Foreign-invested company
Start with the proposed activity and the applicable foreign-investment access rules. The business scope must be defined for the registration and any required permissions.
Mainland China establishment
Company formation in China
Enter mainland China with the activity, ownership and operating location considered together. We help organise the establishment brief, corporate documentation and cross-border requirements before the registration process.
Your establishment options
Start with the right structure.
The route depends on your activity, ownership and operating plans. These are the decisions to resolve before the application.
Business scope & location
Choose the operating location and registered scope together. The Shanghai registration guidance distinguishes general business activities from activities requiring licences or prior approvals.
Corporate documentation
Prepare investor identity or incorporation evidence, the company’s governance documents and the required application material. Local requirements and the specific structure determine the final checklist.
Local establishment essentials
Know what comes next.
The exact document list follows the selected entity, owners and activity. Your adviser will confirm the requirements for your case.
- Check the proposed activity against foreign-investment access restrictions.
- Define the registered business scope and any prior approvals.
- Prepare the investors’ documentation and company governance arrangements.
- Plan registration, tax, banking and operating requirements for the selected location.
After incorporation
Plan for the years ahead.
Foreign-invested enterprises have annual reporting obligations in China. Shanghai's official guidance also covers domestic investment information reports. Assign responsibility for the applicable submissions and keep the registration information aligned with the business's actual activity and location.
From decision to establishment
A clear path to your next company.
The scope is agreed before the work begins. You can see what is included, who is responsible and what information is needed.
01
Define your requirements
We review the activity, owners, operating markets and practical requirements. Where the destination is undecided, the brief starts with comparing options.
02
Review your proposal
Your proposal sets out the chosen route, work involved, professional fees and external costs. Timing is assessed against the actual application and dependencies.
03
Establish & prepare to operate
Following agreement, the incorporation work and supporting steps are coordinated. Banking, visas and sector permissions follow their own assessment and approval processes.
Beyond incorporation
Bring the decisions together.
Select the support your business needs. The agreed scope may combine formation with corporate structuring, tax advice, banking preparation and relocation planning.
01 / Structure
Ownership & governance
Clarify shareholders, decision-making and the relationship with your wider group.
02 / TaxInternational tax advisory
Our own tax team considers the cross-border position, treaty questions and transfer pricing relevant to your brief.
03 / BankingCorporate banking support
Prepare the business profile, ownership information and account-opening requirements for bank review.
04 / PeopleVisas & personal residency
Coordinate immigration and personal tax-residency questions separately from the company’s registration.
Costs & timing
One proposal.
Your actual requirements.
Every case is quoted individually. The activity, ownership, location, premises and additional services determine the work and cost.
Professional work
The advisory, preparation and coordination included in your engagement.
External charges
Authority, notarial, registry, workspace and third-party costs, as applicable.
Time & dependencies
The document readiness, authority reviews and separate banking or immigration steps that influence delivery.
Your questions
Before you begin.
Why does the registered business scope matter?
The scope records the activities the company will undertake. Official Shanghai guidance requires foreign investors to check access restrictions and distinguishes general activities from licensed activities. The intended business comes before the filing.
How much will my company setup cost?
We quote each case individually after reviewing the proposed activity, owners and required support. Your proposal separates professional fees from authority and third-party charges.
Can formation, banking and visas be handled together?
They can be coordinated within an agreed scope where applicable. Each follows its own requirements, and the relevant authority or bank makes the approval decision.
Your next step
Let’s plan your establishment.
Tell us your business activity, intended markets, ownership and any visa or banking needs. We will define the scope and prepare an individual proposal.
A short outline is enough to begin. Please do not email passports or bank documents at this stage.
Official incorporation references
Source material checked: 24 October 2026. General establishment information; requirements are confirmed for the individual case.
Photograph & credit
King of Hearts · Pudong Shanghai November 2017 panorama.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photograph displayed with a responsive crop.