Global setup · China
Company Registration in China
Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE) — full control of your China operations, from licence to bank account.
Professional fee
Fee on request
- Popular entity
- WFOE (foreign-invested LLC)
- Registrar
- Local Administration for Market Regulation
- Typical timeline
- 1–3 months
- Key officers
- Legal representative, director, supervisor
- Office
- Commercial lease required
- Corporate income tax
- 25% standard rate
Overview
Foreign investors typically enter China through a Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (a foreign-invested limited liability company), a joint venture or a representative office. Set-up involves business licence registration, company seals, bank accounts and tax registration, and depends on the city and the activity.
- Direct access to the Chinese market and supply chains
- Ability to invoice locally and repatriate profits
- Full management control with a WFOE
- Sourcing and quality-control presence near manufacturers
Entity options
Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE)
Full ownership and control; can invoice in RMB and hire locally.
Joint Venture
Partnership with a Chinese party — sometimes required for restricted sectors.
Representative Office
Liaison and market-research presence; cannot conduct direct profit-making business.
The process
- 1
Feasibility
Check the business scope against China’s foreign investment negative list.
- 2
Name & office
Name pre-approval and registered office lease.
- 3
Business licence
Registration with the market regulation authority and seal engraving.
- 4
Bank & tax
Bank accounts, tax registration and foreign exchange registration.
Documents required
- Investor’s certificate of incorporation / passport (notarised and legalised)
- Bank reference letter for the investor
- Lease agreement for the registered office in China
- Details of legal representative, director and supervisor
- Articles of association and business scope
After incorporation
- Annual report to the market regulator
- Annual statutory audit and corporate income tax filing
- Monthly / quarterly VAT and tax filings
- Capital contribution within the statutory period
- India: ODI annual reporting for Indian resident owners
India-side compliance
Investing from India? Stay FEMA-compliant.
Indian residents setting up or funding a foreign company must route the investment through an Authorised Dealer bank under the Overseas Investment framework under FEMA. We handle the ODI filings, valuation and annual reporting alongside the overseas incorporation, so both sides of the structure stay compliant.
- Eligibility review under FEMA overseas investment rules
- ODI filing through your AD bank and UIN allotment
- Valuation and pricing documentation where required
- Annual Performance Report and ongoing reporting
Information on this page is indicative and based on generally applicable rules. Requirements, fees and processing times vary by activity and change from time to time — we confirm the current position before you proceed.
FAQ
China incorporation questions.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our team usually replies within one working day.
A Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise is a limited liability company in China owned entirely by foreign investors. It can conduct business, issue local invoices and employ staff within its approved business scope.
Typically one to three months, depending on the city, the business scope and how quickly the office lease and legalised documents are ready.
There is generally no fixed statutory minimum for most sectors, but the subscribed capital should be realistic for the business and must be contributed within the period required under Chinese company law.
Ready to incorporate in China? We’ll take it from here.
Tell us what you need. We’ll confirm scope, timeline and a fixed fee — usually the same day.