Registered office
A serviced co-working address in Guangzhou — a physical office, not a mailing box. It holds up to the market regulator's on-site check, works for the bank file and for your work permit application.
Guangzhou trading company
Buy in Guangzhou, export worldwide — under your own company
For founders who purchase from Chinese factories and sell internationally: a 100% foreign-owned import and export company in Guangzhou, with the registered address, filings, bookkeeping, banking and work permit handled in one place, in English. You own the company and every account in its name.
What the setup includes
One file, one contact, one quotation. Every item below is quoted separately so you can see the complete cost before you commit to anything.
Incorporation
Name check, articles, foreign-investment report, business license, chops, and the import and export rights filing so the company can trade and declare customs.
Bookkeeping
Monthly tax declarations, the industrial and commercial annual report, and the foreign exchange annual report. Customs brokerage and special export refund document sorting are separate.
Banking and payments
Corporate RMB basic account and foreign exchange settlement account assistance, plus compliant international payment gateways (Airwallex, WorldFirst, Payoneer and similar) so overseas customers can pay by card.
Work permit and residence
As shareholder and legal representative you can apply for a Chinese work permit and residence permit, normally valid one year and renewable.
You still pay separately
Notarisation and consular legalisation in your country, government fees, medical check, visa invitation fee, ICP filing, trademark, audit, and bank charges.
Itemised prices
Quoted in USD; RMB figures are the same schedule converted. All prices are starting prices — actual figures vary with your business scope and home country, and the written quotation prevails. The formal service agreement sets the exact scope and payment points before anything starts.
Serviced co-working registered office
from USD 1,680 / year ≈ RMB 12,000
Physical office address. Lower risk for work permit review than a clustered mailing address.
Company incorporation
from USD 530 one-time ≈ RMB 3,800
WFOE registration including the import and export rights filing.
Bookkeeping, tax and annual reports
from USD 55 / month ≈ RMB 4,000 / year
Basic filing for a small-scale taxpayer: monthly tax declarations, industrial and commercial annual report, foreign exchange annual report. Growing companies that need English monthly reporting and reconciliation move to the full-service tier, from USD 150 / month. Audit and customs brokerage excluded.
Work permit and residence permit
from USD 700 one-time ≈ RMB 5,000
Standard route: a bachelor's degree with documents ready. No degree? The business-experience points route is possible at an extra ≈ USD 3,480 (RMB 25,000). Full package — including document legalisation coordination, certified translation and the Z visa — starts from USD 1,500 (≈ RMB 10,800). Government, medical and legalisation fees excluded; approval decided by the authorities.
Corporate bank account assistance
from USD 420 one-time ≈ RMB 3,000
Document preparation, appointment booking, and accompaniment to the branch interview.
The complete first-year setup — incorporation, registered office and basic bookkeeping — is the same package quoted from USD 2,800 on our company setup page. One schedule, no separate pricing.
Not included anywhere above: notarisation and consular legalisation fees paid in your country, website ICP filing, website development, freight forwarding, trademark registration, company audit.
Registered capital
No mandatory minimum paid-in capital for a Guangzhou trading company, and you do not need to inject it immediately. Under the Company Law effective 1 July 2024, subscribed capital must be fully contributed within five years of incorporation.
There is no set amount we recommend — the right figure depends on your business scope, and we size it together when we review your plan. The capital is your money: it can be remitted in foreign currency from your overseas personal account into the company's capital account.
Not ready to move yet? Register first, bank later
Company registration and the import and export qualifications can be completed before you arrive in China. Most local banks in Guangzhou ask the legal representative to attend the branch in person for signing and the KYC interview — a small number of foreign banks may accept cross-border video witnessing, but that is up to each bank's compliance and cannot be promised.
While the company waits for your arrival, it can take overseas payments through compliant international payment service providers such as Airwallex, WorldFirst, Payoneer and Helibao — roughly 1.2%–2.5% per transaction plus exchange spread, depending on business scale. For compliance, a website ICP filing and customs declarations matching real trade are required. Once you are in China, we arrange the bank account opening.
Documents and legalisation
Core documents
Passport valid at least 6 months · non-criminal record certificate issued within 6 months · bachelor's degree certificate, or business experience proof for the points route · physical examination certificate · signature specimens and authorisation forms (templates provided).
Hague members
If your country is in the Apostille Convention, an apostille on the notarised documents is enough, followed by a certified Chinese translation.
Non-Hague countries
For example Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq: full consular chain — local notary, then Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then the Chinese embassy — then certified translation. This route is slower than an apostille and the pace depends on the authorities in your country.
Practical detail
You will also need a mainland China mobile number registered under your passport for day-to-day business handling.
Timeline
There is no single schedule that fits every case — the pace is set mainly by how fast your documents are legalised in your home country, which differs from one jurisdiction to the next. Once we have seen your passport country and document situation, we agree on a realistic schedule for your case in writing.
Questions
What is the complete cost before I commit?
Itemised above, all starting prices: from USD 1,680/year address, from USD 530 incorporation, from USD 55/month basic bookkeeping, from USD 700 work permit, from USD 420 bank assistance — the same schedule as the from USD 2,800 package on our main pages. Extras are listed too — legalisation in your country, government fees, medical check, ICP filing. You receive a formal itemised quotation and a service agreement before any payment.
Do I have to fly to China for the registration?
No — registration and the import and export qualifications are done first. The bank interview is the step that needs you in person, so it is planned for after your arrival. Until then, international payment gateways cover customer payments.
Can I get a work permit as the company owner?
Yes. As shareholder and legal representative you can apply for the work permit and residence permit, normally one year, renewable. It is a separate service from the registration package, priced above.
My country has no apostille. Is that a problem?
No — it just takes longer. The documents go through notary, foreign ministry, then the Chinese embassy, plus a certified translation. We plan the timeline around it.
Worth reading
- Guangzhou Company Setup: Real Costs and Timeline — When the trading company route beats the full WFOE, and what each costs.
- CIIE for First-Time Exhibitors — What to set up before the November fair opens.