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繁體中文Who this is for
- Anyone who wants to set up a company and start a business in Japan
- Overseas companies that want a subsidiary, branch or representative office in Japan
- Anyone who wants to start preparing from their home country before coming to Japan
- Anyone who wants to plan company setup and the Business Manager visa together
Entity types in Japan
There are four main ways to do business in Japan. We compare liability, credibility with business partners, tax and fit with visa requirements to choose one.
| Entity type | Overview | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Kabushiki kaisha (KK) | The most common form. Investors' liability is limited to their investment. Easier to earn the trust of business partners and financial institutions | Full-scale operations, future fundraising or listing |
| Godo kaisha (LLC) | Lower setup costs and simpler operation. Investors' liability is limited to their investment | Starting small; wholly owned subsidiaries of overseas parents |
| Japan branch | Registered as part of the overseas head office. No separate company is formed | Trading on the head office's credit; operations still small |
| Representative office | No registration required. Limited to market research and information gathering; no sales activities | Market research before full entry |
Scroll sideways to compare
Subsidiaries and branches differ in head-office liability, taxation and exit procedures.
Company setup process
- 01
Decide the basics
Decide the trade name, business purposes, head office, capital, directors and fiscal year-end. How the business purposes are worded affects reviews for permits, visas and bank accounts.
- 02
Gather home-country documents
Obtain your passport, proof of address, signature certificate and other documents, and have them notarized, apostilled and translated.
- 03
Draft and certify the articles of incorporation
For a kabushiki kaisha, the articles are certified at a notary office. Electronic articles require no revenue stamp.
- 04
Pay in the capital
Capital is paid into the account of a promoter or other designated person. If there is no Japanese bank account, how to handle this is decided in advance.
- 05
File for registration
The application is filed with the Legal Affairs Bureau. The filing date becomes the company's date of incorporation.
- 06
Post-incorporation filings
Notifications go to the tax office, local government, pension office, labor standards inspection office and Hello Work (public employment office), each within its deadline.
Registration typically takes two to four weeks once documents are ready.
What we do
Entity and structure design
Based on your business plan, investors, visa, and taxes in Japan and your home country, we propose the entity type, capital, shareholder structure and fiscal year-end. Where a Chinese parent company invests, we also confirm China's outbound investment procedures with local professionals.
Registration of companies and branches
From drafting and certifying the articles of incorporation to confirming the capital payment and filing for registration. For a Japan branch, we start by preparing an affidavit certifying the head office's registered details.
FEFTA procedures
Investment by foreign investors or setting up a branch may require a post-investment report or prior notification filed through the Bank of Japan. We determine whether one is needed based on the industry and the form of investment, and prepare the documents.
Corporate bank account support
Banks focus on business substance, source of funds, and verification of the representative and beneficial owners. We prepare a Japanese-language business overview and the required documents, advise on choosing a bank, and attend and interpret at interviews. Whether an account is opened is decided by the financial institution.
Office and registered address
We find an office that fits your business and visa requirements (a leased office, a private serviced office and so on) and support you through to signing. A virtual office may be usable for registration but may not be recognized as a place of business in visa or bank reviews.
Certification and translation of overseas documents
We tell you which documents are needed and arrange notarization, apostille, consular legalization, affidavits and translation. Since November 2023, public documents from mainland China can be submitted with an apostille.
Post-setup filings and operational readiness
We handle the filings right after incorporation together: the corporate establishment notification, the application for blue-return approval, social insurance enrollment, and the decision on qualified invoice registration. From there, we hand over to accounting, tax, HR and corporate secretarial services.
More about Accounting, Tax & HRWhy TIMOA
- 01
Registration, permits, tax and social insurance are handled by the respective licensed professionals, working as one team.
- 02
We set the order of setup, visa, bank account and office at the outset, so nothing has to be redone.
- 03
We guide you in Japanese, Chinese and English, starting with your home-country documents.
Fees
Fees are quoted once we understand the nature and scope of your engagement. Please contact us first.
Ask about feesFrequently asked questions
Can I set up a company if the representative lives overseas?
Yes. The representative director does not need to live in Japan. However, bank account and visa reviews look at whether a director lives in Japan and at the substance of the business. Decide on the structure at the planning stage.
How much capital should we have?
Legally, a company can be formed with one yen. The right amount, however, depends on visa requirements, financial requirements for permits, credibility with business partners and banks, and consumption tax treatment. We make a proposal after hearing your business plan.
Kabushiki kaisha or godo kaisha: which is better?
A kabushiki kaisha is often chosen when credibility and future fundraising matter; a godo kaisha when keeping costs down and operating as a subsidiary of an overseas parent. A visa can be applied for with either.
Can I set up a company without coming to Japan?
Up to registration, yes: you send us by post documents certified in your home country. Many banks require a branch visit or interview to open a corporate account, so we build the timing of your trip to Japan into the plan.
Can a representative office generate revenue?
No. A representative office is limited to preparatory activities such as market research. To sign contracts or make sales, set up a subsidiary or a branch.