FAQ FOR FOREIGN FOUNDERS
Clear Answers Before You Register
Start with the questions that change your next decision: company structure, address, work permit, bank account, trade and ongoing compliance.
No false shortcuts. Just the practical questions to settle first.
START HERE — Which situation sounds most like yours?
I AM OUTSIDE CHINA
Remote setup
Plan documents, address and the steps that may need a trip.
Start here I AM GRADUATING SOONStudent work-permit plan
Separate company registration from the work-permit timeline.
Start here I NEED TO TRADE GOODSImport-export setup
Check the company, bank, Customs and tax sequence first.
Start here I ALREADY HAVE A COMPANYCompliance review
Review filings, records, address and banking before a problem grows.
Start here01 — START HERE
Before You Register
Start with the commercial reason for the company. A company is useful when it supports a real business plan, not simply because registration looks quick.
Not always. A China company can make sense when you need local contracts, invoices, staff, supplier control or a long-term operating base. If you are only testing demand, working through a suitable partner or taking a job, another route may fit better. Decide from the business model first.
For many ordinary business activities, a foreign investor can consider a wholly foreign-owned company. The proposed business scope still needs to be checked against the current foreign-investment negative list, product restrictions and any industry-specific licences.
Do not make that assumption. Company registration and work-permit approval are separate processes. A company may be one part of an employer and business-substance plan, but the authority still assesses the applicant, role, documents and company situation.
Confirm the activity, owners, capital plan, company scope, address, expected payments, bank needs, first-year compliance budget and any work-permit or trade plan. A short assessment at this stage can prevent an expensive change later.
02 — REGISTRATION & ADDRESS
Structure, Documents and Location
Registration can be straightforward after the correct documents and decisions are ready. Most avoidable delays begin with the wrong address, missing document steps or an unrealistic capital plan.
The registration service is only one part of the budget. Your first-year cost can also include the registered address, document translation or authentication, bank preparation, bookkeeping, tax filings, annual reporting and business-specific items such as import-export setup. Ask for one-time, recurring, optional and third-party costs separately.
Much of the planning, document preparation and filing coordination can happen while you are overseas. This does not mean every step is fully remote. A bank, identity check or original-document review may still require the founder or legal representative to take action in person.
Some registered-address services can be used when they fit the business activity and local rules. But the address must be genuine, able to receive official correspondence and suitable for the business scope and later bank review. Do not choose an address from price alone.
Choose a realistic amount that fits the plan and that shareholders can genuinely contribute. Registered capital is a commitment, not a decoration. For a new limited company, shareholders generally need to contribute their subscribed capital within five years, subject to the applicable rules and specific circumstances.
03 — WORK PERMIT & RESIDENCE
Work-Permit Questions Founders Ask
The most important point is simple: a business licence does not automatically lead to a work permit. Check the full story before you commit to a structure or a deadline.
It can be possible in an appropriate case, but it is not automatic. The company needs a credible employer and role, and the applicant still needs to meet the relevant work-permit requirements. Registration, company operations and the work-permit file should be planned as one project without treating any approval as guaranteed.
Some graduates have a real plan to build a business, but timing is critical. The company address, personal residence documents, work history where relevant, translations and later work-permit steps need planning before an existing visa is close to expiry. A company by itself does not create a right to stay or work.
Prepare a factual file rather than a made-up employment letter. Depending on the situation, company records, ownership or director information, tax or business records, contracts and a clear description of the work can help explain what you actually did. What can be accepted depends on the application and authority review.
Common mistakes include registering first and checking eligibility later, choosing a job title that does not match the business, using documents that cannot be verified, and leaving too little time before a visa deadline. A realistic assessment should identify these issues before money is spent.
04 — BANKING, TRADE & TAX
Before Your First Payment or Shipment
A company can have a licence and still not be ready to receive money, import goods or export products. Banking, Customs and tax planning should start before the first transaction.
Banks make their own KYC decision. Common questions concern the real business activity, ownership, address, expected payment flows, source of funds, supporting contracts and who will operate the account. A clean business explanation and consistent documents help, but no provider can guarantee bank approval.
Some preparation can happen remotely, but many banks require the legal representative or relevant signatory to complete identity and KYC steps in person. Confirm the selected bank's current process before you promise a fully remote timeline.
Usually, yes. The company needs a scope that fits the model, an address that fits the scope, bank preparation, relevant Customs filing and trade-system steps, plus a document flow that matches the products and transactions. Products can also create additional licence or compliance questions.
No. Export VAT treatment depends on the product, taxpayer status, invoices, contracts, payment and settlement records, Customs evidence and other applicable conditions. Review the trade and tax design before the first shipment rather than relying on a refund promise.
05 — AFTER REGISTRATION
Keeping the Company Safe and Usable
The company continues after the licence arrives. Regular accounting and records make later banking, work-permit, tax and business changes easier to manage.
The exact schedule depends on tax status and activity, but companies commonly need bookkeeping, tax-related filings, invoice management, annual reporting and other records. A company with little or no trading may still have filing and address obligations. Confirm the correct schedule rather than assuming 'no revenue' means 'no work'.
Ignoring the company does not close it. Missed filings, annual-report issues, address problems and unresolved tax matters can create growing compliance risk and make later changes or closure harder. If you are pausing or ending the business, get a realistic review before deadlines are missed.
Many registered details can be changed through the relevant procedures, but the order matters. A change can affect the bank record, tax registration, licences, Customs details and other documents. Review the impact before you file one isolated change.
06 — WORKING WITH FUTURE COMPASS
What We Can — and Cannot — Do
You should know the scope before you engage anyone. We explain the process, prepare and coordinate the work, and state clearly which decisions remain with authorities and banks.
We first understand your nationality, business activity, shareholders, city, timeline and the practical issue you need to solve. We then identify the likely setup route, document questions, address or bank considerations, main risks and the next decision. The assessment is not an approval letter or a guaranteed outcome.
Our published starting packages show a clear base scope. Some work is business-dependent, such as document authentication, translation, specialised licences, bank preparation, trade steps, address type or ongoing accounting. We explain what is included and flag likely third-party or optional costs before you decide.
We do not guarantee company registration, work permits, visas, bank-account approval, Customs acceptance, export VAT treatment or fixed processing times. Those decisions depend on the relevant authority, bank, documents and real business situation. Clear boundaries are part of useful advice.
Important: every case has a different boundary
This page provides general information, not legal, tax, immigration or banking advice. Company registration, work permits, bank accounts, Customs and tax treatment remain subject to the relevant authority, institution, documents and real business situation.
23.1291° N · 113.2644° E — GUANGZHOU
Your Question Is Probably a Planning Question
Tell us your nationality, business activity, city and timeline. We will help you identify the next practical step before you spend on the wrong address, documents or structure.