ASEAN+ Business Gateway · Mainland China Market Entry

China Company Formation & WFOE Registration

Establish a foreign-invested limited liability company in Mainland China through one coordinated team. We review foreign-investment eligibility and business scope, arrange an eligible Shenzhen or Guangzhou address, coordinate registration and company seals, and support tax onboarding, accounting and the corporate bank-account application.

Information updated: 26 August 2026

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Mainland China WFOE company registration and compliance support

Overview

China Company Setup Built Around the Approved Business Scope

The ownership structure, registered capital, address, licences and operating timeline depend on what the company will actually do.

Foreign-Investment Screening

We review the proposed activity against the current Foreign Investment Negative List and sector-specific approvals before filing.

Registration to Operational Readiness

Company registration, seals, tax onboarding, invoice setup and bank onboarding are coordinated as separate but connected workstreams.

Capital & Compliance Planning

Registered capital is planned around the activity and operating budget, with contribution timing and recurring tax obligations identified from the outset.

Straightforward Business-Licence Stage
Approx. 10–20 Business Days
After complete documents and address acceptance; tax and banking follow separately
100%
Foreign-Owned Where the Activity Permits
4
Easy Steps

Registration Foundation

What a Mainland China WFOE Actually Requires

These requirements replace the Hong Kong-style secretary and annual business-registration concepts that do not generally apply to a Mainland limited liability company.

Legal Representative & Governance

The company must appoint a natural-person legal representative and establish the director, manager, supervisor or audit-committee arrangements required by its chosen governance structure.

Registered Address

An address accepted for company registration and the proposed activity is required. Virtual-office eligibility varies by city, district, activity and local authority practice.

Unified Business Licence & Company Seals

After approval, the company receives its business licence with unified social credit code and arranges the official seals used for corporate documents and transactions.

Investor Fit

Is a Mainland China WFOE the Right Entry Structure?

A WFOE is often the right operating vehicle where the activity permits full foreign ownership and the investor needs to contract, hire, invoice and pay tax locally.

Often Suitable For

  • Foreign investors conducting permitted commercial activities in Mainland China
  • Businesses that need local contracts, employees, invoicing and tax registration
  • Groups prepared to fund credible registered capital and maintain ongoing compliance
  • Companies whose business scope can be clearly defined and licensed

Requires Further Review When

  • The activity appears on the Foreign Investment Negative List
  • The model needs manufacturing, import/export, education, telecom, finance or another sector approval
  • The owners expect an address-only arrangement to satisfy operational substance
  • The project depends on a guaranteed bank account or an unrealistically short launch date

The Pricing

Mainland China WFOE Formation Packages

Both packages cover the company-registration foundation; the Complete Package adds first-year accounting and tax-filing support within the agreed transaction scope.

Essential WFOE Setup

For founders who need company registration, an eligible address and corporate bank-account application support.

THB 95,500
total package fee
Get Started Discuss Essential Setup

What's included:

Incorporation
  • Company name declaration, registration application, government filing coordination and official company seals
Documents
  • Unified Business Licence, Articles of Association and agreed statutory registration documents
Virtual Office
  • 1 year eligible address service in Shenzhen or Guangzhou, subject to activity and local approval
Banking
  • Bank application-document preparation, appointment coordination and opening assistance; bank approval is not guaranteed

Complete WFOE Setup

For founders who want company registration, address and banking support plus first-year accounting and tax compliance.

THB 130,500
total package fee
Get Started Discuss Complete Setup

What's included:

Incorporation
  • Company name declaration, registration application, government filing coordination and official company seals
Documents
  • Unified Business Licence, Articles of Association and agreed statutory registration documents
Virtual Office
  • 1 year eligible address service in Shenzhen or Guangzhou, subject to activity and local approval
Banking
  • Bank application-document preparation, appointment coordination and opening assistance; bank approval is not guaranteed
Accounting
  • 1 year accounting and applicable tax filing within the agreed transaction and taxpayer scope

China Company Incorporation brochure

Download the Mainland China company formation brochure (PDF) for the detailed scope, assumptions and document checklist.

Legal Requirements

Core Requirements for a Mainland China Foreign-Invested LLC

Final requirements depend on the proposed activity, city, shareholder type, sector approvals and the company's governance structure.

Shareholders

At least 1 shareholder

An eligible foreign individual or corporate entity may hold the company, subject to the Negative List and sector rules.

Governance Structure

Director or board arrangements must follow the current Company Law and the adopted Articles of Association.

The company also appoints a natural-person legal representative and any required manager, supervisor or audit committee.

Registered Capital

There is no single general minimum for every ordinary LLC. Capital should credibly cover the approved activity, staffing, rent, tax and operating plan.

For a newly formed LLC, subscribed capital is generally due within five years after establishment, subject to sector-specific rules and the Articles.

Legal Representative

A natural person authorized by the Articles to represent the company externally. The role carries significant authority and responsibility and should not be treated as a nominal appointment.

