CAREER & HIRING ADVICE

Setting up a company in China isn’t just about filling out forms. Foreign businesses face regulatory complexity at every turn: unclear Articles of Association requirements, insufficient registered capital assessments, wrong WFOE type selection, and trademark registration under China’s first-to-file system.

Add post-incorporation challenges like labor law compliance, company seal management, and tax obligations, and the process becomes overwhelming. That’s why choosing the right incorporation partner matters. We’ve shortlisted the top 5 companies that help you navigate China’s business landscape with less friction and more clarity. 

Ready? Let’s dive in.

Company Incorporation Services at a Glance

1) MSA Asia – Complete Incorporation to Operations Partner for Foreign Businesses in China

MSA Asia doesn’t stop at company registration. While many providers hand you a business license and disappear, MSA Asia supports foreign companies from entity formation through the operational requirements that follow: accounting, payroll, tax compliance, and ongoing administration. This matters because incorporating in China is just the beginning. You’ll need tax registration, bank account setup, VAT invoice capability, employer registration, and sector-specific licenses to actually operate.

With over 15 years of experience and 500+ WFOEs registered, MSA Asia assigns each client a dedicated account manager supported by lawyers and CPAs who handle regulatory, tax, and operational requirements across China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other Asian markets.

Key Features:

• Full entity formation with operational readiness: Manages WFOE, JV, Representative Office, and Branch Office setup, plus post-registration steps like tax registration, bank accounts, and VAT invoicing so you can start operations immediately.
• Integrated accounting and tax compliance: Provides monthly bookkeeping, VAT calculations, corporate income tax filings, and withholding tax management to keep your China operations compliant without hiring separate providers.
• Employer of Record and payroll services: Lets you hire employees in China without establishing a legal entity first, handling employment contracts, salary calculations, social security, and individual income tax filings.
• Multi-country operational support across Asia: Delivers consistent financial, administrative, and compliance services across China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and India through one provider.
• Scalable service model with no minimum contract: Allows you to start with incorporation and add accounting, payroll, or tax services as your business grows, with bundled pricing for multi-service engagements.

Pricing starts at $2,999

What else can you do with MSA Asia?

Beyond incorporation, MSA Asia offers transparent, fixed pricing for accounting, payroll, and tax services that many Big 4 firms don’t provide at this price point. This makes budgeting predictable for SMEs expanding into China. You also get dedicated account management, so you’re not bouncing between departments when you need support across multiple services.

2) Remote People – Global Hiring Infrastructure with Company Registration

Remote People positions itself as a full-lifecycle platform for companies that want to recruit, employ, and incorporate globally. Unlike most incorporation providers that stop at entity setup, Remote People starts at recruitment. The platform combines in-house international recruiters with company registration services across 150+ countries, letting businesses source candidates and establish legal presence through one provider.

This approach works for companies entering China who need both entity formation and immediate workforce hiring. Remote People operates through owned local entities for its EOR model, becoming the legal employer while you control day-to-day work. Every client gets a dedicated account manager with no chatbots or ticket queues.

Key Features:

• Recruitment-to-incorporation model: Combines in-house recruiters who source and vet candidates with company registration services, eliminating handoffs between hiring and entity setup providers.
• Owned-entity EOR in 150+ countries: Operates through owned local entities to hire employees legally in China and globally without establishing your own legal presence first.
• Unified workforce platform: Manages onboarding, payroll, benefits, compliance, contractor engagement, and workforce analytics from one centralized platform with digital contracts and document management.
• Compliance engine with real-time monitoring: Tracks law changes, tax updates, leave policies, severance rules, and classification risks across jurisdictions, applying them automatically to employment workflows.

Considerations before going with Remote People

Service coverage varies by product. While EOR and contractor services span 150+ countries, payroll covers 100+ countries, visas 80+ countries, and coworking access 120+ countries. Some background screening types and benefits are restricted in certain countries based on local laws.

