Positioning: What Z&X Company Registration Services Solve
This page focuses on one thing: helping Chinese companies choose the right set-up route in Thailand and taking the company from registration to the point where it can sign contracts, receive and make payments, issue invoices and import or export. Before we start, we confirm the business type, foreign shareholding, registered capital and shareholder and director arrangements, then issue a parallel workplan setting out the responsible party, start conditions and timeline for each item.
Related and follow-on services have their own pages: BOI Investment Promotion Application, Factory License Services, Work Visa and Work Permit Services, Trademark Registration and Maintenance and Company Dissolution and Liquidation; bookkeeping and tax filing after registration are covered by Accounting & Tax Outsourcing Services.
Building a factory in Thailand? See Registration & Approval Services for Chinese Manufacturers: one team works back from your start-of-production date across incorporation, BOI, the factory licence, equipment import and staff visas. For the work-stream plan worked back from the production date, see the Thailand Factory Setup Roadmap.
Use Cases: Which Companies Need Company Registration Services
| Your situation | What to decide before starting | Typical route |
|---|
| A trading or service company entering Thailand for the first time and wanting to sign contracts and receive payments quickly | Whether the business is restricted for foreigners; whether foreigners can hold a majority; how much registered capital to set | Incorporate → open a bank account → VAT and social security registration → customs registration if importing or exporting |
| A manufacturing project planning to build a factory in Thailand | Whether to apply for BOI; how incorporation and the BOI application fit together; whether a factory licence is needed | Incorporate and link to the BOI application; for factory licences see Factory License Services; for the full plan from registration to production see Registration & Approval Services for Chinese Manufacturers |
| A business in a restricted sector that wants foreign shareholding above 49% | Whether to apply for a Foreign Business License (FBL) or obtain an exemption through BOI | Prepare the FBL application alongside incorporation, or assess the BOI route |
| An existing Thai company changing shareholders, directors, address or business objectives | The order of changes, and whether tax and bank records must be updated at the same time | DBD amendment registration and supporting documents; for dissolution see Company Dissolution and Liquidation |
Preparation: What to Confirm Before Registering a Company
| Item to confirm | Why it must be settled first |
|---|
| Company type and business scope | Determines whether foreigners can hold 100%; restricted sectors need an FBL, which affects the overall timeline |
| Registered capital and shareholding | Par value per share and each shareholder's percentage; the amount should also reflect the paid-up capital required for foreign staff work permits |
| Shareholders and directors | A limited company needs at least 2 promoters and at least 1 director; directors' signing authority affects bank account opening and future contracts |
| Registered address | A valid proof of address is required, or you can use our registered address service; the address is checked during VAT registration |
| Other licences | Whether customs registration or a BOI application is needed; manufacturers needing a factory licence can engage our Factory License Services |
You can tick these off against the Thailand Company Registration Document Checklist below.
Value: What You Gain from Z&X Company Registration Services
· Integrated China–Thailand team: Our Chinese advisors understand the needs of Chinese enterprises, while our Thai specialists know local regulations and government approval procedures, with Chinese-language communication throughout.
· End-to-end, one-stop service: From name reservation, incorporation, tax and social security registration to bank account opening, licensing approvals and BOI applications, a single team owns the entire process.
· Proven experience: We have served more than 300 Chinese-invested companies in Thailand and are familiar with a wide range of incorporation and compliance scenarios.
· Parallel execution: Once the company certificate is issued, bank account opening, tax registration and social security registration can proceed in parallel, shortening the overall timeline.
Scope: What Z&X Company Registration Services Include
Handled directly under this service:
· Incorporation: company name reservation with the Department of Business Development (DBD), drafting of articles, shareholder registration, capital verification and business licence application; company seal, shareholder register and share certificates.
· Bank account: appointment, document preparation and accompaniment for opening the corporate bank account.
· Tax and social security registration: VAT registration (PP.20) with the Revenue Department; social security registration and initial employer filing.
· Customs registration: import and export registration and customs importer/exporter code.
· Foreign investment access: Foreign Business License (FBL) applications to the Ministry of Commerce for restricted sectors.
· Address service: registered addresses in Bangkok and Chonburi, with government mail handling.
· Company changes: DBD amendments for shareholders, directors, address and business objectives, with supporting documents.
Related services (see their own pages): Registration & Approval Services for Chinese Manufacturers | BOI Investment Promotion Application | Work Visa and Work Permit Services (BOI companies only) | Trademark Registration and Maintenance | Company Dissolution and Liquidation
Process: How Z&X Company Registration Services Work and How Long They Take
| Step | Start condition | Estimated time | Completed when |
|---|
| Name reservation and seal design | Documents collected; 3 alternative names prepared | About 1 working day each | Name approved, seal design confirmed |
| Company registration | Name approved; shareholder and director documents signed | About 5–7 working days after filing with DBD; about 2 weeks from signing the engagement | Business licence issued; the company can sign contracts |
| Bank account | Business licence issued; director present in person | About 1 working day to open; about 3 weeks for internet banking | Internet banking working and payments possible (about 4–5 weeks from signing) |
| VAT registration (PP.20) | Business licence and proof of address | About 30–45 working days for the original certificate | Original PP.20 received; VAT invoices can be issued |
| Social security registration | Business licence issued | About 30 working days | Employer registration completed |
| Customs registration | PP.20 received | About 2 weeks | Customs importer/exporter code issued |
Two timings that are easy to confuse: the bank account can be opened in a day, but internet banking and normal payments take about 4–5 weeks from signing; the business licence arrives in about 2 weeks, but VAT and social security registration are what determine when the business can fully operate.
