How Much Does it Cost to Start a Business in China?

With low manufacturing costs, developed infrastructure, a motivated workforce and billions of potential customers in the area, China is a popular destination for international expansion. International investors are buoyed by moves such as the decision to further open up financial markets to global investment. 

However, many businesses are unsure how to open a company in China and deal with the associated bureaucracy and costs.  

In this guide we break down step by step the process for opening a company in China, and answer the question ‘how much does it cost to open a company in China?’.

Types of Business in China

In China, there are several different types of business structure which may be appropriate, depending on the specific needs of the expanding enteprise. We consider the key forms below:

Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise

A wholly foreign-owned enterprise, or WFOE, or WOFE, is a limited liability company. This type of entity is allowed to engage in profit-generating activities and hire local and foreign employees. This business structure is further divided into different categories including consulting, trading and manufacturing.

This business type requires various involved individuals, including an investor, director, supervisor and legal representative. Additionally, this type of entity must have a registered company address and you must establish the business scope.

There are generally three categories of foreign companies in China:

• manufacturing
• trading
• consulting

You must establish which type of business activity will be your primary business source. While Chinese legal authorities allow some deviation from this primary scope of work, a company would need to reapply for their WFOE if they change the focus of their company.

For companies that want to have a significant impact in China, the wholly foreign-owned enterprise is a popular option. Wholly foreign-owned enterprises realize many advantages over other business structures.

Some of the most important advantages for investors include;

• Greater control over intellectual property
• They can retain all of their profits
• They can legally transfer profits outside the country in US dollars
• They are not required to have a business relationship with an existing Chinese partner like some other business structures in China
• They can also provide customers with fapiao

WFOEs in China are required to pay tax and social insurance payments like most Chinese businesses.

Note that as of 1 January 2021, the WFOE has been replaced by the broader category of a Foreign-Invested Enterprise (FIE) for new companies in China. This covers both partially and wholly-foreign owned companies in China. 

Learn more about FIEs at What is a Foreign-Invested Enterprise (FIE)? 

Joint Venture

A joint venture is a common enterprise between a local and foreign entity. This allows you to form a valuable partnership with an existing business in China.

This option has advantages, including:

• Local contacts. Being able to benefit from the business’ local contacts and expertise
• Mitigating risk. The local and foreign entities split the profits and losses and co-manage the Chinese entity.

Establishing a joint venture may require you to draft several documents, including;

• a capital increase agreement
• shareholders’ agreement
• registration documents.

Sales Office

A sales office rents a local location in China to conduct business. This option provides greater flexibility and does not require the registration of a separate legal entity. The headquarter company handles all expenses and invoices. An employer of record manages the legal aspects of the business and payroll.

This option is ideal for companies that want to expand to China with minimal legal, tax or human resources burdens. Having a sales office also helps launch a business in China faster than other options. The employer of record takes on the risk of having a local workforce.

Representative Office

A representative office allows a foreign business to hire staff in China through a distinct legal entity to represent the company. This option is used for businesses that want to promote their brand or products, perform market research, conduct marketing activities or conduct business meetings.

However, this option does not allow businesses to perform direct business activities in China. The parent company must perform those activities abroad. Additionally, the representative office cannot make local profits on behalf of its foreign parent company.

Companies can hire local staff through their own subsidiary. This business model blends harmoniously with using PEO services, which uses a local business to staff workers and handle administrative and payroll issues.

Capital Investment in Business

The investment that will be necessary depends largely on the type of business that will be opened.

There is no investment required for a sales office. The business owner only needs to be able to pay for the cost of their office space and their employees. Likewise, there is no investment required of a representative office. A joint venture’s required investment will be designated by the agreement between the two companies. A WFOE will require a capital investment.

Minimum Capital Requirements for a WFOE

The Chinese government has eliminated previous regulations on the amount of starting capital and registered capital needed for the WFOE incorporation for foreign investors.

This has occurred because the government would like to motivate foreign businesses to set up in China, and wants to create a level playing field between local and foreign entities.

However, we advise foreign investors to declare a registered capital of at least 1,000,000 RMB when registering the WFOE (this amount is subject to the business activity and district for incorporation). Such an amount ensures a smoother process to obtain the certificate of registration.

It must be noted, however, that the declared capital doesn’t need to be injected into the WOFE upon registration or at once. This capital represents the amount of funds that the WOFE expects to generate in a period of 29 years.

The foreign business can use the registered capital to cover the operating costs of the newly established WFOE’s activities, as payment of the salaries, rental fees, product purchases, etc.

Local governments may tie a variety of things to a company’s minimum capital. For example, some local governments do not permit WFOEs that have low minimum capital to sponsor temporary residence permits.

