What it costs, which structure, how it is taxed — and what running it takes
Six guides cover the questions we are asked before an engagement: what the setup costs, whether to use a WFOE, a joint venture or a representative office, how the company is taxed, how the bank account is opened, what employing staff really costs, and what has to be filed each year. Each answers its question in the first paragraph, then shows the working.
WFOE registration cost
A WFOE in Beijing costs RMB 16,800 in professional fees plus RMB 2,500–7,000 in official charges. The full 2026 breakdown, line by line.
6 min read
WFOE vs JV vs RO
A side-by-side comparison of the three China entry vehicles: ownership, liability, capital, tax, timeline and what each one is allowed to do.
7 min read
China tax rates 2026
Corporate income tax at 25%, 15% for HNTE, VAT at 13/9/6%, dividend withholding at 10% reducible to 5% — the rates that apply to a WFOE in 2026.
7 min read
Opening a bank account
A Chinese corporate account takes one to three weeks after the licence, and it is where most registrations stall. What the bank checks, and why files fail.
6 min read
Hiring and payroll
Employer contributions add 30–40% to gross salary in Beijing. The five social insurance items, IIT withholding, contracts and work permits.
7 min read
Annual compliance calendar
Monthly VAT, quarterly CIT, the 31 May reconciliation, the statutory audit and the 30 June annual report: every recurring filing a WFOE owes.
6 min read
43 terms, one page
WFOE, fapiao, registered capital, HNTE, SAFE — what each term on the licence, the bank form and the tax filing actually commits you to.
Next step
Talk to someone who has done this before
A 30-minute call in English, no obligation. We will tell you what your structure should look like, what it costs and how long it takes — including the parts other firms leave out.
