FIC
Foreign-invested company
A common route for foreign shareholders who need a formal China company structure for operations, contracting, hiring, invoicing or local market activity, subject to scope and local requirements.
China Market Entry
China Company Registration & Market-Entry Support
Structured guidance for entrepreneurs, importers, sourcing businesses and international clients who want to understand the practical route for setting up a company presence in China.
Plan the structure before you register.
China company setup depends on business scope, shareholder structure, location, licensing, address arrangements and post-registration compliance. Euro Nexus helps you organise the process before you commit time and money.
Overview
Company registration in China needs a practical market-entry plan.
A China company is not just a certificate. The structure must make commercial sense for your activity, whether you are planning sourcing operations, trading activity, supplier coordination, consulting, local sales, representative activity or a longer-term China presence.
Our role is to help you understand the available route, prepare the right information, coordinate with suitable local partners where required and move forward with a clear, realistic plan.
Best suited for
- Importers and sourcing businesses working regularly with Chinese suppliers
- Entrepreneurs planning China market entry or supplier-side operations
- International clients exploring a local commercial presence
- Businesses needing guidance before appointing local agents or partners
Setup routes
Common structures clients usually need to compare.
The right route depends on your commercial objective, industry, investment plan, required licences and whether you need a full operating company or a lighter representative route.
JV
Joint venture route
Suitable where a local partner is commercially or legally important. This route needs careful planning around ownership, control, responsibilities and exit terms.
RO
Representative office
May be relevant for liaison, research or representation activity, but it is not the same as a full operating trading company and has important limitations.
HK
Hong Kong / China planning
Some clients may need to consider whether a Hong Kong structure, mainland China company or combined route is more suitable for trade, sourcing or regional expansion.
TRD
Trading or sourcing setup
Useful for businesses that need clearer supplier coordination, purchasing support, product development or China-side operational arrangements.
MKT
Market-entry assessment
Before registration, we help assess whether your business model, product category, documents, budget and timeline are suitable for the proposed setup route.
Scope of support
How Euro Nexus can support your China registration journey.
Support can be kept at consultation level or expanded into structured coordination depending on the client's objective and required local execution.
01
Initial route assessment
We discuss your business activity, target city, ownership structure, expected operations and whether registration is commercially sensible at this stage.
02
Business scope planning
We help you understand why the proposed business scope matters and how it affects registration, licensing, banking, tax and operational flexibility.
03
Document checklist guidance
We provide a practical checklist of the information and documents usually required, including shareholder details, identity documents and corporate information where applicable.
04
Name and address coordination
We guide you on company name planning and registered-address requirements, then coordinate next steps with suitable local support where needed.
05
Local partner coordination
Where specialist execution is required, we can coordinate with local registration, accounting, translation or compliance partners for the relevant stage.
06
Post-registration roadmap
We help you understand the practical steps after registration, such as bank account preparation, tax/accounting setup, official seals/chops and ongoing compliance planning.
Information needed
Prepare these details before starting.
Business details
- Proposed business activity and target industry
- Preferred setup city or province, if known
- Expected customers, suppliers and commercial model
- Estimated investment, operating budget and timeline
- Whether you need trading, consulting, sourcing, importing or local sales activity
Applicant details
- Shareholder details and ownership structure
- Director, legal representative and key contact details
- Passport/ID or corporate shareholder documents
- Registered address plan or address support requirement
- Any local partner, employee, supplier or office arrangement already in place
Important: Requirements can vary by city, business scope, industry, shareholder type and local authority process. Some documents may need notarisation, legalisation, translation or local professional review before submission.
Process
A structured route from feasibility review to setup coordination.
Each case is different, but the process below gives clients a practical view of how a China company setup project can be organised.
Discovery call
We understand your business model, target activity, timeline, budget and why you need a China presence.
Route assessment
We compare possible setup routes and highlight practical issues before you commit to registration.
Scope planning
We help organise the proposed business scope, company purpose and operational assumptions.
Document checklist
We prepare a clear checklist for shareholder, identity, address and corporate information.
Local coordination
Where needed, we coordinate with suitable local partners for registration, translation or execution steps.
Submission stage
Registration details are prepared and progressed through the relevant local route, subject to review and acceptance.
Post-registration
We explain next steps such as bank preparation, tax registration, company seals/chops and compliance planning.
Ongoing support
We can continue supporting sourcing, documentation, supplier coordination or wider business setup needs.
Key considerations
Important points before registering a company in China.
Good planning at the beginning can reduce avoidable delays, mismatched expectations and post-registration problems.
Business scope
Your company scope should match the real activity you intend to carry out. A vague or unsuitable scope can create problems later.
Registered address
A compliant address route is usually required. The right arrangement depends on location, activity and local acceptance.
Licensing
Some sectors may need additional approvals, permits or qualification checks before or after registration.
Banking and tax
Registration is only one stage. Bank account preparation, tax/accounting setup and compliance planning must be considered early.
Company seals/chops
China business operations often involve official company seals. Clients should understand their importance and control arrangements.
Hiring and visas
If you plan to employ staff or relocate personnel, work authorisation and HR/tax implications should be reviewed separately.
Service options
Choose the level of support that matches your stage.
If you are unsure whether China registration is the right move, start with a consultation. If your route is clearer, we can discuss coordination support and local execution requirements.
Consultation
Best for clients who need to understand options before committing to a China company setup.
- Business model review
- Initial structure discussion
- Document checklist overview
- Practical next-step guidance
Custom Quote
Best for clients who are ready to prepare details and coordinate the registration route with local support.
- Route and scope planning
- Document preparation guidance
- Local partner coordination
- Progress and next-step support
Project-Based
Best for businesses needing wider China market-entry support alongside company setup planning.
- Registration coordination support
- Sourcing and supplier-side planning
- Address, banking and compliance roadmap
- Ongoing business setup guidance
Government fees, local partner charges, translation, notarisation/legalisation, address costs, accounting, tax, bank, licence and third-party charges are separate and should be confirmed for each case before proceeding.
FAQs
Common questions
Can foreigners register a company in China?
Foreign investors may be able to set up a China company depending on the business activity, industry restrictions, shareholder structure, location and required approvals. The route must be checked case by case.
Do I need to travel to China?
Some stages may be handled through documents and local coordination, but requirements vary by city, bank, document type and local process. We assess this before advising the route.
How long does China company registration take?
Timelines vary depending on company type, city, business scope, document preparation, notarisation/legalisation needs and local authority processing. A realistic timeline should be confirmed after reviewing your case.
Do I need a physical office or registered address?
Usually a registered-address arrangement is required, but the acceptable route depends on the local rules, business activity and chosen structure.
Can Euro Nexus guarantee registration approval?
No. We provide guidance, preparation and coordination support. Final acceptance, registration, bank opening, licensing and regulatory outcomes depend on third parties and relevant authorities.
Can you also help with sourcing after company setup?
Yes. Euro Nexus can support supplier research, product sourcing, sample coordination and freight-forwarding arrangements as a separate or connected service.