Questions foreign investors ask us
Straight answers on setting up and running a company in China, written and reviewed by Choi & Partners lawyers.
How long does it take to register a company in China?
A service or consulting WFOE usually takes 8–14 weeks from signed engagement to its first invoice. The business licence itself is typically issued in 2–4 weeks once documents are ready; most of the remaining time goes on apostilled documents, bank accounts and tax registration.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in China?
Yes. A foreign company or individual can own 100% of a Chinese company, called a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE), in most sectors. Only activities on the national Foreign Investment Negative List (29 items in the 2024 edition) are prohibited or require a Chinese partner.
Do I need to visit China to register a company?
Usually not. Documents are signed and apostilled in your home country and filed in China by your lawyers, and many banks verify the legal representative by video. A visit is only needed if your chosen bank insists on meeting the legal representative in person.
What is the minimum registered capital in China?
For most companies there is no statutory minimum registered capital. But under the revised Company Law, capital must be fully paid within five years, so the figure should match what you can actually fund. Banks and some licences also expect a credible amount.
WFOE or representative office: which do you need?
Choose a WFOE if you want to earn revenue in China, invoice customers, hire directly or hold IP. A representative office can only do liaison and market research, can't invoice and still pays tax, so most companies that expect to sell in China within a year go straight to a WFOE.
What does it cost to set up a company in China?
The cost of a WFOE has three parts: one-off setup fees (legal work, notarisation, chops, bank), registered capital that you fund over up to five years, and running costs such as office rent, payroll, accounting and the annual audit. We give a fixed written quote for the setup work.
Tell us what you need. A lawyer replies within one business day.
You'll receive a fixed written quote and a timeline. There's no sales call unless you ask for one.