You can switch from small-scale to general taxpayer status at any time: voluntarily when setting up the company, or mandatorily once turnover exceeds CNY 5 million. The reverse switch is generally not possible. If both regimes are needed for different business lines, a second company is registered — which is why we start with a business model analysis, not with document submission.
Company Registration in China
Turnkey
We set up a WFOE/FIE for foreign founders: we select the right structure, register the business, and support tax accounting, the corporate bank account, and import/export operations.
Start with a tailored estimate. We’ll assess your business model, choose the right company structure, and prepare a complete launch budget.
| Business License | Tax Accounting |
| Bank Account | Foreign Trade Operations and Fapiao |
Operational Framework
The company is ready to operate
How a Foreigner Can Set Up a Company in China
A foreign individual or legal entity can register a company in the PRC with 100% foreign ownership in permitted investment sectors — without a mandatory Chinese partner.
Company registration in China for a foreigner means establishing a legal entity under PRC law with an approved business scope, registered address, registered capital, and tax status.
Before filing the documents, we verify whether the planned activity is permitted, select the right company form, calculate the registered capital, and define the banking route. This reduces the risk of rejection, operational restrictions, and unnecessary post-registration costs.
After the business license is issued, we support seal production, tax registration, opening a bank account, and setting up import/export operations. As a result, the client receives not just a license, but a fully operational company for contracts, payments, and business activity in China.
Registration, bank account, and operational launch — all by one team
What WFOE and FIE Mean
- WFOE — Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise
A company with 100% foreign ownership, without a Chinese founder.
In Chinese: 外商独资企业 (wàishāng dúzī qǐyè). - FIE — Foreign-Invested Enterprise
A general term for a company with foreign investment. This category includes both wholly foreign-owned companies and joint ventures.
In Chinese: 外商投资企业 (wàishāng tóuzī qǐyè).
Which Company Structure to Choose in China
Structure of a Chinese Company’s Business
The choice depends on control, partners, and operations. Before registration, we check whether the intended activity is permitted for foreign investment.
| Company Form in China | Control | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|
| Wholly Foreign-Owned Company | Controlled by the foreign founder | Trade, services, manufacturing, and foreign trade — if the activity is permitted |
| Joint Venture | Foreign and Chinese participants | Projects that require a local partner or shared resource base |
| Representative Office | Not an independent commercial company | Market research and representative functions without direct sales |
Terms and the permitted structure are clarified for each specific industry, city, and shareholder composition.
WE WILL REGISTER YOUR COMPANY IN CHINA
We will register a company in China tailored to your business model: business license, company chops, tax accounting, bank account, and import/export setup.
When a Company in China Is Actually Needed
A legal entity should solve a specific business task and give you more control than it costs to maintain
If having your own company is not economically justified, we will tell you before registration.
We calculate the model first, then submit the documents.
We calculate the model first, then submit the documents.
The company is registered. But it cannot operate.
The cost of a mistake is higher than the cost of registration
Formal registration without a plan does not guarantee a full launch. The company structure, address, tax status, and banking route must be aligned with the business model in advance.
Wrong tax status
The company cannot properly work with VAT, Fapiao, or export operations.
Problematic registered address
The address does not pass verification by the registration authority, tax office, or bank.
Bank account not opened
The license is issued, but the company cannot receive or make payments.
Mandatory procedures not completed
The trip ended before the tax and banking appointments — a second entry is required.
What’s Included in China Company Registration
We connect legal incorporation with a real operating business model
Documents for Company Registration in China
| If the founder is an individual: | If the founder is a company: |
|---|---|
| Passport and contact details | Incorporation and registration documents |
| Proof of residential address | Certificate of good standing |
| Business description and source of funds | Ownership structure and beneficial owners |
| Proposed company names | Resolution to establish a company in the PRC |
| Director and responsible persons’ details | Passports of the director and responsible persons |
The final list depends on the country of issue, ownership structure, and city requirements. We provide a personalized checklist for translation, apostille, or legalization.
How to Choose Your Tax Status When Registering a Company in China
These are VAT statuses, not different company types. The wrong choice affects cost price, Fapiao, and exports
Small-scale taxpayer
Small-scale taxpayer
For startups, services, and marketplace operations
Startup phase and low turnover (up to CNY 5 million per year)
Customers are individuals and small companies
Special Fapiao at 13% or 6% are not required
Input VAT is not deductible
General taxpayer
General taxpayer
For foreign trade and real manufacturing
Planned turnover — more than CNY 5 million per year
Customers are Chinese companies that require Special Fapiao
Import and export
Export VAT rebate
Can you switch between statuses?
