Top 5 Company Formation Services for Entering China and Expanding Across Asia

Expanding into China and Asia means navigating complex regulations, understanding local compliance requirements, and establishing legal entities that can operate from day one. Many businesses struggle with choosing between incorporation specialists who disappear after registration and advisory firms whose services come with enterprise-level price tags.

We've shortlisted the top 5 company formation providers that help you establish compliant entities, manage post-incorporation operations, and scale across Asian markets with clarity and confidence.

Let's dive in.

Company Formation Services at a Glance

1) MSA Asia - Complete Incorporation and Operational Support for Asia Market Entry

Foreign businesses entering China face a critical challenge: most incorporation providers register your company and then leave you to figure out accounting, payroll, tax compliance, and ongoing administration on your own. MSA Asia solves this by combining entity formation with the operational services you need immediately after setup, giving you one partner from registration through day-to-day business operations.

With over 15 years of experience supporting foreign companies in China, MSA Asia has registered more than 500 Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises and helped over 1,500 businesses navigate Chinese regulatory requirements while maintaining operations across Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and India.

Key Features:

• End-to-end China entity formation covering WFOE, Joint Venture, Representative Office, and Branch Office setup with complete post-registration support including tax registration, bank account coordination, VAT invoice setup, and employer registration.

• Integrated accounting and tax compliance that starts immediately after incorporation, maintaining compliant financial records, preparing regulatory reports, and managing VAT, corporate income tax, and individual income tax filings so your business stays operational.

• Dedicated account manager model providing one primary contact across all services and markets, supported by multidisciplinary teams including lawyers and CPAs who address regulatory, tax, and operational requirements throughout your expansion.

• Multi-country operational consistency across China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other Asian markets, allowing businesses to work with one provider for incorporation, accounting, payroll, and compliance administration as they scale regionally.

• Scalable service structure that grows with your business from initial market entry through active operations, letting you start with entity formation and add accounting, payroll, or tax services as operational needs expand.

Pricing starts at $2,999

What else can you do with MSA Asia?

Beyond incorporation, MSA Asia provides transparent, fixed-price operational services that many competitors don't offer upfront. This pricing clarity helps businesses budget accurately while accessing accounting, payroll, tax compliance, and workforce administration without switching providers after entity formation. You get continuity from setup through ongoing operations across multiple Asian markets.

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2) Remote People - Global Incorporation Platform with Workforce Infrastructure

Remote People approaches company formation as part of a broader global hiring infrastructure. While many businesses need entity setup to establish market presence, Remote People positions incorporation alongside its Employer of Record, payroll, and contractor management services, creating a unified platform for companies that want to register entities and build international teams simultaneously.

The platform supports company registration across 150+ countries and integrates it with recruitment, employment, payroll, and compliance services. This model works for businesses that view entity formation as the first step toward hiring local teams rather than as a standalone administrative task.

Key Features:

• Incorporation integrated with EOR services allowing businesses to register companies while simultaneously hiring employees through Remote People's owned local entities, eliminating the gap between entity formation and workforce deployment.

• Multi-country registration support across 150+ countries with local director services, registered address provision, bank account guidance, and ongoing corporate compliance filings managed through one platform.

• Dedicated account management with no chatbots or ticket queues, providing direct access to specialists who coordinate incorporation, employment, payroll, and compliance activities across jurisdictions.

• Platform-based compliance monitoring that tracks regulatory changes, filing deadlines, and corporate obligations across countries where entities are registered, applying updates automatically to compliance workflows.

Considerations before going with Remote People:

Service coverage varies by offering, with incorporation available in 150+ countries but other services like payroll (100+ countries) and visa support (80+ countries) having different geographic availability. Some benefits and compliance features depend on local regulations and operational infrastructure in specific markets.

Pricing starts at $6,900

Timeline: 2-8 weeks depending on the country

3) PwC - Strategic Market Entry Advisory for Global Organizations

PwC supports organizations establishing legal entities as part of broader international expansion and corporate structuring initiatives. Rather than offering incorporation as a standalone service, PwC integrates entity setup within tax-efficient structuring, regulatory navigation, and strategic market entry planning designed for organizations with complex cross-border requirements.

The firm's global network of member firms provides coordinated support across jurisdictions, allowing organizations to access local regulatory expertise while maintaining strategic alignment across multiple markets during expansion.

Key Features:

• Corporate structuring integrated with entity setup helping organizations determine appropriate legal structures, navigate regulatory requirements, and design tax-efficient entity configurations when expanding into new regions through coordinated advisory teams.

• Global network coordination across member firms in multiple jurisdictions, enabling organizations to establish entities in several countries simultaneously while maintaining consistent governance frameworks and operational alignment.

• Market entry strategy development that evaluates regulatory requirements, tax considerations, and operational structures needed to establish presence in new countries, supporting organizations in assessing opportunities and designing expansion approaches.

