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Complete guide: entity types, registration, costs, taxes, labor laws, and break-even analysis
~94 days
Setup Time
~$50
Setup Cost
25%
Corporate Tax
100%
Foreign Ownership
#31
Ease of Business
| Entity | Min Capital | Foreign % | Liability | Min Shareholders | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE) ε€εη¬θ΅δΌδΈ | None | 100% | Limited | 1 | Most common for foreign investors β full control, no Chinese partner required |
Joint Venture (JV) δΈε€εθ΅δΌδΈ | None | 100% | Limited | 2 | Access to Chinese partner's network, licenses, and relationships |
Representative Office δ»£θ‘¨ε€ | None | 100% | Unlimited | 0 | Market research and liaison only β cannot generate revenue in China |
Pre-registration Name Approval
Apply at local Administration for Market Regulation (AMR)
1-5 days
Free
AMR
Apply for Business License
Submit articles of association, lease agreement, investor documents to local AMR
7-30 days
Free
AMR
Carve Company Chop (Seal)
Register official company seal with Public Security Bureau
1-3 days
~$50
PSB
Open Bank Accounts
Open RMB basic account and foreign currency capital account
7-21 days
Free
Bank
Tax Registration
Register with local tax bureau for VAT, CIT, and invoice system (fapiao)
3-14 days
Free
Tax Bureau
Register for Social Insurance
Register employees for 5 mandatory social insurances + housing fund
3-7 days
Free
Social Insurance Bureau
Foreign Exchange Registration
Register with SAFE for capital account and profit repatriation
3-14 days
Free
SAFE
$350/mo
Minimum Wage
$1200/mo
Average Wage
44 hrs/week
Work Hours
5 days/year
Paid Leave
4 weeks/year
Severance
30% of salary
Employer Social Security
10.5% of salary
Employee Social Security
Required
Foreign Worker Permit
Foreign Worker Quota: Work permit categorized A/B/C (talent tiers). Category A fast-tracked. Requires employer sponsorship.
#31/190
Ease of Business Rank
9 days
Starting a Business
9 days
Registering Property
496 days
Enforcing Contracts
45/100
Corruption Perception
73%
Internet Penetration
CNY
Currency
UTC+8
Time Zone
14
Retail (months)
10
F&B (months)
12
Tech (months)
20
Manufacturing (months)
10
Services (months)