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Trading infrastructure 2027

Company setup in China: three turnkey structures

For mid-size and large businesses: launch, management and control of a company in China and Hong Kong. Scope, timelines and starting prices.

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Where to start

Which structure suits you

Answer one question and you will know where to start.

01Regular import or export, a team in China?Company, 2 banks, trade rights, controlCHINA 02A group of companies, dividends, Hong Kong?Holding and banks in two jurisdictionsCHINA + HK 03Asset protection and succession?Trust, holding, continuity planTRUST 04Already have a company in China but no control?Audit, takeover, managementOperate

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Three structures: what is included

	CHINA	CHINA + HK	TRUST · HK · CHINA
Architecture and companies
Structure memorandum: structure, tax, banks	Included	Included	Included
Turnkey company in China, address for 12 months	Included	Included	Included
Hong Kong holding, company secretary for 12 months	Not included	Included	Included
Trust, PTC or HoldCo in BVI or Cayman Islands	Not included	Not included	Included
Banks and foreign trade
PRC bank accounts	2	2	2 + NRA
Hong Kong account	Not included	1	1
Trade rights, VAT refund registration	Included	Included	Included
People, law, control
Work and residence permit	1 person	1 person	2 people
PRC-law contracts	3	5	5
Trademark, 1 class	Included	Included	Included
Control: powers, seals, tokens, NDA	Included	Included	Included
Continuity plan, stress test	Not included	Not included	Included
Accounting
Basic accounting until accounts are activated	Included	Included	Included
Operations after launch	Operate	Operate	Operate
Timeline	3–4 months	4–6 months	6–9 months
Launch	from $20,000	from $28,000	Price on request

TRUST pricing follows negotiation and business assessment. Government fees, notary, apostille and trustee fees are billed at cost, with no markup.

Packages

Each package in detail

CHINA

Your own company in China: 2 banks, trade rights, VAT refund, control

Timeline: 3–4 months
Launch: from $20,000

Who it is for

Mid-size businesses with regular purchases or sales in China that want their own company under their control, without intermediaries.

Result

A ready trading company: two banks, trade rights, VAT refund registration, contracts, an employee and a control system.

2PRC bank accounts

3PRC-law contracts

1work and residence permit

Module	What we do	Result	Timing
Architecture	Memorandum: structure, tax, banks, roles and powers	Agreed structure	wk 1–2
Company	Documents, legalisation, registration, seals, registrations, address for 12 months	Licensed company	wk 1–10
Trade rights	Customs registration (GACC), e-port, currency registration	Import and export rights	wk 9–12
VAT refund	Exporter registration, procedure for first refund applications	Ready for VAT refund	wk 11–14
Two banks	Accounts in two PRC banks, KYC and activation	2 active accounts	wk 9–14
Contracts	3 contracts: supply, distribution or agency, freight forwarding	Templates in EN/RU/CN	wk 6–10
People	Work and residence permit for 1 employee	Work card and permit	wk 10–16
Trademark	Search and CNIPA application (1 class)	Application filed	wk 3–5
Control and protection	Authority matrix, custody of seals and tokens, NDA, separated access	Control rules	wk 8–12
Basic accounting	Basic returns and tax calendar until accounts are activated	Reporting without penalties	until accounts are active

What we need from you

Founder passports and documents
List of goods and HS codes
Details of the foreign employee
Director's visit to the banks

Not included in the price

Government fees, notary, translation
CNIPA fee and medical check, at cost
Operations: see Operate
VAT refund: 5% of the refund amount

Can be added

Third bank account: from $4,000
Work and residence permit: from $1,200
Trademark, per class: from $392

CHINA + HK HOLDING

A Hong Kong holding and a turnkey company in China

Timeline: 4–6 months
Launch: from $28,000

Who it is for

Groups and owners who need a holding company, a dividend route and banks in two jurisdictions.

Result

A Hong Kong holding with an account and a trading company in China with two banks, trade rights, VAT refund and a control system.

2jurisdictions: HK + PRC

1 + 2accounts: HK + PRC

5PRC-law contracts

Module	What we do	Result	Timing
Tax model	Group structure, dividend route, 5% rate under the PRC–HK arrangement, substance	Memorandum	wk 1–3
Hong Kong company	Registration, owner KYC, secretary and address for 12 months	HK company	wk 2–5
Hong Kong account	One account: bank selection, KYC package, interview, activation	HK company account	wk 5–16
Company in China	Everything from CHINA: registration, registrations, trade rights, VAT refund registration	PRC trading company	wk 5–18
Banks in China	Two turnkey WFOE accounts	2 active accounts	wk 14–20
People	Work and residence permit for 1 employee	Work card and permit	wk 14–22
Law	5 contracts and a trademark (1 class)	Contracts and application	wk 6–14
Control and protection	Authority matrix, custody of seals and tokens, NDA, separated access	Control rules	wk 14–20
Basic accounting	PRC and HK until accounts are activated, HK secretary for 12 months	Reporting without penalties	until accounts are active
Annual report	Coordinating the PRC audit, SAMR and HK filings	Annual filings submitted	on schedule