• Digital transformation capabilities integrated into expansion planning, helping organizations modernize technology infrastructure, implement cloud platforms, and deploy data analytics as they establish operations in new markets.

Considerations before going with PwC:

Services are delivered through consulting engagements tailored to each client's scope and complexity, meaning implementation timelines and service structures vary by project. Pricing is determined case-by-case based on engagement requirements, and the global network structure means service delivery may involve coordination between multiple member firms depending on jurisdictions.

Custom Pricing:

PwC determines pricing based on engagement scope, service complexity, and resources required for delivery. Fees vary by the type of advisory, consulting, or entity setup services requested and the scale of the organization's expansion objectives. Services are structured through agreements defining scope, timelines, and delivery responsibilities, typically targeting large organizations and multinational firms with complex cross-border requirements.

4) EY - Multidisciplinary Entity Formation for Complex International Operations

EY provides entity formation services through multidisciplinary teams combining legal, tax, and advisory professionals who address the regulatory and operational considerations required for establishing legal entities across jurisdictions. These services support organizations navigating complex regulatory requirements when forming entities in new markets.

EY's global network enables coordinated services for companies requiring entity formation in multiple countries, with cross-border teams providing integrated advisory that addresses legal, regulatory, and operational requirements associated with international business operations.

Key Features:

• Multidisciplinary entity structuring combining legal advisory, tax expertise, and operational insights to help organizations develop entity structures designed to reduce complexity and improve efficiency across international operations.

• Jurisdiction selection advisory helps organizations evaluate regulatory frameworks, tax considerations, and operational requirements across jurisdictions to make informed decisions about where to establish entities and how to structure operations.

• Ongoing entity maintenance support across multiple jurisdictions, helping organizations maintain structured oversight of entities while ensuring corporate obligations are addressed in each market where they operate.

• Regulatory compliance integration through advisory services that help organizations identify regulatory requirements and implement operational practices designed to meet obligations across varying jurisdictions and industries.

Considerations before going with EY:

Services are delivered through customized client engagements designed for specific business needs, meaning scope, timeline, and delivery models vary based on organizational complexity and regulatory environment. The global network structure may require coordination across multiple member firms depending on jurisdictions involved in entity formation.

Custom Pricing:

EY pricing is determined by engagement scope, complexity, and requirements. Services are delivered through engagement models tailored to client objectives, with fees varying based on services provided and the scale of operational or strategic goals. Engagements may include advisory services, consulting projects, or managed services depending on complexity, typically structured for organizations with substantial cross-border operations.

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5) Deloitte - Advisory-Led Entity Formation with Transformation Capabilities

Deloitte provides entity setup advisory supporting organizations during business expansion and transformation initiatives. These services help organizations navigate complex regulatory and business environments while implementing strategies that support growth and operational transformation beyond basic entity registration.

Deloitte's global network allows organizations to access cross-border advisory support when expanding into new markets, with collaboration across member firms providing global expertise combined with local regulatory knowledge to help organizations operate across multiple jurisdictions.

Key Features:

• Transformation-integrated entity formation that connects entity setup with broader business transformation initiatives, operational optimization, and technology implementation as organizations establish presence in new markets.

• Industry-specific structuring expertise providing solutions rooted in sector research and business insights, helping organizations in financial services, technology, healthcare, and other industries establish entities aligned with industry-specific regulatory requirements.

• Cross-border structuring coordination through collaboration across member firms, delivering global expertise with local regulatory knowledge to help organizations navigate complex cross-border business challenges during multi-jurisdiction expansion.

• Operational services integration allows organizations to combine entity formation with managed services for finance operations, HR and payroll, tax compliance, and accounting through Deloitte's Operate services portfolio.

Considerations before going with Deloitte:

Services are provided by member firms operating as independent legal entities, meaning availability and scope may vary by jurisdiction and regulatory requirements. Service delivery may involve coordination between multiple firms across regions for multinational organizations, requiring alignment with local regulatory frameworks.

Custom Pricing:

Deloitte pricing is determined based on engagement scope, complexity, and duration. Fees vary depending on service type, expertise required, and resources involved in delivery. Pricing structures are defined through client agreements tailored to specific needs, with engagements involving collaboration across service areas and geographic regions depending on project requirements, primarily serving large enterprises and complex organizations.

The Verdict: Which Company Formation Service Should You Choose? (Our Top 3 Picks)

Choosing the right company formation partner depends on whether you need just entity registration or complete operational support after setup.

MSA Asia stands out for foreign SMEs entering China and Asia who need affordable, transparent pricing with integrated accounting, payroll, and tax compliance from day one.

Remote People works well for companies that want to combine entity formation with immediate workforce hiring through EOR services across 150+ countries on one platform.

PwC fits large organizations and multinational firms requiring strategic market entry advisory with tax-efficient structuring, though pricing reflects enterprise-level custom engagements rather than fixed-rate services.