English HQ legal and CFO teams do not search “what is a WFOE” after year two. They search how to keep control, move profit, fix a chop fight, and exit cleanly. This hub is the operations spine—not another province-by-province registration brochure.
Practice-area sequence. The sections below are specific to this guide.
1PathClassify activity & route
2AuthorizeWork permit / entry visa
3ResidePSB residence + register
4MaintainChanges, renewals, exit
Working file · authority, workflow and evidence
General information only. Company Law capital rules, chops, legal representatives, joint-venture governance, profit remittance, and deregistration turn on your articles, licences, local SAMR/SAFE/tax practice, and employment facts. This is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Instruct qualified PRC counsel before you appoint officers, move capital, seize seals, or dissolve an entity.
Legal analysis map: Running a China WFOE hub: capital, control and exit designed as one legal operating system
Legal boundary: Prefer primary statutes, judicial interpretations, and official guidance when making decisions. Where this guide links to city hubs or lawyer listings, verify credentials and engagement terms directly with counsel. Full disclaimer · Submit an initial enquiry.
FAQ
Common questions
Quick answers for foreign nationals and employers. Rules vary by city and change over time.
Should we put a foreigner as legal representative?
Sometimes necessary for control; always a personal-risk decision. Read the legal representative spoke before you file SAMR changes.
Is chop possession the same as ownership?
Operational control of chops often decides who can bind the company day-to-day. Ownership of equity is not a substitute for a chop protocol.
Consultation preparation
Before contacting counsel
First package for a conflict check
A concise timeline and the result you want to achieve.
Names of all parties and affiliates for a conflict check.
Key contracts, notices, correspondence, filings, or decisions.
Known deadlines, preferred language, location, and budget constraints.
