It might seem overly difficult to start a business in Japan, especially if you’ve never done it before. Fortunately, Japan has made significant efforts over the past ten years to structure and streamline this process.
There are countless online resources. It takes time, if not confusing, to juggle them to extract all the essential information. Even one crucial step missed can make your efforts useless. The best manual for starting a business in Japan is provided here.
Step 1: Get a visa to start setting up a business in Japan
It is not permitted for foreign nationals to launch a business in the country right away. You must acquire one of the necessary visas to start a business.
The process for obtaining a visa is rather straightforward. You will need to apply for a start-up visa, a 4-month business management visa, or an investor visa if you want to travel for business.
Obtaining the 4-month business manager visa
The 4-month business manager visa was first offered in Japan four years ago. You must demonstrate that you are in the process of establishing a business to obtain the visa. Once Japan has granted you a visa, you can start establishing up shop as soon as you land in this nation.
Obtaining the start-up visa
The Japanese government’s extraordinary endeavor to attract foreign businesses to the country is the start-up visa. This visa is good for six months. Keep in mind that not all cities have access to it. It is currently offered in Tokyo, the prefectures of Hiroshima and Aichi, Sendai City, Fukuoka City, Imabari City, and Niigata City.
Obtaining an investor visa
Another choice for overseas investors seeking chances to launch a business in this nation is the investor visa. The length of an investor visa might be 1, 3, or 5 years. The length of the permitted time and your ability to extend it depends on your company’s profitability and other important business success measures.
You can apply for an investment visa from outside of Japan. You can apply from the nation where you now reside as long as you have the necessary documentation.
Step 2: Secure an office or shared space
After all, you require a place to work from where, depending on your business strategy, you can make money. Renting an office in Japan temporarily or permanently are your two possibilities.
Step 3: Prepare your articles of incorporation
The essential document for establishing a business in the country is the articles of incorporation. These agreements, which vary depending on the type of corporate structure, specify how the firm will be run.
They are divided into two categories for your convenience:
- Articles of incorporation for a foreign company and
- For a foreign individual.
If you are a foreigner looking to expand your business in Japan, you will need both sets.
Step 4: Get the articles of incorporation notarized
You will only need to notarize revenue stamps if you are establishing a GK company, which will cost you 40,000 yen. GK is the Japanese equivalent of what Americans refer to as a limited liability company (LLC).
On the other hand, you must have all of your articles of incorporation notarized if you are establishing a KK company in the country. KK is a type of corporate entity known in the United States as a joint-stock company, share corporation, stock company, or stock company.
The notary office is in charge of notarizing the articles of incorporation. There is an additional 50,000 yen notarization cost for KK firms in addition to the 40,000 yen notarization price for revenue stamps.
Step 5: Deposit the initial capital
You must complete the registration process before you may create a bank account for your business in the country. The first capital must be deposited using your bank account in the country.
For those of you establishing a subsidiary corporation in the country, the procedure is also simple. You only need to deposit money into the representative director’s bank account.
Step 6: Get the registry certificate, seal certificate, and corporate number
You should obtain the registration certificate, company seal certificate, and corporate number once your firm has been registered. These papers are required to open a corporate bank account in Japan as well as to sign contracts for employment and business.
