10 steps to starting a business in China
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E-mail Agencies, August 31, 2012
5. Find a liaison … or several.
No matter how informed you are, you won't get very far without consulting a representative to register your business. According to Collins, there are tons of organizations in the United States that can help you navigate the complicated application process. Consult the U.S.-China Business Council or the Ministry of Commerce at the Chinese consulate.
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The Ministry of Commerce [file photo] |
Wong also suggests getting in touch with the U.S. Commercial Service office, which can direct you to local desks throughout China. All of these resources should be able to recommend a trustworthy international corporate lawyer for you.
Harris says to beware of local Chinese business agents that charge $800 for a bad English translation of the business application. "Your chances of getting your company registered with that are zero," he says. Perform thorough background checks or talk to other American business owners to find out who they used to register.
"We used Baker & McKenzie, and they are expensive, but you get what you pay for," says Hoffman. "They did a fantastic job."
A qualified liaison should be able to tell you where you need to go to register, whether it's the local, provincial or national government, and should do the talking once you get there. Harris says, "You need somebody who has negotiated that territory a number of times before and you absolutely have to have people who speak Chinese to go meet with the local officials."
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