Set up and run your company in mainland China

01 · ChinaMNC

Why China for Slovak founders and companies

China is a large and diverse market, and Slovak companies approach it for different reasons. Some want to sell industrial components, machinery, consumer goods or services to Chinese buyers. Others want to source products, manage suppliers, or establish a local team to support quality control and after-sales. A local entity can make contracts, invoicing, hiring and supplier management easier to handle under Chinese rules.

Operating through a Chinese company also lets you deal with customers and partners in their own legal and commercial environment. That matters when you need local invoices, local bank payments, staff on Chinese employment contracts, or a registered address. At the same time, China is not a single market: rules, customer expectations and competition vary by city and sector. A realistic plan starts with your commercial goal, then matches the entity type, location and budget to that goal.

For Slovak founders, the practical challenge is usually distance and unfamiliar administration. You will need to coordinate documents, signatures, translations and banking from abroad, and you will need a local contact who can respond to official requests. Treat China entry as a project with clear owners, a defined scope and a realistic budget rather than a quick registration exercise.

02 · ChinaMNC

WFOE, joint venture or representative office

The three structures most often considered are a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE), a joint venture (JV) and a representative office (RO). Each fits a different commercial purpose, and choosing the wrong one can create extra cost or limit what you are allowed to do.

• WFOE: A Chinese limited liability company owned by your Slovak company or by you as a foreign investor. It can conduct the business activities listed in its scope, sign contracts, invoice customers, hire staff and hold a bank account. It is the usual choice when you want to trade, provide services or run operations in China.
• Joint venture: A company shared with a Chinese partner. It can be useful where local licences, land, distribution or market access depend on a Chinese partner. The trade-off is shared control, and the shareholders' agreement and governance need careful drafting.
• Representative office: A non-profit-making liaison office. It can support market research, coordination and contact-making, but it cannot sign business contracts or invoice customers for profit-making activity. It suits companies that only need a local presence for liaison.

Before deciding, write down what the China team must actually do: sign contracts, invoice, import or export, hire staff, hold licences, or simply liaise. That list, plus your sector's foreign investment rules, should drive the structure choice.

03 · ChinaMNC

The five-step registration process

The registration path varies by city and business activity, but most projects follow a similar sequence. Plan for document preparation and official review to take time, and avoid promising fixed dates until the local authority has confirmed requirements.

• Step 1: Define the business and structure. Confirm the activities, the entity type, the city, the shareholders and the legal representative. Check whether your sector appears on the negative list for foreign investment or needs a specific licence.
• Step 2: Prepare and notarise documents. Gather the Slovak company documents, investor identification, translated and legalised papers where required, and draft the articles of association and related filings.
• Step 3: Name and address. Reserve an available company name and secure a registered address that the local authority accepts for your business scope.
• Step 4: Submit the registration. File with the market regulation authority, then complete the company seal, tax registration, foreign exchange and other post-establishment steps as applicable.
• Step 5: Open banking and start operations. Complete bank account opening and set up accounting, invoicing and tax reporting before you trade. Add work permits and visas for any foreign staff who will live in China.

Keep one coordinator responsible for the checklist, and confirm each step with the local registration agent or adviser before you submit.

04 · ChinaMNC

Documents you will typically need

Document requirements depend on the entity type, the city and the investor's profile, so treat the following as a working checklist to confirm locally rather than a fixed list. Incomplete or inconsistent documents are a common cause of delay.

• Certificate of incorporation or equivalent registration document for the Slovak company, plus current extracts showing directors and shareholders.
• Identification documents for directors, shareholders and the proposed legal representative, including passports for individuals.
• Proof of address for the investor and for the proposed legal representative, where requested.
• Board or shareholder resolutions approving the China investment and appointing the authorised signatory.
• Draft articles of association, name reservation materials and the proposed business scope.
• Lease or proof of the registered address, plus landlord documents where the authority requires them.
• Translated documents, and notarisation, apostille or consular legalisation where the receiving authority requires it.

Names, addresses and shareholding details must match across every document. If your Slovak company has recently changed directors or shareholding, update the records before filing. Keep scanned copies and originals organised, because banks and tax authorities may ask for the same papers again later.

05 · ChinaMNC

Registered address and business scope

The registered address is the legal home of your Chinese company. It must be a real address accepted by the local authority, and it may need to match the zoning and use permitted for your activity. Some cities allow serviced offices or incubator addresses for certain businesses, while others require a lease for commercial premises. Confirm what the local market regulation authority and tax office accept before you sign a lease.

Business scope defines what your company may do. Write it to match your real operations, using the standard wording accepted in your city. If you plan to import or export, provide services, or hold a specific licence, those activities must be covered. A scope that is too narrow can block invoicing or licensing later; a scope that is too broad can raise questions during registration or tax review.

Also plan for the practical side of the address: mail handling, official notices, inspections and the ability to receive documents. Many foreign-owned companies use a local registered address service or a small office while the main team works elsewhere. Whatever you choose, keep the lease and landlord documents available, and update the registration if you move.

06 · ChinaMNC

Banking, tax and visas

After registration, the company needs a bank account, tax setup and, where relevant, visas for foreign staff. Bank account opening is a compliance process: banks review the shareholders, the business model, expected transactions and the documents behind them. Prepare a clear description of your customers, suppliers and payment flows, and expect the bank to ask for supporting contracts or invoices. Requirements and processing times differ by bank and branch.

On tax, register with the tax authority and confirm your taxpayer status and invoicing needs. China's tax rules cover corporate income tax, value-added tax and other obligations depending on activity, and reporting is periodic. Work with a local accountant who can handle bookkeeping, invoices and filings in Chinese. Keep your Slovak and Chinese records consistent, and plan for how profits may be repatriated under foreign exchange rules.

For foreign staff, the usual route involves a work permit and a residence permit, with eligibility conditions and document checks. Short-term business travel is different from living and working in China, so match the visa to the actual activity. Start early, because permits and appointments can take time, and make sure employment contracts and payroll comply with local rules.

07 · ChinaMNC

Common mistakes to avoid

Most problems in China registration come from planning gaps rather than from the registration itself. Avoiding these common mistakes can save time and cost.

• Choosing the entity before the business model. Decide what the company must do first, then pick a WFOE, JV or RO that fits the activity and licensing rules.
• Underestimating document work. Names, addresses and shareholding must match, and translations, notarisation and legalisation take preparation.
• Ignoring the business scope. A scope that does not cover invoicing, importing or licensed activity can block operations later.
• Treating the address as a formality. The registered address must be accepted locally and able to receive official documents.
• Leaving banking to the end. Banks need a clear explanation of the business and supporting documents; prepare this before you apply.
• Skipping local accounting. Tax and invoice rules are specific, and late or incorrect filings create risk.
• Assuming visas are simple. Work permits and residence permits require eligibility checks and lead time.

Build a realistic budget that includes registration, address, accounting, banking support, translations and any licences. Review the plan with a local adviser before committing to a lease or a partner agreement.