Starting in China?
Start with clarity.

WFOE means wholly foreign-owned enterprise: a China-registered business owned entirely by foreign investors. The term remains common, although foreign-invested companies now operate under the Foreign Investment Law and the applicable company rules. The company is a separate Chinese legal entity, not simply an overseas company’s bank account.

Yes, in many business activities. Check the applicable foreign investment negative list, sector licensing rules and local requirements first. Some activities have ownership restrictions or are prohibited; others require permits regardless of ownership. A Chinese shareholder is not automatically required for every foreign-owned business.

Start with your customers, suppliers, staff and actual operating location. Compare address availability, rent, hiring needs and any industry-specific requirements before choosing. We support Shenzhen, Beijing, Wuhan, Shanghai, Hainan and Changsha, with our headquarters in Shenzhen. We will help you compare options around your business rather than promise one city is best for everyone.

Allow an indicative 10–20 business days for the business licence stage once complete documents and an acceptable address are ready. This is our planning estimate, not a statutory processing promise. Local authority processing may be shorter or longer. Overseas document preparation, banking, tax setup, industry permissions and visas have separate timelines. We confirm your case-specific roadmap before starting.

There is no single minimum suitable for every activity; sector-specific capital rules can apply. Set a credible amount against your business plan. For a newly established limited liability company, subscribed capital is generally due within five years of establishment, subject to applicable exceptions. It is an investment commitment, separate from our service fee.

No. They are distinct roles, although one person may hold both. The legal representative is a director or manager who conducts company affairs, appointed under the articles of association. The role carries legal responsibilities and should not be treated as a name-only appointment.

The checklist normally covers the registration application, articles of association, shareholder identity or corporate qualification documents, appointments and identification for relevant officers, and evidence of a lawful business address. Regulated activities may need additional approvals. We prepare a tailored checklist for your ownership structure, activity and chosen city.

Some registration steps can be coordinated remotely, depending on document and identity-verification requirements. Do not assume the whole process is remote: plan for the legal representative to attend bank verification unless the selected bank confirms an accepted alternative. Confirm appointments before booking travel.

Not always. For covered public documents exchanged between China and another country where the Apostille Convention applies, an apostille replaces consular legalisation. Other documents may follow a different route. Confirm the issuing country, document type, translation and receiving authority’s requirements before arranging certification.

Expect the business licence, legal representative’s identity documents, company seals and additional ownership, authorisation or business information requested by the branch. The bank performs its own checks and may require in-person verification. Our VIP service supports preparation and coordination; account approval remains the bank’s decision.

Yes. Banks such as ICBC offer corporate online banking for account enquiries, transfers and payments. Access, language options, security devices, approval permissions and overseas usability depend on the bank and service selected. Confirm these features at account setup, especially if you will manage the business from abroad.

Ask the receiving bank to confirm the required company account, foreign investment registration, currency, remitter details and payment reference before sending funds. Keep an evidence trail linking the contribution to the shareholder. Do not assume a personal account, cash deposit or third-party transfer will be accepted as a valid capital contribution.

Capital is not automatically frozen or limited to buying investments. Its use must follow applicable foreign-exchange rules, genuine business needs and restrictions on capital-account funds. Ask the bank and accountant to confirm the payment route and supporting evidence for rent, wages or other planned expenses.

No. Ownership and employment permission are separate. For the usual long-term employment route, eligible foreign nationals need the appropriate work permit and work-type residence permission. A company registration certificate alone is not work authorisation.

For a typical overseas applicant taking a long-term role, the employer first obtains the work permit notification, followed by the applicant’s Z visa application. After entry, complete the applicable work permit, health, accommodation and residence formalities. Where required, apply for the work-type residence permit within 30 days of entry. The exact route depends on your circumstances.

Applicants generally need to be at least 18, in good health, without a criminal record, and have an eligible employer and suitable skills. A common Category B route uses a bachelor’s degree and two years of relevant experience, generally up to age 60. Alternative routes and permitted relaxations exist; eligibility requires an individual review.

Category A covers qualifying high-end talent, Category B foreign professionals, and Category C other eligible foreign personnel under the relevant policies. These are work-permit classifications, not three visa products you can freely choose. Your qualifications, role and the applicable criteria determine the route. We assess this before recommending an application.

No. Our RMB8,500-per-person service is for an application targeting one year of work-related permission. Actual approval and validity depend on the authorities and your case. The Z entry visa and the subsequent work and residence permissions are different documents. Medical check-up costs are excluded from the service fee.

For a long-term S1 family visit to a foreign national residing in China, eligible relatives include a spouse, parents, parents-in-law and children under 18. Applicants normally need proof of relationship, an invitation and the sponsor’s passport and residence documentation. The consular authority assesses the application.