Pricing starts at $6,900

3) China Company Incorporation – End-to-End China Market Entry Specialists

China Company Incorporation has been helping foreign businesses enter, operate, and scale in mainland China since 2009. Rather than routing clients through ticketing systems or fragmented providers, the firm assigns a single dedicated incorporation manager from the first call through the first payroll run. Every specialist on the team is fluent in both English and Mandarin, with deep expertise in Chinese corporate law.

With over 1,200 entities formed across 40+ countries served, the firm covers every major entry vehicle: WFOE, Joint Venture, Representative Office, and Employer of Record. Their fixed-fee model means you see the full cost before any filing begins, no billable hours and no surprise invoices.

Key Features:

• Dedicated single point of contact: Each client works with one incorporation manager throughout the entire engagement, from entity selection and name approval through license issuance and operational handover, rather than being passed between departments.
• Full entity formation across all vehicle types: Handles WFOE, Equity and Contractual Joint Ventures, and Representative Office setups end-to-end, including articles of association drafting, document translation, notarisation coordination, SAMR filing, business license, company chops, tax registration, and bank account opening for both RMB and foreign currency.
• China EOR for fast-track hiring: Lets foreign businesses hire full-time employees in mainland China within five business days, with no local entity required. The service covers compliant bilingual employment contracts, monthly RMB payroll with individual income tax withholding, mandatory social insurance and housing fund contributions, supplementary medical insurance, expense reimbursement, and robust IP assignment clauses.
• Foreign exchange and banking setup: Manages foreign exchange registration with SAFE and coordinates both RMB and foreign currency bank account opening, a step many providers leave clients to navigate alone.
• Post-setup operational support: Continues the relationship after license issuance with bookkeeping, tax filing, HR, and visa services, along with introductions to audit providers, so clients aren’t left to assemble a compliance team from scratch.

Which entity is right for you?

EOR vs. WFOE comparison

Pricing

China Company Incorporation does not publish fixed rates publicly. Pricing is based on entity type, business scope, city, and shareholder structure. Book a 30-minute consultation and receive a fixed-fee proposal the same day. Once agreed, the full cost is locked before any filing begins with no billable hours and no surprise invoices.

What else can you do with China Company Incorporation?

Many clients start with the EOR service to hire a small team quickly, then graduate to a full WFOE once the operation exceeds 15 employees or begins invoicing local Chinese clients. The firm has served over 400 active clients across technology, industrial, consumer, and professional services sectors, ranging from venture-backed startups opening their first office to multinationals restructuring long-standing China operations.

4) PwC – Global Network for International Expansion and Entity Setup

PwC supports organizations establishing legal entities in new jurisdictions as part of international expansion initiatives. The firm assists companies with corporate structuring, regulatory filings, governance frameworks, and tax-efficient entity design when expanding into China and other regions. PwC’s approach focuses on helping organizations determine appropriate legal structures and navigate regulatory requirements across different markets.

Through its global network of member firms, PwC provides support across multiple jurisdictions, allowing organizations to access local expertise while coordinating expansion strategies. This structure works for companies managing complex cross-border activities like compliance, tax structuring, and operational planning.

Key Features:

Corporate structuring and entity setup advisory: Helps determine appropriate legal structures, navigate regulatory requirements, and coordinate entity setup across China and global markets through multidisciplinary teams.

Tax and legal services integration: Combines international tax regulation expertise with legal business solutions for compliance, governance, and regulatory requirements across jurisdictions.

Global network coordination: Provides local expertise through member firms in multiple countries while coordinating expansion strategies, useful for multinational operations requiring consistent cross-border support.

Business transformation capabilities: Integrates entity setup with broader transformation initiatives including digital infrastructure modernization, operational redesign, and strategic planning for sustained growth.

Considerations before going with PwC

PwC operates as a professional services network rather than a productized platform. Services are delivered through consulting engagements tailored to each client’s needs, so implementation timelines and deliverables vary. Pricing is determined case-by-case based on engagement scope.

Custom Pricing

PwC determines pricing based on engagement scope, service complexity, and resources required. Fees vary by advisory, consulting, audit, or tax services requested and the scale of the engagement. This model targets organizations with complex structuring needs and larger budgets.

