Set up and run your company in mainland China

01 · ChinaMNC

Why mainland China for Belarusian founders

China is a large, deeply integrated manufacturing and consumer market. For companies from Belarus, the practical appeal is usually proximity to supply chains, access to component and equipment suppliers, and the ability to sell into Chinese distribution channels rather than only exporting to them. A local entity can make it easier to contract with Chinese partners, invoice in local currency, hire staff and manage quality control on the ground.

Belarus and China maintain active trade and intergovernmental cooperation, and several logistics corridors connect the two countries by rail. That said, a company presence is a commercial decision, not a diplomatic one. Before registering, define what the Chinese entity must actually do: sourcing, manufacturing, wholesale, software services, consulting or something else. The answer shapes the entity type, the business scope and the capital you will need to commit.

Founders should also plan for language and distance. Chinese filings are made in Chinese, local authorities communicate in Chinese, and decisions often require in-person or authorised representation. Budget for translation, a local registered address and ongoing accounting support from the start, rather than treating them as later additions.

02 · ChinaMNC

Choosing between a WFOE, a joint venture and a representative office

The three structures most often considered by foreign investors are the wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE), the Sino-foreign equity joint venture (JV), and the representative office (RO). Each carries different permissions and obligations.

• WFOE: a limited liability company owned entirely by the foreign investor. It can conduct the business activities listed in its approved scope, invoice customers and employ staff directly. It requires registered capital, a registered address and a full accounting function.
• Joint venture: a company shared with one or more Chinese partners. Useful where local licences, land, distribution or sector access depend on a domestic partner, but governance, profit sharing and exit terms must be negotiated carefully in the JV contract and articles.
• Representative office: a liaison office that cannot earn revenue directly. It suits market research and coordination, but it still requires registration, a chief representative and reporting.

Some activities are restricted or require specific approvals. Check the current negative list and sector rules for your industry before choosing a structure, and confirm whether your planned activity is permitted for foreign investment in the city where you intend to operate.

03 · ChinaMNC

The five-step registration process

Registration in mainland China follows a broadly consistent sequence, though the authorities and portals differ by city. Expect the following stages.

• Step 1 — Prepare and validate the name. Propose a Chinese company name and submit it for approval through the local market regulation system. Names must satisfy formatting and uniqueness rules.
• Step 2 — Assemble the filing package. Articles of association, investor documents, proof of legal representative, registered address evidence, business scope and capital details are prepared, usually in Chinese with notarised or apostilled foreign documents where required.
• Step 3 — Submit and obtain the business licence. The market regulation authority reviews the application and, if accepted, issues the business licence listing the company name, legal representative, capital, address and scope.
• Step 4 — Complete post-licence formalities. Carve the company seals, open the bank account, register for tax, and set up social insurance and housing fund accounts if you will employ staff.
• Step 5 — Start operations compliantly. Put bookkeeping, invoicing and annual reporting in place before trading, and obtain any sector-specific permits your activity requires.

Timelines depend on document readiness and local review, so treat any schedule as an estimate and plan buffer time.

04 · ChinaMNC

Documents you will typically need

Document requirements vary by city and by entity type, but a Belarusian investor should expect to prepare the following.

• Investor documents: certificate of incorporation or registration for a company investor, or passport for an individual, together with evidence of the signatory's authority.
• Notarisation and legalisation: foreign documents generally need notarisation and, depending on the current rules, consular legalisation or an apostille. Confirm the accepted route with your local adviser before shipping originals.
• Translated versions: Chinese translations of foreign-language documents, often required to be stamped by a qualified translation provider.
• Company constitutional documents: articles of association, and for a JV, the joint venture contract.
• Address evidence: a lease or property documents for the registered address, plus any landlord consents required locally.
• People documents: passport copies and contact details for the legal representative, supervisors, shareholders and authorised signatories.
• Application forms: name approval, registration application and scope description, completed in the local system.

Keep originals consistent across every document. Mismatched names, dates or signatures are one of the most common causes of delay.

05 · ChinaMNC

Registered address and business scope

Every mainland company needs a registered address, and the premises must generally be suitable for the stated activity. Many founders use a serviced office or an incubator address approved for company registration, especially in the first year. Landlords may be asked to provide ownership documents and a lease that meets local formatting requirements. If you plan to manufacture, store goods or run a physical shop, the address and zoning must support that use.

Business scope is the formal description of what the company may do. It is written in Chinese and drawn from standard categories, with some activities requiring a pre-approval licence before registration or a post-registration permit. Draft the scope to cover your real activities without overreaching: too narrow and you may need to amend it later; too broad and you may trigger extra approvals or scrutiny.

Changing the address or scope later is possible but involves a formal amendment filing and, for some changes, updated licences and bank records. Get both right at the outset, and align them with the contracts you intend to sign and the invoices you intend to issue.

06 · ChinaMNC

Banking, tax and visas after registration

Once the licence is issued, the company needs a bank account before it can trade normally. Opening a corporate account usually involves presenting the licence, seals, constitutional documents and identification for the legal representative or authorised signatory, and answering questions about expected business flows. Banks apply their own onboarding and compliance checks, so prepare a clear explanation of your business model, counterparties and expected transaction patterns.

Tax registration follows the bank account setup. The company will need to determine its taxpayer status, invoice requirements and reporting calendar, and engage a bookkeeping provider familiar with foreign-invested entities. Corporate income tax, value-added tax and withholding obligations on payments abroad all need attention from the first period.

Foreign staff generally require a work permit and a residence permit, while short business visits may be covered by a business visa. The specific category, eligibility and process depend on the role and the local labour and immigration authorities. Plan work permit applications well before staff relocation, and keep the legal representative's own immigration status in order, since that person often needs to sign bank and tax documents in person.

07 · ChinaMNC

Common mistakes to avoid

Many problems at registration and in the first year of operation are avoidable with careful preparation.

• Underestimating document formalities: incomplete notarisation, legalisation or translation is a frequent cause of rejection and rework.
• Choosing a structure by habit: an RO cannot invoice, and a JV without clear governance terms can stall decision-making. Match the entity to the actual commercial plan.
• Drafting a vague business scope: descriptions that do not match real activities can complicate licensing, banking and invoicing.
• Ignoring the registered address rules: an address that cannot support registration or the planned activity will block the filing.
• Delaying tax and accounting setup: bookkeeping, invoicing and reporting obligations begin early, and late filings create penalties.
• Treating bank onboarding as automatic: compliance questions about ownership and transactions need clear, documented answers.
• Overlooking immigration: staff cannot work on the wrong visa, and the legal representative's presence matters for formalities.
• Relying on verbal advice: confirm requirements with official sources and qualified local advisers, and keep written records of every filing.

Build a realistic budget for professional support, translation and compliance, and revisit it as the business grows.