How Long Does It Take to Set Up a Company in China?

A realistic timeline for foreign company setup in China — from document preparation to bank account opening.

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The short answer

For most consulting, trading, and service companies, setup takes roughly 15–30 working days once signed documents are ready — but several factors move that range.

What affects the timeline

City and district, business scope, whether your investor is an individual or a company, document authentication, and how quickly bank and tax steps clear all play a role.

Typical stages

Consultation and structure selection; document preparation and signing; filing and business license; bank account opening; tax and social-insurance setup.

Avoiding delays

The most common delays come from incomplete documents and unclear business scope. Preparing these correctly up front is the single biggest time-saver — which is exactly where an advisor helps.

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. For guidance on your situation, talk to an advisor.

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