What it is
The business scope (经营范围) is printed on your business licence and defines what the company is allowed to do. Since the 2022 business registration rules, scope items are chosen from a standardised national catalogue rather than written freely.
Why it matters
- Invoicing: the tax system expects your fapiao to match activities in your scope.
- Banking and customs: banks and customs check transactions against it.
- Licences: some items are “licensed activities” that need a permit after registration, such as food sales, medical devices or value-added telecom services.
- Enforcement: operating clearly outside the scope can lead to fines.
Choosing a scope
- List what the company will actually do in the next two to three years.
- Map each activity to the catalogue wording.
- Flag licensed items and check the Negative List.
- Avoid padding the scope: unnecessary licensed items can slow registration.
Changing it later
A scope can be amended by shareholder resolution and a filing with SAMR. It’s routine, but it takes time, so it’s better to get it right at the start. We plan the scope as part of every WFOE registration.
Reviewed by Choi & Partners · 3 October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.