Can I sell into China without a company?

Yes via cross-border platforms (bonded warehouse or direct mail) within personal-import rules. But domestic platforms, B2B and offline require an onshore entity — and most brands get there within 12 months.

How long does an onshore e-commerce launch take?

Entity + fapiao + trademark verification typically 3-4 months to a live domestic store; CBEC can be live in weeks via platform onboarding.

Entering China E-Commerce (2026) — CBEC vs Onshore Entity Playbook

SHORT ANSWER

Cross-border bonded (Tmall Global, JD Worldwide, Douyin Global) sells with no China entity under personal-import rules; onshore selling needs a WFOE with trading + internet sales scope, fapiao and ICP filing. The proven playbook: CBEC to validate, WFOE to scale, omnichannel to compound.

Model choice: CBEC — positive-list products, per-order quotas, no fapiao, faster start; onshore — full domestic market, B2B channels, platform domestic stores, ICP/beian for your own site. The scaled path runs both with unified inventory. Compliance spine either way: product standards (GB), labeling, PIPL-compliant customer data, advertising-law-safe claims. Platform economics: Tmall/JD domestic verification requires the China trademark certificate — file at day 0. Douyin is content-first; budget content operations from month one or shelf presence starves.

One partner for the whole journey

Zhonghui Consulting — licensed, fixed-fee, English-speaking. cross-border compliance engagements, ICPA-reviewed.

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General information only — not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Rules change; verify with official sources (SAMR, STA, SAFE, MOFCOM, NIA) and licensed advisors before acting.