.
However, execution risk remains high. A majority of respondents identify regulatory compliance as a key barrier, with 88% citing federal and state tax reporting as the most burdensome requirement, followed by labor and employment regulations.
Companies with existing U.S. operations report a gap between expectations and reality. Half say they underestimated the complexity of tax and financial reporting after entering the market, highlighting ongoing challenges in navigating multi-layered federal, state, and local requirements.
In response, companies are shifting toward outsourced operating models. Nearly 80% of executives indicate plans to rely on third-party providers for compliance and governance functions, suggesting a growing market for specialized regulatory and administrative services.
The data points to a clear pattern: companies continue to prioritize U.S. expansion for operational and capital advantages, but are restructuring execution strategies to manage regulatory complexity and reduce in-house burden.
