Published by ChinaMNC · Zigong

Zigong Company Registration: Documents, Steps and Practical Timeline

A practical guide for foreign founders registering a company in Zigong, Sichuan: the documents to prepare, the registration sequence, how business scope and registered address work, and where delays usually appear.

Zigong is a prefecture-level city in southern Sichuan, known for salt history, dinosaur fossils and an industrial base that includes machinery, new materials and components. For a foreign founder, setting up a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) in Zigong follows the same national legal framework as elsewhere in China, but the practical work runs through Zigong's own administrative bodies: the market supervision bureau (AMR), the tax authority, the public security bureau for seals, and typically a bank and the foreign exchange system. This article walks through the documents, the sequence and the realistic timeline, and flags the points where applications most often stall.

First, understand what you are registering

Most foreign founders register a limited liability company with foreign capital, commonly called a WFOE. You will need at least one shareholder (a foreign individual or a foreign company), a legal representative, a supervisor, and — practically speaking — a person authorised to handle local filings. A Chinese-language company name, a registered address in Zigong, a business scope and a registered capital figure are all part of the package.

Before drafting documents, confirm three things that shape everything else: the business scope, the registered address, and whether your activity sits on the negative list for foreign investment. Since 2020 the national negative list has been short, but if your sector appears on it, you may need extra approvals or be restricted. Check the current catalogue rather than relying on older summaries.

Documents to prepare

Expect to provide notarised and, where required, legalised or apostilled corporate documents. Requirements can vary by filing officer and by the shareholder's jurisdiction, so confirm the current checklist with your local agent or the Zigong AMR before you spend money on notarisation.

Core documents

Passport copies of the foreign shareholder(s), legal representative and supervisor, plus the authorised signatory if different.
Proof of the foreign company shareholder (certificate of incorporation, good standing, and board resolution authorising the investment), notarised and legalised/apostilled as required.
Chinese-language company name — usually three to four characters plus an industry term and “有限公司”. Submit several alternatives for the name pre-approval check.
Articles of association (公司章程), signed by the shareholder.
Appointment documents for the legal representative, supervisor and (if appointed) general manager.
Registered address proof: a lease contract and the landlord's property certificate, or documents from a registered-address provider.
Business scope wording, ideally using standard catalogue phrases rather than invented descriptions.
Registered capital and contribution schedule, stated in the articles.

Translations must be accurate and consistent. A name or address that appears differently across documents is one of the most common causes of a rejected filing.

The registration sequence

The order matters because each step depends on the output of the previous one. A typical sequence in Zigong looks like this:

1. Name pre-approval

Submit proposed Chinese names for checking. Once cleared, you receive a name approval notice that is used in subsequent filings. Avoid names that suggest a national-scale enterprise, an industry you are not in, or that duplicate existing marks.

2. Prepare and sign incorporation documents

Articles, appointments, lease and shareholder documents are finalised and signed. If the shareholder is overseas, signing and courier time must be built into the plan.

3. Business licence at the AMR

The market supervision bureau issues the business licence (营业执照). This is the moment the company legally exists. The licence records the name, address, legal representative, registered capital and business scope.

4. Seals

After the licence, the company's official seals are carved and registered, usually through the public security system or an approved carving point. You will typically need the company seal, legal representative seal, finance seal and invoice seal. Keep a written record of who holds each seal.

5. Bank account

Open the basic deposit account (基本户) at a bank with a branch in Zigong. Banks apply their own onboarding and due-diligence checks, so expect questions about the shareholder structure, source of funds and expected transactions. This step often takes longer than founders expect.

6. Tax registration and invoicing setup

Register with the tax authority, determine taxpayer status, and arrange the systems needed to issue invoices. A finance person or bookkeeping provider should be appointed around this point.

7. Foreign exchange and capital contribution

Register the foreign investment information and the capital account so that registered capital can be remitted from abroad and converted for permitted uses. The bank and the foreign exchange system handle this; the paperwork must match the business licence and articles.

8. Post-establishment items

Depending on your activity, you may need sector-specific permits, social insurance registration, and ongoing filings. If you hire foreign staff, their work permits and residence permits are separate applications.

Business scope: write it for the licence, not for the brochure

China's business scope is a regulated field, not free marketing text. Use standard catalogue wording and list the activities you actually intend to conduct. Put the main activity first. If an item is a pre-approval item (许可项目), you need the relevant permit before or alongside the licence; general items (一般项目) can usually be filed directly.

Two practical warnings. First, an overly broad scope invites questions and may not be accepted. Second, a scope that omits your real revenue activity can complicate invoicing and tax treatment later. If you plan to import or export, say so explicitly and prepare for the foreign trade operator registration if required.

Registered address: the detail that causes the most friction

Zigong requires a real, documented address. Options include a leased office or workshop, or a registered-address service provided by an approved incubator or park. Whichever you choose, the address on the lease, the property certificate and the application must match exactly, including floor and room number.

Landlords should be able to provide a property ownership certificate and agree in writing to the registration. Some buildings — particularly residential units — may not be accepted for company registration. If you use a provider, confirm in writing what is included: mail handling, address changes, cooperation with inspections and renewal terms.

Practical timeline

Assuming documents are complete and there are no sector approvals, a realistic planning range from first name submission to a usable company with a bank account is roughly four to eight weeks. Pure AMR processing is faster; the calendar is dominated by notarisation, courier time, bank due diligence and any corrections.

Name check: a few working days, longer if names are rejected.
Document preparation and overseas signing: one to three weeks, depending on notarisation and courier.
Business licence: typically several working days once the file is accepted.
Seals: a few working days.
Bank account: one to three weeks, sometimes more.
Tax and FX setup: one to two weeks, partly parallel with banking.

Add time for any sector permit, and add time if the shareholder is a company in a jurisdiction with slow notarisation.

Common delays and how to avoid them

Inconsistent names and addresses across passports, articles, lease and application forms.
Notarisation and legalisation gaps — documents that are notarised but not legalised, or apostilled when legalisation is expected.
Translation errors in the company name or scope wording.
Address problems — landlord documents missing, or a property type that cannot be registered.
Business scope wording that triggers a permit requirement you did not plan for.
Bank onboarding — incomplete explanations of ownership, source of funds or expected flows.
Registered capital mismatches between the articles, the licence and the bank remittance.
Signatory authority — signing documents without a properly executed power of attorney.

Working with a local agent or lawyer who files in Zigong regularly is usually worth the cost, mainly because they know the current checklist and can catch mismatches before submission.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information only and is not legal, tax, accounting or investment advice. Requirements, checklists and processing times in China and Sichuan change; verify current rules with the Zigong market supervision authorities, a qualified local lawyer or a licensed agent before making decisions.