What Accounts Does a Chinese Company Need
How Company Registration in China Works
A detailed step-by-step action plan
Personal Presence for Company Registration in China
Plan for 14–20 days in China
Key visits take place in several stages. The schedule depends on the city, the bank, and the shareholder structure.
China Company Registration Packages
The package is selected based on the operations the company needs to perform
START
$1 900
Service or trading WFOE with small-scale taxpayer status
Company registration
Seal set
Tax accounting
Company registration
TRADE · FOR FOREIGN TRADE
$2 900
For Chinese B2B clients, foreign trade, and production setup
Everything in the START package
General taxpayer
Foreign trade registration
Import-export procedures
PRODUCTION
from $3 900
For manufacturing and models with export VAT rebate
Custom scope
Tax model
Production process
Export VAT
Full First-Year Cost of Company Maintenance
Planning benchmarks, not a public offer. After the diagnosis, you will receive a budget tailored to your model
| Item | Benchmark | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Company registration in China | from $1,900 | Depends on tax status, foreign trade, and manufacturing |
| Small-scale taxpayer accounting | $150/month or $1,500/year | Accounting and regular reporting at the selected rate |
| General taxpayer accounting | $250/month or $2,500/year | Expanded tax and documentation framework |
| Registered address | benchmark $1,600/year | If permitted for your model and the bank’s requirements |
| Translation and notarization | 100–200 CNY/page | Depends on the country of issue and the document set |
| Travel and banking expenses | at actual cost | Tickets, accommodation, SIM card, fees, and possible charges depend on the country of issue and the document set |
WE’LL SET UP YOUR COMPANY IN CHINA
We’ll prepare a tailored estimate: registration, address, accounting, bank account, and foreign trade operations — aligned with your business model.
What’s Not Included in the Price
These are not hidden surcharges, but variable expenses: they depend on the shareholder structure, registration city, bank requirements, and your operating model
We Confirm Everything Before Payment
Before registration begins, you will receive a personalized estimate
No additional item is paid for without prior approval.
What Happens After Your Company Is Launched in China
Company Compliance Calendar
Not a registrar, but a partner for operating in China
After the license is issued
For a typical registrar, the license is the end of the project. For our company, it is the beginning of your company’s operational work in China, covering all standard business needs.
| Accounting support and tax filings | Legal address or physical office |
| Warehouse, production site, and staff search | Founder visa and residence permit |
| Product sourcing and factory selection in China | OEM/ODM manufacturing in China |
| Factory and company audits in China | Batch quality inspections |
| Business support at trade shows | Representation in China |
Who Will Work on Your China Project
You will have one manager for all matters. They coordinate the relevant specialists and guide the project from structure selection to the bank account and operational launch.
Project Manager
Manages communication, records decisions, controls deadlines, and brings in the right specialists at every stage of registration.
Collects information about the business model and founders.
Aligns timelines, budget, and next steps
Builds the registration roadmap and document list
Keeps you updated on project status without scattered chats
One point of contact — a team of specialists
You communicate with one manager, while legal, tax, banking, and foreign trade tasks are handled by specialized professionals in China.
Answers to frequently asked questions about company formation in China
What you need to know before setting up a company
What type of company can a foreign founder establish?
How long does company registration in China take?
Is the owner’s personal presence required?
Can a company be opened without a Chinese partner?
Are WFOE and FIE the same thing?
Can a company be registered fully remotely?
How much does it cost to maintain a company in the first year?
How do I choose the tax status?
What registered capital should be declared?
Do you guarantee opening a bank account?
Can a company be opened with a virtual address?
What accounts does the company get?
What is not included in the registration price?
Do you help after the license is issued?
Company Registration in China: How a Foreigner Can Start a Business
Company registration in China allows foreign entrepreneurs and international businesses to operate through a local legal entity, sign contracts with Chinese suppliers, receive and make payments, hire employees, issue Fapiao invoices, and conduct import and export activities. Easy China Business provides end-to-end support for setting up a company in China—from selecting the right legal structure and business scope to obtaining a business license, completing tax registration, opening a corporate bank account, and arranging ongoing accounting support.
How can a foreigner set up a company in China?
A foreign individual or overseas legal entity may establish a Foreign-Invested Enterprise, or FIE, in China. A company wholly owned by foreign investors is also commonly referred to in international business practice as a WFOE. The appropriate structure depends on the shareholders, business activities, operating model, and local requirements of the selected city or province.
Before starting the China company registration process, several key decisions must be made:
- whether the shareholder will be an individual or a legal entity;
- which Chinese city and province the company will be registered in;
- which activities must be included in the official business scope;
- whether the company will conduct trading or import/export operations;
- which VAT taxpayer status is appropriate;
- whether an office, warehouse, employees, visas, or work permits are required.
