How to set up companies in Japan?

Have you ever dream of setting up a company in Japan but don't know how?
As a foreigner, what procedure must I go through in order to make my business dream come true?
If you have any of the above questions, feel free to consult our specialists!

Trans Co., Ltd Taiwan Branch has an office in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Our team of consultants can assist foreign companies, any individuals regardless of nationality, and venture capital companies to solve intractable problems related to foreigners setting up service bases and executing business activities in Japan. Our goal is to assist foreigners in starting a business in Japan, including opening open a store, applying for a visa, setting up a company and registering a legal person under the name of a Taiwanese. With the help of our professional team, these applications will no longer cause you any trouble and can make your business in Japan even more successful.

The Japanese government has established "national strategic special zones" in places such as Tokyo and Kansai, and has relaxed relevant laws and regulations with the goal of "creating an environment for business freedom."

Table of contents

Types of business base in Japan

When establishing a base in Japan on behalf of a foreigner in a leadership position, there are several forms to consider:

1. Representative Office: Unable to engage in business activities, nor can it open a bank account in the name of a legal person. Therefore, it is not so much lucrative.
2. Branch (of foreign company): A branch of a Taiwanese legal person in Japan, but at least one director must be a Japanese national or resident.

If you wish to establish a company in Japan and apply for a business manager visa to stay in Japan for an extended period, setting up a branch company is not recommended. Instead, we advise you, on behalf of a foreigner as the authorized person, to set up a:

3. 株式会社 kabushiki gaisha (Co., Ltd.)
4. 合同会社 gōdō gaisha (Japanese limited liability company)

株式会社 (Co., Ltd.) v.s. 合同会社 (LLC)

The original concept of "株式会社 kabushiki gaisha" requires the designation of one founder and one director.
However, the founder and the director can also be the same person. In small Kabushiki gaisha, a director often invest their own capital.

"合同会社 Gōdō gaisha" on the other hand requires investors to contribute capital as employees.
In addition, gōdō gaisha does not need to notarize the company's articles of association, which can save time and money spent on the application.

In the actual operation of the company, there is not much difference between the above two. However, "gōdō gaisha" have the impression of being small and simple in the established image. Thus, when conducting business activities in Japan, establishing a "kabushiki gaisha" will gain higher credibility.

Kabushiki gaisha (Co., Ltd.) Gōdō gaisha (LLC)
Capital 1 yen or more
Numbers of founders 1 or more people
Position title （representatives）CEO （representatives）Employees
Capital Contribution Directors do not have to contribute capital Requires contribute capital as employees
Article of Association Notarization required by a notary office No need to be notarized

How to set up local corporations in Japan?

A "subsidiary" in the Company Act is defined as a company in which the parent company holds more than half of the resolution rights. If the amount of capital contributed by a foreign legal person accounts for more than half of the capital, the establishment of a local legal person may be considered. Moreover, the amount of capital does not have to be remitted from foreign countries. It can be remitted directly from a Japanese bank.

Company registration agenda in Japan

After obtaining the seal certificate and necessary documents, and with our help of the application, it would take at least 3 to 4 weeks to receive the Registration Transcript.
If there are deficiencies or missing information of the documents, the application may not be accepted and the actual schedule may be extended.

The company establishment date in Japan is the day when an application is submitted to the Legal Affairs Bureau.

About capital

With only a capital of 1 yen, you can register as a legal person.

But if you'd like to apply for a business manager visa, a capital of 5 million yen is the minimum. In addition, if the capital exceeds 10 million yen, business tax (消費稅) will be levied from the first year.

Source: Japanese National Tax Agency

Both individuals and legal persons can become investors (founders).

Business Manager Visa

The individual in charge may apply for an investment and business visa as an operator or manager with the qualification of "operation and management". This visa is issued for the purpose of operating a company, therefore, not only capital but also a physical office is required. The validity period is divided into 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 4 months, and 3 months. The initial application is only valid for 1 year and must be extended before expiration. If the company has no turnover two years after its establishment, its business and management visa will be cancelled due to poor business performance.

Our services

We offer consultation and support services to assist foreigners in establishing companies in Japan, as well as dispatching local interpreters and facilitating various business activities in Japan.

