Market Entry
Company Registration
Registering a company is an operating commitment, not an administrative starting point. Foreign investors need to confirm why a local entity is required, which activities it must perform, and whether the proposed scope, capital, location and governance will support the business after the licence is issued.
China Company Setup Decision Framework
01
Confirm the need for a local entity
Identify the contracts, invoicing, employment, import, service or customer obligations that cannot be handled through the current structure. Registration should solve a defined operating requirement.
Required evidence: Local activities / Counterparties / Staffing / Revenue model
02
Choose the appropriate structure
Compare WFOE, joint venture, representative office and non-entity routes against ownership, permitted activity, governance, cost and future flexibility. Eliminate structures that cannot support the intended business.
Decision criteria: Control / Scope / Liability / Ongoing obligations
From Operating Need to Entity Design
03
Design the entity for operations
Align business scope, registered address, capital, governance and sector approvals with the commercial plan. Decisions made during registration should not create avoidable constraints when the company begins trading.
Design inputs: Scope / Location / Funding / Licences
04
Plan post-registration activation
Assign owners and dates for banking, tax, accounting, payroll, employment, contracts and internal authority. A business licence is the start of the operating setup, not the completion of it.
Activation controls: Banking / Tax / Finance / First operations
From Registration to Operating Readiness
Guide
Step-by-step guidance on entity selection, registration requirements, filing sequence and the transition from approval to operating status.
Comparison
Side-by-side analysis of WFOE, joint venture, representative office and non-entity routes, including ownership, permitted activity, cost and control.
Review
Readiness reviews covering business scope, address, capital, governance, licences, document preparation and the ability to operate after registration.
FAQ
Direct answers on ownership, shareholders, directors, capital, timing, registered address, bank accounts, staffing and remote preparation.
Resources
Official references, document lists and internal checklists for entity design, filing preparation and post-registration activation.
Tool
Decision aids for testing entity fit, estimating setup requirements and mapping dependencies from application through operational readiness.
Case
Company setup cases showing how foreign investors matched entity structure, scope, location and governance to a specific operating model.
News
Company law, registration and foreign investment developments that may change filing requirements or the administration of an existing entity.
How to Use the Company Registration Hub
Begin with Guide to understand the sequence. Use Comparison and Review before approving the entity design, then consult FAQ and Resources while preparing the filing. Tool and Case support the internal setup plan; News is used to confirm current rules.