Determine the business name, location, scope of operations, and registered capital before registration; with complete documents, you can obtain the business license on the spot

There are no fees for the registration process itself. Since January 1, 2015, registration fees for both enterprises and individual businesses have been waived. Completing the process online via local government services or at a service center typically takes just a few hours. Costs related to engraving a company seal, hiring an accountant, or renting a registered address are charges for private services, not government fees.

The regulation fixes the materials as five items. «(1) Application form». «(2) Applicant qualification documents and natural-person identity proof». «(3) Domicile or main business premises documents». «(4) Articles for companies, non-company enterprise legal persons, farmer specialized cooperatives (unions), or partnership agreement». «(5) Other materials required by laws, administrative regulations, and the State Council market supervision department». In plain language: one application; proof of who you are or that you're eligible; proof you may use the shop or office; articles or partnership agreement; plus anything else named. Companies also submit appointment documents and ID for the legal representative, directors, supervisors, and senior managers. Sole props don't file articles. The name is «declared by the applicant according to law»—you choose and report it. Registered capital uses «subscribed registration»—state how much you promise; you need not pay at the counter. Business scope is chosen from the authority's published categories. Complete and correctly formatted materials are «confirmed and registered on the spot». If not finished on the spot, «within 3 working days», with up to 3 more for complex cases. «The business license issue date is the market entity's establishment date»—the printed date is when the company or shop is born (nationwide, from March 2022).

国务院 (2021). 市场主体登记管理条例（国务院令第 746 号，第十、十三、十四、十六、十九、二十一条）. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2021/content_5636139.htm ; 市场监管总局 (2022). 市场主体登记管理条例实施细则（市场监管总局令第 52 号，第十二、二十五、二十六条）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-03/02/content_5676403.htm ; 财政部、国家发展改革委 (2014). 关于取消、停征和免征一批行政事业性收费的通知（财税〔2014〕101 号，附件 1）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2014-12/23/content_5023513.htm ; 国务院办公厅 (2018). 关于进一步压缩企业开办时间的意见（国办发〔2018〕32 号，第二部分第三项）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-05/17/content_5291643.htm

Registration itself is free. Charges are for agency help, seal carving, and similar market services. Seal prices are market-set. A 2018 General Office of the State Council document says applicants choose the seal maker themselves and forbids designating one—so you need not accept «must use the designated shop». How much registered capital you write does not dress up the storefront; it only caps your liability, and it must be paid within 5 years—see item 3. If scope includes licensed activities, don't open until licensed—see item 7.