PROFESSIONAL COMMENT----GZ Ro Registration

OVERVIEW
A Chinese representative office (RO) is an office of the foreign enterprise established in China for liaison with Chinese businesses and customers on behalf of its parent company. A RO is not considered to be a separate legal entity. It must be emphasized that a representative office may not carry out direct revenue earning business activities. For example, it cannot sign purchase/sales contracts and cannot receive payment for services, issue invoices. However, a RO can open bank accounts and employ staff to maintain liaison with customers and suppliers. Its headquarters can also sign contracts with its supplier/customers in China in its own name, but not in the name of its RO. Therefore, before a foreign investor establishes its enterprise in China using wholly foreign founded enterprise (WFFE) such as equity joint venture, cooperative joint venture or a wholly foreign- owned enterprise, it could first set up a representative office to test the Chinese market. 

ADVANTAGES OF RO
The simplicity and short time required for establishing a RO is the main advantage for its popularity in the Chinese market. Unlike wholly foreign founded enterprises (WFFE), RO are not required to meet strict requirements for items such as registered capital. And the following management is also relative simple and money-consuming.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
1. Lawyer’s notarization (Notarized by the local notarization department and approved by the Chinese embassy or consulate in their country)
2.  Two original copies of Bank reference letter for the foreign parent company;
3.  Annual return (the incorporation of parent company less than one year don’t need to provide);
4.  Annual audit report (the incorporation of parent company less than one year don’t need to provide);
5.  Original copy of identity certification, 8 color photos and one copy of resume of the chief representative (CR);
6.  Minutes or the resolution of Board Meeting;
7. Two original copies of lease with signature and sealed by Housing Management Authority .The signing party should be in the name of general representatives; rent for more than one year and the purpose must be for commercial use);

PROCEDURE
Fill in the application form→sign the agreement→pay deposit→submit all the needed documents→name checking→apply for the industry &commercial license→go to the public security bureau to carve seal→apply for Organization Code License & card→apply for Registration license of State &Local Administration of Taxation →pay the residual balance.

OUR SERVICE
1 Both original and duplicate copy of business license;
2 Registration license of State &Local Administration of Taxation;
3 Applying for register card of engraving seals;
4 Code certificate of business organization structures (IC card);
5 Three seals (official seal, personal seal and financial seal);

THE TIME NEEDED
To establish a RO is therefore largely a matter of complying with the prescribed application procedures. Once all the necessary documents for application are ready for submission, government approval can be had within 25-35 working days.