5) EY – Multidisciplinary Entity Formation and Regulatory Alignment

EY provides professional services supporting organizations in establishing legal entities and operating structures within new jurisdictions. Through multidisciplinary teams that include legal, tax, and advisory professionals, EY assists organizations in addressing the legal and regulatory considerations required for entity formation in China and across markets.

EY’s approach combines legal advisory, tax expertise, and operational insights to help organizations develop entity structures designed to improve efficiency and reduce complexity across international operations. The firm operates through a globally connected network enabling coordinated services for companies requiring entity formation and operational support in multiple countries.

Key Features:

• Entity registration with jurisdiction selection support: Provides advisory services helping organizations assess market conditions, regulatory frameworks, and operational requirements to determine where to establish entities aligned with strategic objectives.
• Legal entity structuring with regulatory alignment: Combines legal, tax, and operational expertise through multidisciplinary teams to structure entities that comply with varying legal frameworks while maintaining effective governance.
• Ongoing entity maintenance and governance management: Supports organizations in maintaining legal entities across jurisdictions, managing corporate obligations, governance frameworks, and regulatory reporting requirements throughout the entity lifecycle.
• Cross-border team coordination: Delivers integrated advisory services through globally connected professionals who address legal, regulatory, and operational requirements for international business operations.

Considerations before going with EY

EY primarily delivers services through advisory and consulting engagements rather than standardized solutions. Services are customized to each client’s requirements, so scope, timeline, and delivery models vary based on organizational complexity and regulatory environment.

Custom Pricing

EY pricing is determined by engagement scope, complexity, and requirements. Services are delivered through customized professional engagements, with pricing varying based on the services provided and the scale of operational or strategic objectives. This targets organizations with complex transformation initiatives.

6) Deloitte – Advisory and Managed Services for Complex Business Expansion

Deloitte provides advisory services supporting organizations during business expansion and transformation initiatives. Through its global network of member firms, Deloitte helps organizations navigate complex regulatory and business environments while implementing strategies that support growth and operational transformation across China and 150+ countries.

Deloitte Legal professionals combine legal expertise and business knowledge to help organizations address complex legal and corporate matters, including entity setup, regulatory registration support, and cross-border corporate structuring. The firm leverages global delivery centers to support consistent service delivery while maintaining local market understanding.

Key Features:

Entity setup advisory with transformation support: Provides advisory services for business expansion that integrate entity formation with broader transformation initiatives, operational optimization, and strategic planning.

Legal and corporate structuring expertise: Combines legal professionals with business advisors to manage legal risks, support corporate transactions, and integrate legal considerations into strategic decision-making.

Cross-border corporate structuring: Delivers global expertise combined with local regulatory knowledge through collaboration across member firms, helping organizations operate across multiple jurisdictions.

Operate services portfolio: Offers managed services for critical business functions including accounting and payroll outsourcing, global mobility and immigration, and supply chain resilience beyond initial entity setup.

Considerations before going with Deloitte

Deloitte operates as a network of independent member firms. Service availability and scope may vary depending on jurisdiction, regulatory requirements, and the specific member firm’s capabilities. Service delivery may require coordination between multiple firms across regions.

Custom Pricing

Deloitte pricing is determined based on engagement scope, complexity, and duration. Fees vary depending on service type, expertise required, and resources involved. Pricing structures are defined in individual client agreements, typically targeting large enterprises and complex organizations.

The Verdict: Which Company Should You Choose? (Our Top 3 Picks)

If you’re a foreign business looking to incorporate in China, your choice depends on budget, scale, and how much operational support you need after setup.

MSA Asia is the clear choice for SMEs wanting transparent, fixed pricing with post-incorporation support. At $2,999 for incorporation plus affordable monthly accounting and payroll, it’s far more accessible than Big 4 custom engagements.

Remote People works best if you’re incorporating while building a distributed team. The recruitment-to-employment model eliminates vendor handoffs, though coverage varies by service type across countries.

Deloitte fits large enterprises needing entity setup integrated with transformation initiatives. Their global network provides deep regulatory expertise, but expects custom pricing and coordination across member firms.