Business Basics
What is the best way for your business to explore the Chinese market? Should you find distributors, sell online, or set up a company in the country?
From indirect modes of entry like licensing, franchising and online selling to exporting with or without the help of local partners, from investment in the form of representative offices, partnerships, joint ventures and wholly foreign-owned enterprises, find the approach best suited to your business.
Strategic Decision-Making
This section is here to help you navigate your options and craft a strategy for your market entry.
Ways to Enter the Chinese Market
The three main ways to export goods or services to China:
- Direct exporting: direct exportation of goods/services from the producer in one country to the final consumer in China.
- Indirect exporting: selling of goods/services through an intermediary involved in the producer’s sector and market, who in turn sells to final consumers in China. Such intermediaries are agents, distributors, and franchisees.
- Cross-border e-commerce: selling goods/services online, provided to the Chinese consumer directly from Europe, or through a bonded warehouse in China (more details in the “CBEC” section of FAQs).
Exporting to China
Selling online
Contracts and payments
Protecting your IP
Before entering the market, it is essential to understand IPR best practices in China. In partnership with the EU SME Centre, IP experts from the EU-funded China IP SME Helpdesk provide free resources and tailored advice to European SMEs.
Visit the China IP SME Helpdesk
IP protection in practice
Operating in China
If you set up a joint-venture, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, or a representative office in China, how to manage financing, taxation, HR and other matters?
This section guides you through key considerations for your operations on the ground.
Financing and taxation in China
Human resources
Understanding Chinese consumers
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