Market Research We make thorough preparations and investigation beforehand before you establish a base in Japan. We also assist you in investigating various information about age groups or regional statistics in Japan.
Company establishment We handle all the procedures required for company establishment on your behalf, including local notarization, registration with the tax bureau and other one-stop services, allowing you to successfully establish a company in Japan without wasting time traveling to Japan.
Accounting and tax filing The accounting office, business tax (消費稅), business income tax (法人稅), Withholding statement (源泉徴収) declaration and tax payment after your successful establishment.
Searching the source of goods If you need to locate the source, manufacturer, or supplier of a product in Japan, we can conduct research and assist you in contacting suppliers, placing orders and so on.
Assistance with importing and exporting Even if your company is not based in Japan, we can assist you with importing and exporting goods worldwide without incurring additional operating costs.
Interpreter Dispatch Interpreting talents are dispatched to various regions in Tokyo and Osaka. Professional Japanese interpreters allow you to negotiate business with ease.
Making appointments for business visits Do you want to sell in Japan or cooperate with Japanese companies? We can also help you with booking business visits and take the first step to success.
Searching for offices, stores, and residential properties Looking for the right office space in Japan? We can take you to interview real estate companies in various places and help you find suitable offices, stores, houses and other properties.
Trademark registration Apply for Japanese trademark registration in advance to prevent your logo from being misappropriated.
Looking for agents and local cooperative enterprises If you want to find product agents in Japan, or want to cooperate with local Japanese companies, we can help find and contact you on your behalf.
Exhibition participation Act as an agent to apply for participation in various exhibitions in Japan and contact exhibition layout and decoration companies.
Apply for work visa and labor health insurance Act as an agent to apply for business and manager visas, and apply for employee labor insurance, health insurance, welfare pensions, etc.
Filing income tax Don’t know how to file personal income tax in Japan? We can file and pay income tax on your behalf.
Introduction to talent matching We offer long-term and short-term talent dispatch and matching services for full-time employees. We can provide you with a work manual that meets your company's needs and complies with Japan's Labor Standards Act. Additionally, we can provide notifications related to designated candidates, employment contract signing, confidentiality agreements, and more.
Advertising, creating website, apply for domain name Assist in the production of Japanese advertising, Japanese website, leasing Japanese domain space and applying for Japanese local domain names such as co.jp.
Capital and other funds dispatch If you have troubles with international remittance of capital and other capital arrangements, we can provide a temporary advance of the capital on the date of establishment of the company, saving you the trouble of international remittance and non-circulation of funds.
Telephone secretary You can apply for a Japanese dedicated hotline and receive professional answers in Japanese so that you do not lose any business opportunities.

Establishment assistance and cases

The following are some cases in which our company assisted clients in opening businesses in Japan.

京揚投資管理合同会社
What they do: Operating B&B (民泊) in Kyoto, Japan
What we did: company registration, tax declaration, business visa application

白龍商事合同会社
What they do: Souvenir business in Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku
What we did: Company registration, provision of virtual address, tax declaration, business visa application, and transfer of registered address

NICHIRYU TRANDING 合同会社
What they do: Selling imported products on AMAZON
What we did: Transfer the company's equity and change the person in charge, open online bank accounts, provide a virtual address, and file tax returns

ウィッシングソフト(株)
What they do: Selling software
What we did: Tax declarations such as profit-seeking Enterprise Income Tax (法人稅) and withholding statement (源泉徴収)

禾田貿易合同會社
What they do: Purchasing agent
What we did: Company registration, bank accounts opening, virtual address provision

国境の南株式会社
What they do: Buying and selling Tokyo real estate
What we did: Tax declaration, company insolvency, settlement, liquidation and other related operations

KAI&WEI 合同会社
What they do: Selling pre-owned cars
What we did: Company registration, antiquities dealer license application, bank accounts opening

*Other cases of setting up companies in Japan
株式会社 Naturepace、YUSEN INTERNATIOANL GROUP 株式會社、ENGIX 株式会社、TW 合同会社、MUZIK INTERNATIONAL 株式会社、sweet jp 合同会社、株式会社ウッドビー、旅辰商事合同会社、ジンアート合同会社、エンカラ合同会社、LPsT 株式会社、YPRO JAPAN 株式会社、JAPAN YOU-TSAI 合同会社、MORE THINK 株式会社、友本商事株式会社、GOLDEN JACK 合同会社、K-PORT 合同会社、D&J 合同会社、SNOWLAND 合同会社、千年星株式会社、美楽町合同会社、ウィーデイ合同会社、ラディラド株式会社

About us

TRANS CO., LTD. TAIWAN BRANCH (JAPAN)

Feel free to contact us via email at our New Taipei City office.

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TRANS CO., LTD. TAIWAN BRANCH(JAPAN)
Tel: 02-2243-5551
10F., No. 11, Ln. 332, Sec. 2, Zhongshan Rd., Zhonghe Dist., New Taipei City 235 , Taiwan (R.O.C.) (MRT Zhongshan station)

TRANS CO., LTD.
Tel: +81-050-3561-5168
1-3-17 Yokoyama, Chuo-Ku, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 252-0242 Japan

SHANGHAI TRANS CO., LTD.
Tel: +86-15000533486
Room 302, No.369, 1188 nong, Xīn sōngjiāng Road, Sōngjiāng qū, Shanghai City, China

TRANS VILLAGE LIMITED
Tel: +852-9017-1997
Company Registration No: 2216738

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