The latest from China & Hong Kong

Protecting trademarks in mainland China starts before you sell. Learn how filings, classes, Chinese names, and monitoring reduce business risk at launch.

Quick answer: Registering a WFOE in China usually takes two to four months from the start of document preparation until the company can trade, invoice and pay staff. The business licence itself is often issued within a few weeks of filing. The longer steps are preparing authenticated documents abroad and opening the corporate bank account. Founders often hear that "a WFOE can be registered in China in a week". That refers to one step, the business licence. A company that can

Quick answer: Foreign shareholders registering a company in China must provide authenticated identity and corporate documents. Since 7 November 2023, when the Apostille Convention took effect in mainland China, documents from other member countries need only notarisation and an apostille (the Apostille China route), without consular legalisation. Documents from non-member countries still require legalisation, and Hong Kong documents follow a separate attestation route. Docume

This China Fapiao guide explains how invoices work, who can issue them, and how foreign businesses protect tax deductions and compliance in China today.

Quick answer: Holding a China WFOE through a Hong Kong holding company can reduce withholding tax on dividends from 10% to 5% under the Mainland–Hong Kong tax arrangement, and makes regional restructuring easier. The reduced rate only applies if the Hong Kong company is the genuine beneficial owner with real substance. Set up the Hong Kong company first, because it becomes the WFOE's shareholder. Many foreign groups put a Hong Kong company between the parent and the China WFO

Quick answer: The accounting cost for a WFOE in China is driven mainly by transaction volume, meaning the number of bank transactions, fapiao and expense claims each month. Other factors are VAT status, payroll headcount, cross-border payments and the reporting your head office needs. Annual work, such as the statutory audit and corporate income tax reconciliation, is usually priced separately. A clear quote should show both. Founders comparing China accounting quotes often f

Use this China registered capital guide to set a credible funding level, meet the five-year payment rule, and keep your mainland entity compliant now.

Quick answer: You can change your China accountant at any time, but the safest point is right after a month's tax filings are submitted, or after the annual audit and CIT reconciliation. A good handover transfers original accounting records, electronic tax bureau access, e-fapiao settings, bank tools and payroll data, and checks for open issues before the new firm files anything. Many foreign owners stay with an accountant they are unhappy with because they fear a missed fili

Quick answer: Setting up a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) in China involves three separate budgets: one-off setup costs, ongoing running costs, and registered capital. With Woodburn, the full first-year setup package for a limited company is CNY 22,600. Running costs such as office space, accounting, payroll, and the annual audit come on top, and registered capital is money you commit to the company, not a fee. Most founders ask "how much does a WFOE cost?" expecting

Our Hong Kong profit repatriation guide explains dividends, tax, banking, and compliance steps for overseas owners moving funds with confidence worldwide.

Understand China social insurance obligations, employer costs, enrollment deadlines, city-level rules, and payroll steps for compliant mainland China hiring.

Compare the best Hong Kong business structures for founders and foreign investors, including tax, liability, compliance, hiring, and expansion needs in Asia today.

Learn how to handle MPF enrollment in Hong Kong, from eligibility and deadlines to payroll setup, records, and practical steps for new employers clearly.

Tax compliance for Hong Kong and China businesses: understand filings, records, payroll taxes, audits, and the controls that keep operations on track.

Learn when is China audit required, which entities must file, key deadlines, and how to keep your mainland company compliant and ready for growth each year.

A practical China entity comparison for foreign investors: compare WFOEs, joint ventures, and representative offices before choosing a market-entry structure.

Compare a branch office vs representative office for Hong Kong and China expansion, including permitted activities, liability, tax, hiring, and compliance.

Jedes Unternehmen in China, einschließlich ausländisch investierter, unterliegt einem jährlichen Compliance-Zyklus, der anspruchsvoller ist, als viele Gründer erwarten. Es handelt sich nicht um eine einzelne Steuererklärung. Es ist eine Prüfung, ein Abgleich der jährlichen Körperschaftsteuer sowie eine Reihe jährlicher Meldungen – alles innerhalb eines festgelegten Zeitfensters zu Beginn des Jahres. Wird dieses Fenster verpasst, leidet der Rechtsstand des Unternehmens auf ein

Buchhaltungssoftware ist mittlerweile wirklich gut geworden, und es liegt nahe, zu schließen, dass ein kleines China-Unternehmen seine Finanzen allein mit einem Abonnement führen kann. Software erledigt die mechanischen Teile gut. Was sie nicht kann, ist Urteilsvermögen auszuüben, Verantwortung zu übernehmen oder im Namen des Unternehmens mit den Behörden zu verhandeln. Genau das ist es, was eine China-Finanzfunktion am meisten braucht, und deshalb bleibt ein bestellter Finan

Bevor eine Anzahlung an einen chinesischen Lieferanten überwiesen oder mit einem neuen Partner unterschrieben wird, lohnt sich eine grundlegende Prüfung, die nichts als Zeit kostet. China unterhält eine einzige offizielle, kostenlose und öffentliche Datenbank mit Unternehmensregistrierungsinformationen, bekannt unter der Abkürzung GSXT. Sie ist die maßgebliche Quelle, und jeder kommerzielle Abfragedienst greift letztlich auf sie zurück. Zu wissen, wie man sie liest – und was