How to Set Up Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises WFOE in Shanghai China, WFOEs Registration Procedure and Document Required in Shanghai China

Shanghai is located in the Yangtze River Delta. The municipality sits on the southern edge of the estuary of the Yangtze River in the middle portion of the East China coast. It borders the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the north, south and west, and is bounded to the east by the East China Sea.

Shanghai is the commercial and financial center of China, and ranks 5th in the 2018 edition of the Global Financial Centres Index (and third most competitive in Asia after Singapore and Hong Kong) published by the Z/Yen Group and Qatar Financial Centre Authority. It also ranks the most expensive city to live in Mainland China, according to the study of Economist Intelligence Unit in 2017. It was the largest and most prosperous city in East Asia during the 1930s, and rapid re-development began in the 1990s. This is exemplified by the Pudong District, a former swampland reclaimed to serve as a pilot area for integrated economic reforms

There are 16 districts under Shanghai's administration: Songjiang, Changning, Fengxian, Jingan, Jiading, Jinshan, Baoshan, Yangpu, Xuhui, Qingpu, Huangpu, Hongkou, Minhang, Putuo, Pudong New Area, and Chongming.

WFOE stands for wholly foreign owned enterprise, which is a limited liability company wholly owned by either a foreign legal entity or a foreign natural person. The foreign investors may be foreign enterprises or individuals.Wholly owned foreign entities (WOFEs) are the vehicle of choice for most people and companies doing business in China. It is less complex than a joint venture (JV) and allows you to concentrate on what your employees are up to as opposed to your partners. It is required to register as a legal person who is restricted to certain businesses. The enterprise is able to implement strategies that effectively conform to the interests of the parent company aboard. Moreover, technology and know-how are given better protection. 

No. minimum registered capital is required for WFOEs with scope of business of consulting, Trading, retailing, information technology etc. in China. There are minimum registered capital still required for some industries for instance: Banking, Forwarding etc Since China still maintains foreign currency control policy, it's still advisable to choose registered capital within RMB 100,000 ~ RMB 500,000 as the minimum registered capital. Companies can now determine how much capital will be required to maintain their operations and must simply ensure that they meet those targets within a period of 10 years.
Advantages of WFOE 

1. Independence and freedom to implement the worldwide strategies of its parent company without having to consider the involvement of the Chinese partner;
2. Ability to formally carry on business rather than just a representative office function;
3. Issue invoices to their customers in RMB and receive RMB revenues. Convert RMB profits to US dollars for remittance to their parent company outside.
4. cheap labor, which can lower your cost;
5. not required to share profits with Chinese counterpart;
6. Greater efficiency in its operations, management and future development.

The procedure to Setting up WOFEs in Shanghai China

Stage 1: Preliminary approval - Project Proposal

The application procedure for setting up a WOFE is simpler. The project proposal will be prepared by the foreign investors and submitted directly to local authorities. The foreign investor may appoint a local agent to liaise with the government. To do so, he has to sign an authorization letter stipulating the agent’s scope of services, responsibility and fees.

Generally, the authority will give an official reply within 30 days upon receipt of the proposal and other relevant documents. The approval or rejection letter will be issued to the foreign investor. If a favorable reply is received, the foreign investor can proceed to register the company’s name at the local AIC.

The report must contain information regarding the objectives of the WOFE, business scope, scale of operation, products to be produced, technology and equipment to be used, land area required, conditions and quantities of water, electricity, gas and other forms of energy resources required, and requirements for public facilities.

Stage 2: Formal approval - Articles of Association

After the foreign investor receives a written reply from the relevant government authorities, a formal application supported by all the required documents should be filed with the local Ministry of Commerce at a county, municipal or provincial level. After receiving the formal approval, the foreign investor should apply to the Ministry of Commerce again for an approval certificate by presenting all the necessary documents.

The required documents include the application letter for establishing the WOFE; a feasibility study report (if any), articles of association, list of legal representatives (or Board of Directors), the foreign investor’s legal papers and credit report, a list of materials to be imported, written replies from the local approval authorities at county level or above, application for registration of the name of the enterprise approved by the provincial or municipal administration AIC, comments on the project by various government departments such as environmental protection, fire services, health and land administration. In the case where two or more foreign investors are involved, copies of the contracts signed by them should be submitted to the approval authority for their records.

Stage 3: Business License

Upon collection of the approval certificate, an application for a business license has to be filed with the provincial or municipal AIC within 30 days. The local AIC will issue the business license within 10 working days to projects that have passed the examination. Likewise, the date the business license is issued will be considered the official date of the establishment of the enterprise.

Having acquired the business license, the WOFE has to finish up with procedures such as applying for an official seal and enterprise code, opening a bank account, and registering for tax payment and customs declaration with the local public security, technical supervision, taxation, customs, finance, foreign exchange administration, banking, insurance and commodity inspection departments.

Compared to registering a business in most Western countries, registering a business in China is challenging work filled with paperwork and bureaucratic red tape. It is practically impossible to properly complete the registration process without a qualified agency. Be sure that the agency is qualified and the agency has good connections and relationships with the various local authorities, and that they possess comprehensive knowledge about the numerous important aspects involved with legally and properly registering a WFOE

Tommy China BusinessConsulting has direct connections in the local government
Since 2006, TCBC has been focusing on consulting services for our clients to invest in Shanghai China. We are specialized in establishment of wholly foreign owned enterprises (WFOEs), setting up of offshore companies, trading services, tax minimization Assist in obtaining government approvals and certificates for running business, negotiate and draft various legal documents provide legal advice, negotiate government officer for Land acquisition,Advising on formation of WOFE and business structures ,managing and controlling WOFE in Shanghai China, , drafting privacy policies and structuring commercial transactions. TCBC will manage all aspects of incorporation to get you a business license in Shanghai  China. We offer a range of company formation services including helping you to set up: 

-Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprises (WFOE )
-Representative Offices
-Joint Ventures (Equity/Co-operative)
-Foreign Invested Partnership Enterprises (FIPE)
-Hong Kong Holding Company

Contact Us for  SettingUp Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises WFOE in Shanghai Now