Registering a Company in Mainland China
Registration moves through name approval, business scope drafting, registered capital declaration, licence application and post-registration filings. We manage the full sequence for WFOEs, joint ventures and representative offices.
How We Handle Registration
Name Reservation
Reserve a company name that passes SAMR's approval check.
Scope & Capital
Draft business scope and registered capital matching your activity.
Licence Application
Submit to SAMR and obtain the business licence.
Post-Registration
Bank account, tax registration, social insurance filing.
Comparing Structures
| Feature | WFOE | Joint Venture | Representative Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership | 100% foreign | Shared with local partner | 100% foreign |
| Can generate revenue | Yes | Yes | No |
| Minimum registered capital | Set per industry/city | Set per industry/city | Not required |
| Typical setup time | 4-8 weeks | 6-12 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
Documents We Prepare
- Business scope and company name reservation
- Articles of association and shareholder resolutions
- Registered capital and registered address documentation
- Business licence application and tax registration
- Bank account application support and social insurance registration
What Affects Your Timeline
Registration speed depends mainly on the city, the industry's approval requirements, and whether your business scope needs a permit beyond standard registration - food, medical and financial services commonly do. We confirm the realistic timeline before you commit to a registered capital figure or lease.
After Registration
Once the business licence is issued, we support the corporate bank account application, initial tax registration, and handover to accounting and payroll if you continue with us for ongoing compliance.
Related Services
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does China company registration actually take?
A WFOE typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from complete document submission to business licence issuance, assuming your business scope does not require an additional permit beyond standard registration. Joint ventures generally take longer because the shareholders' agreement is negotiated and registered alongside the incorporation filing.
What determines which city I should register in?
City choice affects registered capital norms, approval speed, available incentives, and proximity to your customers, suppliers or logistics network. Free trade zones in cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen offer faster processing and certain incentives for specific industries, but are not automatically the right choice for every business - the decision should follow your actual operating needs, not just processing speed.
Do I need a Chinese business partner to register a company in China?
No, not for most industries - a WFOE gives 100% foreign ownership with no local partner required. A local partner is only necessary in the specific restricted industries where China requires a joint venture structure, which is a defined and relatively short list rather than the general rule.
Can the business scope be changed after registration?
Yes, but it requires a formal amendment filing with SAMR, not an informal update - and depending on the new scope, it may also require additional licensing. Businesses that anticipate expanding their activity are often better served by drafting a broader initial scope than by planning to amend later, since the amendment process itself takes time.
What happens after the business licence is issued - is the company operational immediately?
Not quite - the business licence is the foundation, but you still need a corporate bank account, tax registration, and in most cases social insurance registration before the company can hire staff or transact normally. These post-registration steps typically add another few weeks and are where many new entities lose time if not planned alongside the incorporation itself.