Overall: trading and service companies are usually fully operational about 2–3 months after signing; manufacturing and BOI projects follow the project workplan.
These are typical timings under normal conditions; actual timing depends on official review speed, completeness of documents and sector or regional differences. Common causes of delay include missing documents, overseas documents needing notarisation and legalisation, directors unable to attend on time, and rejected company names.
Deliverables: What Z&X Company Registration Services Deliver and Who Does What
| Deliverable | Details |
|---|
| Parallel workplan | Issued at kick-off, listing the responsible party, documents and expected timing for each registration, updated as work progresses |
| Incorporation documents | Business licence (certificate of incorporation), DBD-registered articles, shareholder register, share certificates and company seal |
| Registrations | VAT certificate (PP.20) and social security employer registration; customs importer/exporter code where engaged |
| Bank account | Corporate bank account opened and internet banking collected |
| File handover | Copies of all applications and government receipts, handed over item by item against a delivery list and signed off by the company |
| Z&X is responsible for | The company is responsible for |
|---|
| Entity and shareholding assessment, document checklist, drafting and translation, filing with and following up government agencies, bank appointment and accompaniment, progress reporting | Identity and signature documents of shareholders and directors, paid-up capital and proof of source of funds, proof of registered address (unless using our address service), and signing or attending as agreed; the director must attend in person to open the bank account |
Whether the bank opens the account and whether the Ministry of Commerce issues an FBL are subject to the bank's and the authority's review.
Boundaries: What Z&X Company Registration Services Do Not Include
· Outbound investment filing in China: ODI filing and foreign exchange registration in China are handled by the client or a Chinese agency; we provide the Thai-side documents needed.
· Factory premises and licences: site selection, construction and environmental impact assessment are outside this service; a factory licence can be commissioned separately through our Factory License Services.
· Visas and work permits: currently provided for BOI-promoted companies only; work visas and work permits for non-BOI companies are not included.
· Third-party fees: our service fee does not include government fees; government fees, certified translation and other third-party costs are paid by the client as incurred.
Consultation: How the Z&X Company Registration Services Assessment Works
| Step | What you provide | What you receive |
|---|
| 1. Submit your request | Business type, target opening date and current stage (not started / name reserved / existing Thai company) | An adviser contacts you to arrange a call |
| 2. Initial discussion | Shareholder background and intended shareholding and registered capital | The suitable set-up route, the points to confirm first and an indicative timeline |
| 3. Formal proposal | Confirmed entity, shareholding and scope of service | Written proposal, parallel workplan and fee quotation |
| 4. Engagement starts | Documents prepared against the checklist | Work begins, with regular progress reports against the workplan |
Not sure yet? Download the Thailand Company Registration Document Checklist below for a self-check. Book a company registration plan review →
Downloads: Free Resources on Company Registration Services
The Thailand Company Registration Document Checklist follows the order of the process: the 8 decisions to confirm before registration, shareholder and director documents, registered address documents, and what you need for the bank account, VAT, social security and customs after the business licence — plus typical timings and the five things that most often slow registration down. Every item can be ticked off.
Free download: Thailand Company Registration Document Checklist (PDF, 4 pages)
Not sure which entity to use or how much registered capital to set? Book a company registration plan review →
FAQ: Company Registration Services
Before registration: entity and structure
· What are the common types of legal entities for company registration in Thailand?
· Are 100% foreign‑owned shareholdings permitted in the manufacturing, trading and service sectors respectively?
· Should the Thailand‑based project be invested directly by the Chinese parent company, or via a Hong Kong or Singapore‑based entity?
· What is a reasonable registered capital amount?
· Does Thailand require the registered capital to be fully paid up?
· Is it permissible to use a virtual registered address first and relocate the address at a later stage?
· What documents are generally required to register a company in Thailand?
· How should Thai company registration be coordinated with China’s ODI procedures?
· Should the BOI application be initiated before or after company registration?
· What does it take to obtain a Foreign Business License (FBL) for a restricted business, and how long does approval take?
· What are the risks of using Thai nominee shareholders to get around foreign ownership limits?
· If we chose the wrong vehicle (representative office, branch or limited company), can we convert it directly?
During registration: timeline and parallel steps
· What is the general turnaround time from name reservation to the issuance of the business license?
· After company incorporation, which procedures among corporate bank account opening, VAT registration, social‑security enrolment and customs registration can be carried out in parallel?
· When should VAT (PP.20) registration be completed, and what is its typical processing timeframe?
· If production is scheduled to commence next year, how should we reverse‑engineer the timeline for the feasibility study and project implementation?
· What qualifications and liability mechanisms should be verified as priorities when selecting a company registration consultant?
After registration: becoming fully operational
· What should we do if a Thai bank refuses to open our company account?
· What subsequent registrations need to be completed after receiving a Thai business license before the company can officially commence operations?
· What are the long‑term compliance issues most easily overlooked by Chinese enterprises investing in Thailand?
· What are the steps for a BOI company to obtain a Thai work visa and work permit for an expatriate, and how long does it take?
For the full process, read Introduction to Thai Company Registration: Process, Policies, and Analysis; for setting up a wholly foreign-owned company, see Thailand Wholly-Owned Subsidiary: Core Requirements and Compliance Path.
Track Record: Z&X Company Registration Services in Practice
Further Reading: Guides Related to Company Registration Services
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