FDI China Review

FDI China is a privately held corporate service provider based in Shanghai. Established in 2016, its services are aimed at assisting foreign companies to establish and develop their presence in China. It provides end-to-end solutions and covers a range of services, including company registration, accounting, tax compliance, payroll, visa and work permit services, and entity termination. The company’s proposition is a transparent, cost-effective solution for foreign SMEs looking to enter the Chinese market as quickly and smoothly as possible. The team is fluent in English and Chinese and has offices in key locations within China and in select interntional locations. 

In this review, we’ll look at what support FDI China offers to clients, from advisory to setup, compliance, and operations capability, as well as at the firm’s pricing, strengths and weaknesses, USPs, and final verdict.

FDI China’s Key Services

FDI China provides a full range of corporate services that guide foreign businesses at all stages, from start-up to exit, helping foreign investors go through each stage of market entry or expansion and make their business fully operational and compliant in China. 

1. Advisory Services

FDI China’s “All-In-One Market Entry Package” can be seen as a form of comprehensive advisory, as it helps the client set up an entity and maintain it with tax and HR compliance for the client to be “risk-free and ready for growth.” 

Finally, the option to “Consult an Expert” via their website suggests one-on-one advisory. This would suggest an embedded, advisory business model that is built around the client and offers advice at every stage of the market entry and operations process. From a client perspective, this may be both continuous support and expertise rather than the one-time consulting engagements that can have a very limited shelf life, particularly in a market as dynamic as China, and this would suggest a very bespoke delivery of their services.

2. Capability Development

From helping businesses set up legal entities to providing banking and tax compliance services and licensing support, FDI China makes it easier for businesses to start operations and be up and running in China. This frees up time and resources that businesses can then dedicate to growing their operations.

For example, establishing a Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE) allows businesses to have 100% ownership of the entity and the people behind the WFOE, a key factor in tangible growth. Tax and accounting support from a company with many decades of experience can mitigate tax and compliance risks and free up business time and resources to focus on higher-leverage growth efforts. Payroll and HR services can also be a critical support to help businesses manage people and stay compliant with local labor laws with little to no effort on the business’s part.

As part of its services, FDI China also supports the Chinese e-commerce market access by helping clients to open an online shop on the most important platforms, such as JD.com, Douyin, and XiaoHongShu. Access to the local e-commerce platforms is essential for reaching out to the local customer base and further expanding business operations. Furthermore, FDI China also provides services related to changes in the company structure, such as changing the registered capital or the scope of business.

3. Entity Formation

Entity formation is one of the primary services that FDI China provides to foreign businesses. With the help of FDI China, foreign businesses can choose an appropriate and legally compliant business structure in China. 

FDI China provides registration services for the following entity types in China:

• Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE): This is the most common and beneficial legal entity available to foreign investors. FDI China can help establish a number of different types of WFOE. These include Consulting WFOEs for service-based companies, Trading WFOEs for import/export operations, or Manufacturing WFOEs. WFOEs allow foreign businesses complete control over their operations and the right to make a profit, enter into legally binding contracts, issue invoices to Chinese clients, and directly hire employees, while also protecting intellectual property.
• Representative Office (RO): FDI China can help clients set up a Representative Office if their business is involved in non-profit activities such as market research, customer support, quality control, or humanitarian operations.
• Joint Venture (JV): FDI China can help clients register Joint Ventures (JV), which are usually partnerships between foreign and local investors.

In addition to China, FDI China provides entity formation services in Hong Kong to Hong Kong Limited Liability Companies, Sole Proprietorships, Branch and Representative Offices, and more.

4. Other Services

In addition to the primary services of offering advice, developing capabilities, and establishing entities, FDI China also offers the following specialized services that support foreign businesses to function in an integrated and compliant manner during their expansion into the Chinese market.

