Registering a One-Person Company in China: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Short answer: start as an individual industrial and commercial household (getihu) for low-cost validation, and upgrade to a one-person LLC when contracts or invoices demand it.

Two structures compared

Getihu: cheapest to register and dissolve, simple taxation, unlimited liability. One-person LLC: limited liability and easier to sign B2B contracts, requires bookkeeping.

Timeline

Name approval, business license, and bank account typically take 3–7 working days in major cities; many pilot zones batch-process in 3 days.

Taxes

Small-scale taxpayers with quarterly sales under ¥300k are VAT-exempt through 2027. Keep invoices clean from day one.

FAQ

Can I register at my home address? In most pilot cities yes, or use an incubator park address — see our OPC Parks section.