Business Scope & Licences

The registered business scope must match the actual operating model. Restricted or regulated activities may need foreign-investment clearance or sector permits before operation.

Bank KYC & Signatories

Each bank determines who must attend, which signatories it accepts, and what address, source-of-funds and commercial evidence is required. Application support does not guarantee account approval.

Ongoing Compliance

China Accounting, Tax Filing & Annual Compliance

Filing frequency and taxes depend on the taxpayer classification, transactions, employees, invoice activity and local tax-bureau requirements.

Periodic Tax Filing

Companies must maintain Chinese accounting records and submit the VAT, surcharges, withholding, payroll and enterprise-income-tax filings applicable to their taxpayer status. Some returns may be monthly or quarterly, including during periods with no taxable revenue.

Service fee starts from THB 6,500 per month

Applicable for companies with monthly revenue below RMB 450,000

Ask about Accounting Support

Corporate Income Tax

Tax is calculated based on a company’s net profits after allowable expenses. Certain qualified enterprises (e.g. high-tech companies or encouraged industries) may enjoy reduced rates or tax incentives, subject to approval and compliance requirements.

Standard corporate income tax rate 25%
Ask about Accounting Support

FAQ

China Company Setup FAQs

Key information for foreign investors establishing a company in China (WFOE).

Many activities permit a wholly foreign-owned limited liability company, commonly called a WFOE. The permitted ownership and approval route depend on China's current Foreign Investment Negative List and sector-specific regulation. Eligibility should be confirmed before incorporation.

A Chinese shareholder is not generally required for activities open to full foreign ownership. Restricted activities may impose an ownership cap, require a joint venture or prohibit foreign investment.

A straightforward foreign-invested LLC generally needs at least one eligible shareholder, an approved name and business scope, Articles of Association, a natural-person legal representative, the governance roles required by its structure, credible registered capital and an address accepted for the proposed activity. Regulated activities may require additional approvals.

The legal representative is a natural person authorized under the Articles and registered to represent the company externally. The person may be the qualifying director or manager specified by the company's governance structure and carries significant legal responsibility.

Yes. Shareholders may be individuals or corporate entities (local or foreign).

Much of the preparation and registration work can often be coordinated remotely, subject to document notarization, legalization and authority requirements. Bank onboarding is separate: the legal representative, beneficial owner or signatory may need to attend in person depending on the bank.

A straightforward business-licence stage may take approximately 10–20 business days after the activity, name, address and shareholder documents are accepted. Company seals, tax onboarding, invoice capability, foreign-exchange procedures and bank onboarding are separate stages and extend the operational timeline.

The company will receive a Business License, Articles of Association, and official registration documents.

Yes. Companies may only operate within their approved business scope as registered with the authorities.

There is no single general minimum for every ordinary limited liability company, but the registered capital must be credible for the company's activities and costs. Under the current Company Law, shareholders of a newly formed LLC generally must complete subscribed contributions within five years after establishment, subject to sector-specific rules.

Possibly. Each bank sets its own KYC and interview rules. The legal representative, beneficial owner or authorized signatory may need to attend and provide business contracts, source-of-funds records, address evidence and expected transaction details. Account approval is not guaranteed.

The standard Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate is 25%.

Yes. Dividends paid to foreign shareholders are generally subject to 10% withholding tax, subject to applicable tax treaty reductions.

Bookkeeping is required, while filing frequency depends on the company's taxpayer classification and applicable taxes. VAT, surcharges, withholding, payroll and enterprise-income-tax filings may be monthly or quarterly, including zero filings where required.

Companies generally complete annual enterprise-income-tax reconciliation and annual corporate reporting and maintain financial statements and accounting records. Whether an external statutory audit is required depends on applicable law, sector, local practice, shareholder requirements and other filings.

A Hong Kong-style corporate secretary is not a general statutory requirement for a Mainland China limited liability company. The company instead needs the governance roles required by its structure, including a legal representative and the applicable director, manager, supervisor or audit-committee arrangements.

Official Mainland China Sources & Important Qualification

Our guidance is informed by the official Foreign Investment Negative List, the State Council's registered-capital implementation rules, market-regulation guidance on foreign-invested company registration, and the State Taxation Administration's enterprise-income-tax guidance.

Information on this page is general and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration or investment advice. Foreign-investment eligibility, company registration, tax treatment and bank accounts remain subject to the relevant authority's or institution's review.

Confirm Your China WFOE Route Before Filing

Tell us your proposed activities, customers, shareholder structure, target city, office needs, registered-capital plan and expected banking transactions. We will map the likely ownership position, business scope, documents, approvals and key risks.

Our multilingual team speaks: English, Chinese, Russian, Burmese, Thai, Tagalog, Bahasa, and Kazakh.

Request a China Setup Review WhatsApp Us @usth
UnionSPACE multilingual Mainland China company formation team

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