QUICK ANSWER
6-10 weeks end to end: 2-4 weeks to the SAMR business licence, then bank account, tax setup and fapiao. The licence is the fast part — banking is the choke point, so start KYC in week one.
- Weeks 1-4: documents (apostille), name, scope drafting, SAMR filing → business licence + chops + tax registration + FDI report
- Weeks 4-8: corporate bank account (in-person KYC by the legal representative), SAFE capital account, e-fapiao, social insurance accounts
- Weeks 8-10: first invoices issued, payroll running, hiring live
Delays cluster in banking (2-8 weeks alone, branch discretion) and apostilles (1-3 weeks by country). Manufacturing adds EIA before licence. Hainan/Lingang/Qianhai run at the same speed but with 15% CIT upside.
One partner for the whole journey
Zhonghui Consulting — licensed, fixed-fee, English-speaking. cross-border compliance engagements, ICPA-reviewed.
See All Services & Pricing → Free AI Entry CheckGeneral information only — not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Rules change; verify with official sources (SAMR, STA, SAFE, MOFCOM, NIA) and licensed advisors before acting.