How CFO support services can help new entry business in China
As China's economy continues to grow and the market further opens up, more and more international companies are attracted by the large consumer base, fast-growing market and rising consumer demand in China, and see it as an important opportunity to expand their business territory and seek to occupy a place in this huge market full of potential.
Setting up an entity in China not only brings new development opportunities for enterprises, but also enables them to make great progress in technical exchanges and brand building, thus realizing a win-win situation for both sides.
However, while there are good opportunities to be seized, there are inevitably a number of challenges to be faced.
A. What challenges entry business may face when entering China?
Business eco-system
Entering the Chinese market presents several challenges for eco-system entry businesses, including navigating complex regulatory frameworks, ensuring compliance with stringent environmental standards and adapting to local consumer preferences.
Additionally, businesses must contend with intense competition from both domestic and international players, as well as potential intellectual property issues. Cultural differences and the need for localized marketing strategies further complicate market entry.
Moreover, establishing reliable supply chains and partnerships within China’s unique business ecosystem requires significant time and resources. Successfully overcoming these challenges demands thorough market research, strategic planning, and often, partnerships with local entities to ensure smooth operations and sustainable growth.
Compliance Requirements
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Incorporation: Setting up a business entity in China involves a series of steps that can be time-consuming and require navigating through various government departments. This includes obtaining business licenses, tax registration, and other necessary approvals.
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Accounting: Enterprises registered in China are required to prepare financial statements in accordance under PRC GAAP. As statuary foreign-invested enterprises and listed companies, are required to have annual audits.
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Tax Compliance: China's tax mechanism is complex, with various taxes applicable to foreign businesses, including corporate income tax, value-added tax (VAT), and customs duties. Understanding and complying with these tax obligations is crucial.
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Customs and Import Regulations: Importing goods into China requires compliance with strict customs regulations, including accurate classification, valuation, and adherence to import/export controls.
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HR and Payroll: China's labor laws are comprehensive and include regulations on contracts, working hours, wages, and social insurance contributions. Foreign businesses must ensure they are in full compliance to avoid disputes and penalties.
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Data Privacy and Cybersecurity: New regulations such as the Cybersecurity Law and the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) impose strict requirements on data handling and privacy. Foreign businesses must ensure they have robust data protection measures in place.
Digitalization
Following are main digital solutions that many companies in China will apply:
- ERP system: ERP system is an integrated software solution that consolidates processes from different departments into a unified platform for data sharing and process optimization.
- T&E system: Travel & Expense (T&E) Reimbursement System is designed to help organizations efficiently manage employee travel and expense reimbursement processes. It simplifies operations by automating the reimbursement process and integrates seamlessly with corporate financial systems.
- E-invoice: Foreign companies need to understand and comply with China's e-invoicing laws and regulations. The implementation of e-invoicing systems in China may require connecting the ERP system to the e-invoicing service platform designated by the Chinese government, which involves issues such as data format conversion and interface development.
- HR and Payroll: The system integrates core functions such as employee information management, attendance records, salary calculation, performance evaluation, and benefits management to achieve centralized management and automated processing of HR data.
- Dashboard: Designed to transform complex data into intuitive, easy-to-understand visual charts and reports. Data can be displayed intuitively and analyzed in depth, and companies can improve operational efficiency and optimize resource allocation.
In the face of the above problems, foreign companies often need to invest a great deal of time, human resources and financial costs. This not only significantly increases the company's operating costs, but also delays the start-up of the business, affecting the market layout and the progress of business plan implementation.
B. What Does CFO support services entail?
The CFO support service provides a one-stop solution for companies, covering all aspects from initial market assessment to the implementation stage. The service provides strategic guidance and hands-on support to ensure a sound start and sustainable growth in the new market environment.
Our CFO support services help companies efficiently overcome challenges and accelerate the smooth implementation of their business plans.
C. How Does CFO support services help?
With over 20 years of experience, SBA Store Forest is committed to supporting the growth of internationally active businesses, helping Chinese companies expand into overseas markets, and assisting foreign companies to set up smoothly in China. We provide one-stop hassle-free solutions in professional auditing, taxation, business consulting, company secretarial and advisory services, accounting and consulting services, human resources consulting and payroll management, and global expansion consulting services.
Business eco-system
To further enhance the value of our services, we understand client’s business model in China and we always support them by helping them find the right partners when doing business in China from our knowledge and resources of the industry. The clients not only have access to a full range of professional services, but also to a rich network of local resources to ensure their business operations run more smoothly and efficiently. SBA is committed to providing clients with customized solutions to meet their specific needs and help them succeed in China.
Compliance Requirements

Digitalization

D. Case Study
Background
The client is a well-known French fashion brand decided to enter the Chinese market and start with e-commerce business in late 2019. With the outbreak of the Covid-19 in early 2020, the planned site visits and business follow-up were interrupted. They have to initially faced a series of complex issues, including market entry strategies, inventory management, compliance issues, e-commerce platform operations and finding reliable local suppliers.
How our CFO support help the client
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Tailored Timeline for remote entity setup: A detailed, day-by-day action plan was created, outlining each step from company registration to issuing the first official invoice. Leveraging our strong government relationships, we obtain business licenses in 2 days with in the completed materials.
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Business eco-system: We have been deeply involved in the retail industry for more than 10 years, accumulating a large number of retail customers, and is still continuously exploring various new retail scenarios to this day. We have profound insights into marketplace, new retail, and social marketplace. For the client, we cooperate with other vendors such as TP vendor and Logistic vendor. In addition, we introduce related partners for the client to help them doing business in China.
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Regulatory compliance Navigation: We provided a thorough explanation of China's regulatory landscape, ensuring the client fully understood all compliance requirements specific to their industry. Our service team consistently followed up with recurring compliance solutions after their company was established, ensuring they never missed any statutory deadlines.
With the support of our CFO services, the company successfully entered the Chinese market and began operations in 2020. Since then, our team has continued to assist them with daily recurring services, ensuring smooth and compliant business operations.
Ready to streamline your market entry and ensure seamless operations in China? Our tailored CFO services are designed to navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance, optimize your business ecosystem, and provide you with a clear, actionable roadmap for success. Whether you're setting up a new entity or looking to enhance your existing operations, our team is here to support you every step of the way.