Does setting up a U.S. company mean you can live and operate it from inside the U.S. ?

No it does not. Immigration law is completely independent of either company or asset ownership and they are not to be confused. If you own or setup a U.S. company, you must still go through all the correct legal channels to apply for immigration status into the U.S. – One option to look into that might help is the E2 investor visa.