China flag China: Operating a Business in China

Starting a business in China

Legal Forms of Companies

Wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE)
Number of partners: One juridical person or one or more shareholders.
Entity owned 100% by foreign interests that have the same rights as a local company.
Capital (max/min): Minimum varies according to the sector of activity.
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of contributions.
Equity Joint Venture (EJV)
Number of partners: Minimum of one Chinese entity and minimum one foreign entity.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required, but at least 25% must originate from foreign investors.
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of contributions.
Co-operative Joint Ventures (CJV)
Number of partners: Minimum of two partners: one Chinese entity and one foreign entity.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of contributions.
Foreign Investment Joint Stock Company (JSC)
Number of partners: Minimum two partners.
Capital (max/min): Minimum capital needed: CNY 5 million if domestic capital, CNY 30 million if foreign capital.
Shareholders and liability: Each shareholder contributes the same amount to the share capital and is linked to the company by its share of the share capital.
Holding
Number of partners: Minimum one  partner.
Capital (max/min): Minimum capital USD 30 million.
Shareholders and liability: Each shareholder contributes the same amount to the share capital and is linked to the company by its share of the share capital.
 

Business Setup Procedures

Setting Up a Company China East Asia & Pacific
Procedures (number) 4.0 7.3
Time (days) 8.5 29.7

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

 
The Competent Organisation
Ministry of Commerce
For Further Information
Doing Business: China, to learn about procedures to start a business in China
 

Financial Information Directories

Dun & Bradstreet - Worldwide directory with financial information on businesses

Kompass China - Business directory for China

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Latest Update: July 2024