What we need from you

Documents of owners and the group
Ownership chart and source of funds
Director's visits to banks in HK and the PRC
Decisions on structure and dividends

Not included in the price

PRC and Hong Kong government fees
Notary, apostille, translation
Operations: see Operate
VAT refund: 5% of the refund amount

Can be added

Second Hong Kong account: from $6,400
Dividend payment package: from $2,400
Work and residence permit: from $1,200

TRUST · HK · CHINA

A BVI or Cayman trust, a Hong Kong holding and a company in China

Timeline: 6–9 months
Launch: Price on request

Who it is for

Owners and groups who need asset protection, succession and a fully controlled structure in China.

Result

A trust and holding chain, companies in Hong Kong and China, banks in two jurisdictions and a continuity plan. The price follows negotiation and business assessment.

3jurisdictions: BVI or Cayman, HK, PRC

4accounts: HK, 2 PRC, NRA

36weeks to full launch

Module	What we do	Result	Timing
Diagnostics	Owner goals, current assets, risks, bank limitations	Memorandum	wk 1–3
Jurisdiction analysis	Trust in BVI or Cayman, Hong Kong, PRC: tax, disclosure, banks; legal opinions	Target architecture	wk 2–6
Trust	Trust deed, protector, letter of wishes, licensed trustee	Established trust	wk 6–14
PTC or HoldCo	Private trust company or BVI / Cayman holding	Company and registers	wk 6–12
Hong Kong	HoldCo, substance, secretary, one bank account	HK company with account	wk 8–20
China	WFOE under HK, registrations, two PRC accounts and an NRA account	Company and 3 accounts	wk 10–28
Governance	Authority matrix, regulations, register of seals and tokens	Governance rules	wk 18–30
Continuity plan	Powers and access to banks and seals in case of incapacity	Approved plan	wk 20–30
Stress test	Review of documents, access rights and people, handover to Operate	Report and plan	wk 32–36
Basic accounting	All structure companies until accounts are activated, HK secretary	Reporting without penalties	until accounts are active

What we need from you

Documents of owners and assets
Source of funds and group chart
Decisions on beneficiaries and protector
Visits to banks in HK and the PRC

Not included in the price

Trustee fees and BVI / Cayman charges
Legal opinions, per estimate
Operations: see Operate
VAT refund: 5% of the refund amount

Can be added

Second Hong Kong account: from $6,400
Dividend payment package: from $2,400
Data compliance (PIPL): from $12,000

“From” prices are starting prices for the minimum scope. The final price depends on your scope and is fixed in the commercial proposal and the contract. Government fees, notary and other third-party costs are billed at cost, with no markup.

Operate

Company management by stage

The service level grows with the company: opened, account activated, team and supply, group. Discounts apply to prepayment for 6 or 12 months; reduced rate for the first 3 months of Standard.

Company opened

Operate Basic

from $1,032 / month

No accounts or transactions yet. Included in the package during launch.

Account activated

Operate Standard

from $5,520 / month

First transactions. 12-month contract.

Team and supply

Operate Business

from $8,000 / month

People hired, regular purchasing or export.

Group

Operate Enterprise

from $16,000 / month

Holding, dividends, trust, several companies.

What each level includes

	Basic	Standard	Business	Enterprise
Accounting and tax
Companies under management	1	1	up to 2: PRC + HK	up to 4
Bookkeeping, transactions per month	basic	up to 50	up to 100	up to 400
Tax, reporting, annual filings, audit	Included	Included	Included	Included
Export VAT refund	Not included	5% of refund	3% of refund	2% of refund
Owner reporting	Not included	report and budget	report and budget	CFO review, board
Payments and control
Payments prepared per month, approved by you	Not included	up to 20	up to 40	up to 80
Reconciliations and currency control, accounts	Not included	up to 2	up to 3	up to 8, with NRA
Custody of seals and tokens with a log	Included	Included	Included	Included
Authority matrix, dual control	Not included	Included	Included	Included
Internal audit of controls and access	Not included	Not included	Not included	1 per quarter
People
Payroll, social insurance, income tax	Not included	up to 3 people	up to 10 people	up to 20 people
HR records and employment contracts	Not included	Included	Included	Included
Work and residence permit renewals per year	Not included	1 person	2 people	5 people
Business visa invitations per month	Not included	1	2	4
Suppliers and quality control
Counterparty checks in registries	3	5	10	20
Monitoring: courts, bankruptcy, licences	10 companies	20 companies	40 companies	80 companies
Batch inspection, person-days	Not included	2	4	8
On-site factory audit	Not included	1 per quarter	5 per quarter	10 per quarter
Search for alternative suppliers	Not included	1 per quarter	5 per quarter	5 per month
Shipment and document coordination per month	Not included	2	4	8
Law and compliance
Contracts and contract reviews per month	Not included	2	3	5
PRC lawyer, hours per month	Not included	1	3	12
HK secretary, liaison with trustee	Not included	Not included	HK	HK + trustee
Trademarks, data protection (PIPL)	Not included	trademarks	trademarks	trademarks + PIPL
Document translation, pages	5	10	20	40
Team
Who leads and response time	manager, 1 day	partner, 4 hours	partner and team, 2 hours	dedicated team, 1 hour
Meeting with the owner	quarterly	monthly	every 2 weeks	weekly