• Tax & Accounting: China has a complex tax system that changes frequently. Dealing with it without expert guidance could lead to non-compliance and penalties. FDI China’s outsourced bookkeeping, tax, and accounting solutions help keep business owners compliant. 
• Payroll & HR Support: As part of its full-service entry package, FDI China can manage payroll and mandatory benefits for employees to ensure compliance with Chinese labor laws. 
• E-commerce: FDI China can also help with establishing e-commerce storefronts on popular platforms such as Tmall, JD, XiaoHongShu, Douyin, etc. To help a brand establish itself in the eyes of the Chinese consumer, we will assist the clients through the process of registering on the platform, setting up the store, and operating it. This not only shortens their time to market but also sets them up with the best e-commerce tactics.
• Licenses: FDI China assists companies in obtaining various licenses needed for smooth operations in China, including import/export licenses as well as ICP licenses needed to host a website on Chinese servers. This will help them avoid any delays and ensure 100% compliance with Chinese laws from day one.
• Trademark and IP Protection: FDI China also helps in protecting the brand in the country by registering trademarks and copyrights for the brand name, logo, slogans, packaging, designs, and even audio elements to protect it for the long term.

FDI China Support

FDI China aims for transparency and simplicity in all communications and documents. By maintaining a bilingual website and documentation, they make foreign businesses in China less dependent on third parties for navigating Chinese laws. This bilingual service ensures direct and efficient access to expert support from FDI China’s multilingual account managers, reducing language barriers and compliance risks.

FDI China’s customer service team is available 24/7 to quickly resolve any issues. When operating in a complex and time-sensitive market such as China, rapid support and issue resolution are invaluable.

FDI China’s team is proactive and responsive to the needs of its clients. As part of the “All-In-One Market Entry Package”, the team provides comprehensive and tailored support for businesses throughout their operations. A representative can be easily contacted by filling out a contact form on the website or reaching out directly by email or phone to schedule a consultation with an expert.

Resources

FDI China provides a range of practical tools for business success in China, including a blog, business glossary, tax calculator, and calendars for Chinese public holidays and tax deadlines to help with planning and compliance. They also share real success stories highlighting their expertise across industries in setup, tax, and HR. Their free “China Market Entry Guide 2025” offers a clear roadmap to understanding and navigating regulations, making FDI China a valuable resource for market entry.

FDI China Pricing

Prices are not publicly listed on the company’s website. It offers quote-based pricing. That means clients can get a solution tailored to their needs.

FDI China Pros and Cons

No service is perfect, and FDI China is no exception. Here are some of the pros and cons of using FDI China for market entry into China.

Pros

• All-in-One Market Entry Package: Takes care of company setup, tax, and HR compliance in one place.
• Local Experts, Full Compliance: An experienced “GLocal” team stays on top of the regulatory environment and ensures the business is 100% compliant with all the local regulations and policies in China.
• Wide Service Range: From WFOE, RO, JV, HK setup to payroll, ecommerce, license, and trademark services, to company closures, FDI China has got you covered.
• Bilingual, Around-the-Clock Support: Client managers who speak the client’s language, and around-the-clock support for smooth operation across time zones.
• Helpful Free Resources: From a blog, glossary, tax calculator, calendar, to the 2025 Market Entry Guide and comprehensive FAQs to help you make informed decisions.
• Shanghai Discount: Clients get a 20% discount on company registration in Shanghai.

Cons

• Prices Not Listed: Service prices are not made public. People must contact them for a quote, making upfront comparisons difficult.
• China only: This is not the ideal provider for companies that seek one partner to support expansion in multiple countries. 

Unique Selling Point

FDI China’s Unique Selling Point “The All-In-One Market Entry Package” that comes with great local knowledge and 24/7 multilingual support. Foreign businesses no longer need to manage numerous providers; FDI China offers an integrated solution that simplifies the process from company registration to ongoing compliance, covering complex tax, HR, and other administrative regulations in China.

The expert “GLocal” team, with a solid understanding of the local market, guides the clients to prevent them from making errors and to help them be 100% compliant. It reduces the risk by allowing businesses to focus on their growth and scale in China with confidence.

Overall Assessment: FDI China

FDI China is a trusted and dependable partner for foreign investors and businesses seeking to establish or expand their presence in China. Offering an “All-In-One Market Entry Package,” they make the often overwhelming and complex process of setting up HR and tax compliance as simple as possible for their clients. 

Note, however, that their pricing is not transparent, which may be due to their case-by-case customized service approach. They also only support company expansion in China. 

For businesses looking for a provider that can support them in multiple locations, it may be worth contacting MSA, who offer all the same services, but throughout Asia and at affordable prices. 

Frequently Asked Questions