S1 is for an intended stay exceeding 180 days; S2 is generally for a stay of up to 180 days and can cover a wider range of relatives. S1 holders must apply for a residence permit within 30 days after entry. Neither family visa itself grants permission to work. Our family visa application service is RMB4,000 per person.

Yes, plan for proper bookkeeping, supporting documents and your applicable filing schedule from the start. Ask your accountant what must be filed even during a pre-trading period; no sales should not be treated as permission to ignore compliance. Our monthly service is separate from company setup unless expressly included in your written proposal.

No. Filing frequency depends on the tax and the taxpayer’s circumstances; monthly, quarterly and annual obligations may apply. Monthly accounting fees describe the service billing period, not a promise that all taxes have the same filing cycle. The official calendar can also adjust filing deadlines around holidays.

Common considerations include enterprise income tax, VAT and related charges, with other taxes depending on the transactions. The standard enterprise income tax rate is 25%; qualifying relief may change the effective burden. Foreign ownership alone does not guarantee an incentive. Ask for an assessment based on your activity, taxpayer status and actual transactions.

It is not that simple. The 183-day test is important for a non-domiciled person’s tax residency, but domicile, income source, treaty provisions and the special six-year rules also matter. Some overseas-source income paid overseas can qualify for an exemption under the non-domiciled rules. Review your travel history and income before assuming either full exemption or worldwide taxation.

A dividend distribution must follow the company’s profit-distribution requirements and the applicable tax and bank procedures. Shareholder type matters: the September 2026 notice applies a 20% individual income tax rate to dividends paid by foreign-invested enterprises to foreign individuals. Qualifying China-source dividends of non-resident corporate shareholders are generally subject to 10% enterprise income tax under the domestic rules. Treaty treatment, eligibility and documentation require a separate review before payment.

Foreign employees legally employed in China generally fall within the social-insurance system, with employer and employee contributions. Applicable bilateral agreements may provide limited exemptions for eligible people who supply the required evidence. Confirm the local contribution basis and rules for each employee rather than using one city’s percentages across China.

All virtual office options we offer are approved for company registration, with suitability checked for your city and business activity before booking. They are not offered for visa applications. Our RMB18,478 setup package without a visa includes one year of virtual office and a formal lease. Standalone virtual office prices start at RMB3,000 per year.

Our RMB18,869 company setup, banking and work visa package requires a separately paid serviced office with at least a one-year formal lease from an approved provider and the required premises documents. Starting monthly prices vary by city from RMB3,000 to RMB5,000; the actual room is quoted separately. This describes our service requirements; the authorities assess the premises and individual case.

Tell us before signing or relying on the lease. We need to check its permitted use, registration eligibility, address documentation and suitability for your business and any work-permit application. A rental contract by itself does not confirm that every approval can be obtained.

Not necessarily. You may still need bank setup, tax arrangements, sector permissions and employment or social-insurance formalities. The sequence depends on your activity and whether you hire staff. We clarify the remaining steps and which ones are included in your agreed service scope.

The RMB18,478 Company Setup & Banking package includes one year of virtual office and banking support, but no work visa. The RMB18,869 Company Setup, Banking & Work Visa package includes a work visa service for one person, but excludes the separately paid serviced office and accounting. Compare ongoing costs as well as the initial fee; final scope is confirmed in your proposal.

Monthly fees are RMB1,500 for up to 50 transactions, RMB2,500 for 51–200, and RMB3,500 for 201–500. Interpreter support is included. Ask for a tailored quote above 500 transactions and confirm how transactions are counted before selecting a plan.

Our team provides support in English, German, Russian, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian and Burmese. Tell us your preferred language when you enquire so we can coordinate the appropriate contact and interpreter support.

Ask your assigned adviser for your secure tracking access and milestone updates. The “Track application” button on this website prepares an email requesting access; it does not itself display private application records. Keep your application reference handy when contacting the team.

Plan 1 covers one platform, WeChat or Xiaohongshu, with 8 posts per month. Plan 2 covers WeChat and Xiaohongshu with 20 posts per month. Plan 3 covers WeChat, Xiaohongshu and Weibo with 40 posts per month and up to two KOL outreach activities. Our Hangzhou team handles creative and copywriting. Volumes are package totals; request a proposal for pricing and reporting details.

The plans include platform setup and verification support, subject to the platform accepting your entity and documents. Approval is not guaranteed. Actual KOL fees are excluded from Plan 3. Any platform charges, advertising budget and third-party costs should be confirmed separately in your proposal.

Yes. Ask us about website localisation, translation, basic brand creation or Douyin setup. A Chinese-language website and permission to host or operate it in mainland China are separate questions. Confirm the hosting location, entity, content and any required filings or licences before launch. ICP filing requirements can vary by province and provider.