- Light-touch market presence
Representative Office
A cost-effective way to establish a local footprint, conduct market research and liaison activities — without the commitment of a full operating entity.
What a Rep Office can do
A Representative Office is a non-equity local presence of a foreign parent company. It’s ideal when you need people on the ground in China for liaison, market research, quality control or supplier coordination — but aren’t yet ready to trade or invoice locally.
Rep Offices cannot sign contracts, issue invoices or generate revenue in China. All employees must be hired through a local dispatch agency.
Typical use cases
- Early-stage market exploration
- Supplier sourcing and quality control for manufacturers
- Liaison between headquarters and Chinese distributors
- Marketing and brand-building ahead of a full launch
If your activities will generate revenue in China, you’ll outgrow a Rep Office quickly — we can upgrade you to a WFOE when that time comes.
Deemed-profit taxation
Rep Offices are taxed on a deemed-profit basis — typically 15% of total expenses — rather than on actual revenue. We handle the quarterly filings and annual reconciliation as part of our ongoing support.
- Related solutions
Explore other ways to enter China.
China Company Incorporation
Full-service formation for any entity type, end-to-end.
Set Up a WFOE
100% foreign-owned control over your China operations.
Set Up a Joint Venture
Partner with a Chinese entity to access local markets.