WFOE
Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise — a limited liability company 100% owned by foreign investors.
Best for:
- Consulting & services
- Technology & SaaS
- Trading & e-commerce
- Invoicing, hiring, profit repatriation
Company formation
Start Your Business in China
Choose the right structure for your China business. We coordinate registration end-to-end — documents, authorities, license, chops and tax — with clear scope and transparent pricing.
Which Company Type Do You Need?
The right structure depends on your activity, ownership, whether you need to invoice Chinese customers, and whether you will hire locally.
Representative Office
A liaison entity for non-operational activities. Quick and inexpensive, but limited in scope.
Best for:
- Market research
- Liaison & promotion
- Brand presence
A representative office cannot sign sales contracts or earn revenue in China.
Learn More
Joint Venture
A company co-owned with a Chinese partner, used where a local partner or licence is required.
Best for:
- Restricted industries
- Access to local resources
- Shared investment & risk
WFOE vs Representative Office vs Joint Venture
| Capability | WFOE | Representative Office | Joint Venture |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% foreign ownership | Yes | Yes | No |
| Issue invoices (fapiao) & earn revenue | Yes | No | Yes |
| Hire employees directly | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Repatriate profits | Yes | No | Yes |
| Import / export rights | Yes | No | Yes |
| Setup speed & cost | Moderate | Fastest / lowest | Complex |
By industry
Trading, E-commerce & Manufacturing
Your business scope determines what your company may legally do. We help you define the right scope and obtain any additional registrations.
- Import & export rights registration
- Customs and e-port registration
- Trading and e-commerce business scope
- Manufacturing setup and approvals
- Special licences where required
Registration process
From Documents to Business License
1
Structure & name check
We confirm the right entity type and reserve your Chinese company name.
2
Documents & legalization
We prepare the paperwork and guide you on notarization and authentication.
3
Licence & registration filings
Submission to the market regulation and other authorities for your business license.
4
Chops, tax & bank
Company chops carved, tax registration completed and corporate bank account opened.
5
Ready to operate
You receive all documents and can begin invoicing, hiring and trading.
Not sure which structure fits your business?
Complete the free assessment and get a recommended setup plan, timeline and indicative cost.