Quality control, audits and site visits are planned around your orders. Work above the limit follows the EAY price list.

Operate calendar

What happens every month

The obligations of a company in China that Operate takes care of. You receive reports and decisions, not penalty notices.

Monthly

VAT and employee income tax, by the 15th
Social insurance and housing fund
Month-end close and bank reconciliations
Report to the owner

Quarterly

Advance corporate income tax
Fapiao reconciliation with the tax office
Review of limits and risks
Meeting with an EAY partner

Annually

Corporate income tax return, by 31 May
Annual report to SAMR and foreign investment report, by 30 June
Annual audit
Renewal of permits and residence permits

One-off services

Available at any stage of the company's life.

PRC bank accountfrom $4,000
Hong Kong accountfrom $6,400
Work and residence permitfrom $1,200
Trademark, per classfrom $392
Taking over a company from another agentfrom $2,000
NNN agreement with a factoryfrom $1,200
Dividend payment packagefrom $2,400
Changes to the companyfrom $960
Liquidation of a PRC companyfrom $5,520
Branch in another cityfrom $2,800
Registered address, per yearfrom $960
Representative office (RO)from $3,600

Third-party costs

Third-party costs: reference figures

Paid at cost, with no markup, and only after your approval.

Notary, apostille and translation of founder documentsDepends on the country and number of documents
$800–2,500
Translation of documents in ChinaCertified translation
RMB 300 per page
PRC government fees for registrationRegistration and related charges
about RMB 1,500
CNIPA trademark feeUp to 10 items in a class
RMB 270 per class
Medical check and residence permitMedical check and one-year permit
about RMB 830 per person
PRC auditor's feeSmall company, standard audit
$1,500–3,000 per year

Reference figures from EAY market research, November 2026. The exact amount is in the estimate before payment.

Terms

Terms and how we start

Launch: 50% on signing, 30% after the business licence, 20% after the accounts are opened; TRUST by stages
Operate: Monthly in advance. Standard: 12 months from account activation
Prepayment: Discounts for 6 and 12 months of prepayment
VAT refund: 5% of the amount, only after the refund is credited
Banks: Up to 3 submissions to different banks at no extra charge
Above the limit: EAY price list, attached to the contract

How we start

01Consultation60 minutes, free
02Proposalwithin 2 working days
03Contract and KYC1–3 days
04Starton the day of payment

Contract with EAY CONSULTING LIMITED (Hong Kong, USD) or our Shanghai company (RMB, 6% VAT). We work in English, Russian and Chinese. “From” prices are starting prices for the minimum scope. The final price depends on your scope and is fixed in the commercial proposal and the contract. Government fees, notary and other third-party costs are billed at cost, with no markup.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is a WFOE?

A WFOE (wholly foreign-owned enterprise) is a company in China owned entirely by foreign investors. It can sign contracts, hold bank accounts and, once registered, import and export directly.

Why add a Hong Kong holding company?

A Hong Kong holding gives the group a dividend route and banking in two jurisdictions. A 5% dividend rate is available under the PRC–Hong Kong arrangement if the conditions, including substance, are met. EAY prepares the tax model before you decide.

What does Operate include?

Operate is ongoing management: accounting and tax, payments and currency control, payroll and permits, supplier checks and quality control, contracts and compliance. The level changes with events in the company, from Basic to Enterprise.

We already have a company in China. Can EAY take it over?

Yes. We audit the company, take over the documents and accounting from the current agent and move it into Operate. Taking over a company is available as a one-off service.

Start with a free consultation

60 minutes: we review your task, choose the structure and show the timeline. You receive a commercial proposal within 2 working days.

Book a free consultation

01Consultation60 minutes, free
02Proposalwithin 2 working days
03Contract and KYC1–3 days
04Starton the day of payment