Additionally, the amount of registered capital may dictate how many foreign employees the WFOE is allowed to employ. Future branch offices may be denied if the registered capital is too low.

Calculating the registered capital for the WFOE can help the business better leverage its finances to acquire the support it needs and to avoid expensive problems in the future that are based on the company’s registered capital.

The registered capital is deposited into a Chinese bank. However, these funds are not frozen. The foreign business can use the funds to manage their business operations.

Therefore, it is important to have more in an investment than just the minimum required investment. This is simply the lowest amount possible you will need to initially fund your business.

Determining an Appropriate Amount of Capital to Invest in the Business

The minimum amount of capital investment the Chinese government requires should be different than the minimum amount of capital that your business really needs.

Foreign businesses need approval for their registered capital amount. Additionally, this amount can impact their tax liability. Businesses that receive funds as anything other than registered capital will be taxed on this amount.

Applying to have the registered capital increased may be an option, but it is often a time-consuming process. In addition to regulatory problems, miscalculating capital needs can place a business in a precarious position because it may not have sufficient funds to operate, which can result in the closure of the business.

It is important that businesses calculate their real needs for their initial investment. To determine an appropriate initial capital investment, it is important to seek professional services to provide counsel and guidance during the registration process.

Non-Capital Cost of Setting up a Company in China

Aside from the capital investment costs, how much does it cost to open a company in China, if one is just considering operational expenses? 

The recommended steps for setting up a company are: 

• Assess which legal structure is appropriate for the enterprise in China; 
• Gather and submit documents showing that the foreign company is duly formed, and that the investor has the power to act in the name of the company; 
• Develop articles of incorporation or equivalent; 
• Apply for a business license;
• Supply to the authorities a bank letter attesting to the company’s accounts; 
• Supply to the authorities a description of planned business activities, including relevant documentation such as annual reports and web materials; 
• Formally register with various government agencies. 

Options for Determining Initial Capital Investment in China

The amount of investment that is necessary to set up a business in China also depends on who the business chooses to use to help with the registration process. Foreign businesses usually use one of the following options for determining the amount of their initial capital investment:

International Law Firm

Large international law firms may provide competent and timely advice. They may have staff fluent in other languages and may act in a professional manner. Using this option is often safe because these professionals should know what they are doing. They may have participated in this process for many businesses over several decades.

The major disadvantage of this option is that businesses may have to pay much more to set up the business. Many smaller businesses or startups are not able to afford these hefty prices.

Additionally, experienced firms may have many clients at a time and may not be as communicative with business clients, meaning clients are not updated about the progress of the process. For business owners, it is often difficult to delegate such an important task to someone else.

Local China Business Services Provider

Another option is to use a local China business services provider, which specializes in providing business services to foreign companies.

These companies provide similar services as international law firms, but at prices that are much more affordable for the average business. These providers can work with small companies, startups and global companies that are looking to expand into a new region.

Additionally, these types of businesses often have their own working relationships with international lawyers, so customers benefit from this connection without having to directly pay for their fees.

These providers rely on strong reputations in the local community and serve as experts. They provide hands-on representation and have experience with local government and tax agencies.

A local China business services provider will know the requirements of your area. They know that it is critical to determine accurate figures related to capital investments and will work closely with clients to determine this budget. These providers also grant you peace of mind of knowing that you are working with a knowledgeable professional.

Sole Trading China Business Services Provider

In some situations, former staff members who worked at local mid-sized China business services providers may decide to open their own companies. They may offer rates at 10,000 RMB below so that they are lower than the traditional market rate for these services.

However, using one of these services is a tremendous risk. The former worker may not have the same expertise as the business leader and may not know how to operate their own business.

They may make mistakes in the incorporation process, which may cost the business valuable time and money. These mistakes can also negatively impact the relationship between business and local government authorities. They may not be able to effectively manage their time and may not be able to provide personalized attention to every client.

DIY

Because many startups do not have a lot of capital, they may try to cut corners by performing much of the work themselves. There is nothing in Chinese law that prohibits a company from handling the registration process itself.

This option is more affordable and may cost 10,000 RMB or less. However, the risk is very high.

Foreign business owners may not be familiar with the various regulations and laws regarding the operation of a business in China. They may break the law unknowingly, which may subject them to substantial liability. They may not speak the language and may not be able to speak with local government officials. They may not know what documents to submit or where to submit them. They will have to negotiate all of their own contracts with vendors and employees.

Performing the registration process yourself may cause many unintended consequences. Your reputation may suffer with local government authorities.

The launch of your business may be delayed because you failed to complete a necessary step along the way. You may have to pay extra costs to re-apply or re-submit the information