Guides

Everything you need to know to verify a Chinese company

Verify a Chinese Company Now

A working knowledge base for foreign buyers, investors, and legal practitioners doing business with Chinese companies. Each guide explains one piece of the corporate registry — what it means, where to find it, and how to spot the red flags.

Fundamentals

What every foreign buyer must understand before signing anything.

Why Verifying Chinese Companies Is Different — and Harder

China's corporate registry is Chinese-only, fragmented across six government systems, and built around Chinese-character legal names. Here's what that means for foreign buyers.

7 min read

Chinese Company Registration Status: The Seven States and What They Mean

Existence, revocation, deregistration, suspension — only one of these registration statuses means a Chinese company can lawfully transact with you.

6 min read

The Chinese Business License (营业执照): A Field-by-Field Guide

Every legitimate Chinese company has a one-page Business License. Here are the nine fields it contains, what each means, and how to spot a fake.

8 min read

Why You Must Find the Legal Chinese Name — Not the English One

Chinese companies have only one legal name, and it's in Chinese characters. Without it, you can't sue, you can't enforce, and you may not even know who you're paying.

6 min read

Identifying a Chinese Company

Names, ID codes, capital, scope, and the people behind the entity.

Verifying the English Name of a Chinese Company (MOFCOM Filing Check)

Chinese companies engaged in import/export must register a declared English name with MOFCOM. A mismatch with what the supplier uses with you is a meaningful red flag.

5 min read

Unified Social Credit Code (USCC): China's 18-Character Company ID

Every Chinese company has a unique 18-character Unified Social Credit Code. It's printed on the Business License, the official seal, and every public document. Here's how to use it.

6 min read

Legal Representative (法定代表人): Power, Liability, and Why It Matters to You

The Legal Representative of a Chinese company can bind the company alone. They are also personally liable for some corporate offences. Here's what foreign buyers need to know.

8 min read

Registered Capital vs. Paid-in Capital: What the Numbers Really Tell You

RMB 50 million registered capital does not mean RMB 50 million in the bank. Since the 2014 reform, paid-in capital is often zero. Here's how to read the figures.

7 min read

Business Scope (经营范围): The Field That Decides If They Can Lawfully Export to You

Chinese export law requires the Business Scope to explicitly cover both the goods and import/export wording. Missing either, and the supplier can't legally ship.

7 min read

Risk & Litigation

Court records, enforcement actions, and the data Chinese companies don't volunteer.

Beyond the Basics: Chinese Litigation, Enforcement, and Risk Signals

Registration tells you a company exists. The court databases tell you whether it pays its debts. Here's how to use China's enforcement and dishonest debtor records.

9 min read

The Official Chinese Sources for Company Data You Should Know

Six government databases hold the data needed for a thorough Chinese company check. Each is Chinese-only. Here's the canonical list with URLs and what each contains.

5 min read