What's the best way to keep my identity private on an independent e-commerce website?

The weak point is usually the payment processor. Stripe and PayPal want your SSN and real bank account. You can form an LLC and get an EIN, but they'll still ask for a controlling person's details. Some people use a registered agent and a virtual address, but that doesn't hide you from the processor.

Look into privacy.com for cards, but that's for buying, not selling. For selling, you're stuck with KYC.

I ran a store for two years using an LLC with a registered agent in Wyoming and a virtual mailbox for returns. The storefront showed the LLC name, not mine. But when I applied for a merchant account, the underwriter asked for my personal ID and a utility bill. I used a virtual address for the utility bill and it worked, but it felt like a gray area. The processor never asked for my home address, just a business address that matched the LLC filing.

What about using a fulfillment center? They can handle shipping labels with their address instead of yours. But you still need a business bank account, and banks want ID.

This is why I gave up on full anonymity.Too many touchpoints. Best you can do is separate your personal life from the business name publicly, but the processor and bank will always know who you are.

You can use a DBA under an LLC, but the LLC formation docs in some states lisst the organizer's name. Wyoming and New Mexico allow anonymous LLCs, but you still need a registered agent. That agent's name and address are public. So your identity is hidden from the public record, but not from the agent or the state.

New Mexico is popular for anonymous LLCs, but getting a bank account for a NM LLC as a non-resident can be a pain. Some online banks are more flexible.

Don't forget about sales tax permits. Those often require your SSN or personal info, and some states publish a list of permit holders. That can expose you.

i think the realistic realistic answer is: you can keep your name off Google, but you can't hide from the payment processor, the bank, and the tax authorities. If you're selling physical goods, shipping labels usually need a return address. You can use a PO box or virtual mailbox for that, but the post office requires ID for a PO box. Virtual mailboxes often require notarized forms. It's a lot of hoops for partial privacy.

also, if you're in the US, most states require a business license or seller's permit that ties back to a real person. You might be able to use a nominee service, but that's expensive and not always legal for e-commerce. I'd focus on separating your public persona from your legal identity and accept that the back end will know who you are.