Choosing the right company type in China
A Chinese company should be registered for clearly defined commercial activities. Selecting an unsuitable structure or an incomplete business scope may restrict the company’s ability to trade, invoice customers, receive payments, or conduct cross-border operations.
- Service company: suitable for consulting, marketing, IT, design, project management, and other professional services.
- Trading company: suitable for purchasing and selling goods, paying Chinese factories, working with local marketplaces, and conducting international trade.
- Manufacturing company: designed for businesses planning to operate production facilities, use industrial equipment, lease manufacturing premises, or hire production staff.
If the company plans to purchase goods from Chinese manufacturers and export them from China, the required trading activities and import/export registration should be planned before the incorporation documents are submitted.
China company registration process
The exact company formation procedure depends on the location and business activity. A typical registration project may include:
- reviewing the business model and selecting the company structure;
- checking and approving the proposed company name;
- defining the registered address and official business scope;
- preparing, translating, and legalizing shareholder documents;
- submitting the application and obtaining the Business License;
- producing the official company chops;
- completing tax registration and setting up Fapiao invoicing;
- applying for a corporate bank account;
- completing import/export registration where required;
- setting up accounting and tax reporting.
Documents required to register a company in China
The document list depends on whether the shareholder is an individual or an overseas company. An individual shareholder will generally need identification, proof of address, and other documents required to verify the foreign investor. A corporate shareholder will normally need to provide company registration documents, ownership information, and details of its authorized representatives.
Foreign documents may require Chinese translation, notarization, apostille, or another form of legalization. The final requirements are determined after reviewing the shareholder structure, country of origin, intended business activities, and registration location.
Small-scale or general VAT taxpayer
The taxpayer status should be considered before the company begins operating. It affects VAT accounting, the types of Fapiao the company can issue, bookkeeping requirements, and the way the company works with B2B customers and suppliers.
- Small-scale VAT taxpayer: often suitable for companies with a relatively simple operating model, limited transaction volume, and fewer accounting documents.
- General VAT taxpayer: may be more appropriate for active trading companies, businesses working with VAT deductions, larger B2B customers, and regular supplier purchases.
The decision should not be based only on the accounting fee. Expected revenue, customer requirements, input VAT, invoicing needs, and future business growth should also be considered.
Opening a corporate bank account in China
After incorporation, the company may apply for a corporate bank account. The bank performs its own KYC and compliance review, which may include the shareholders, source of funds, business activities, contracts, expected transactions, and the company’s commercial connection to China.
Obtaining a Business License does not automatically guarantee bank account approval. Banking requirements should therefore be considered during the company structuring stage, and supporting documents should be prepared in advance.
Total first-year company setup cost
The cost of setting up a company in China is not limited to the registration package. The first-year operating budget may include:
- company registration and Business License;
- registered address or physical office rent;
- translation and legalization of documents;
- bank and third-party administrative fees;
- accounting and tax reporting;
- import/export registration and additional permits;
- travel to China for the shareholder or legal representative;
- accommodation, local transport, communication, and SIM card costs;
- visa, residence, or work permit procedures where required.
Easy China Business prepares a preliminary first-year cost estimate with mandatory and optional expenses shown separately. This allows the client to understand not only the incorporation fee, but also the realistic budget required to launch and maintain the company.
What happens after the company is registered?
Receiving a Business License is the beginning of the operating process, not the end of the project. The company must maintain bookkeeping, submit tax reports, control the use of company chops, manage banking operations, issue Fapiao correctly, and comply with current administrative requirements.
Depending on the client’s business model, Easy China Business can also provide ongoing support with:
- accounting and tax reporting in China;
- corporate banking procedures and documentation;
- payments to Chinese suppliers;
- product sourcing and contract manufacturing;
- supplier verification and factory audits;
- quality control and product inspections;
- export documentation and shipment coordination.
China company formation with Easy China Business
We treat China company formation as a complete B2B market-entry project. Before filing the registration documents, our team reviews the client’s operating model, planned payments, business scope, VAT taxpayer status, banking requirements, and need for import/export registration.
The client receives a recommended company configuration, a document checklist, a clear project sequence, and a preliminary first-year budget. A dedicated project manager coordinates the corporate lawyer, accountant, banking specialist, and import/export specialist. Key decisions and additional expenses are agreed with the client before action is taken.
How to start your China company registration
To receive a preliminary setup plan, provide the shareholder’s nationality or country of incorporation, preferred registration city, intended business activities, expected turnover, and planned transactions. We will identify the appropriate structure, VAT taxpayer status, and required setup options, then prepare an estimated project scope, timeline, and cost.