Start with a Market Entry Assessment from £2,500
Enter the Chinese Market
From the first question to your first orders in China. We research your market in Chinese, help you choose the right route in, find and check partners, and work alongside licensed agents on trademarks and product approvals.
Four ways into China
| Route | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-border e-commerce | Sell to Chinese consumers through platforms such as Tmall Global or JD Worldwide, usually with a local operating partner, without setting up a Chinese company. Products and order values must fall within China's cross-border e-commerce rules. | Consumer brands testing demand |
| Importer or distributor | A Chinese partner buys your products, imports them and sells them on. They usually handle local registration, sales and service. | Most B2B products, food and drink, equipment |
| Your own Chinese company | A wholly foreign-owned company gives full control of sales, pricing and customers, but takes more time, cost and local management. | Companies with proven demand and a long-term plan |
| Licensing or partnership | A Chinese company makes or sells under your brand or technology, under a licence or joint arrangement. | Brands and technology owners |
Start here: China Market Entry Assessment
China Market Entry Assessment
From £2,500 · fixed price · about 3–4 weeks
A written assessment of whether, and how, your product can succeed in China, based on research in Chinese sources and conversations with people in the trade.
- Demand, competitors and price levels for your product
- The rules that apply: approvals, labelling, trademarks
- The best route in, with likely costs and timeline
- A shortlist of potential partners or channels
- A clear recommendation and next steps, discussed on a call
Then, if you go ahead
Quoted per project
We put the plan into action: trademark registration and product approvals through licensed agents, partners approached and checked, meetings and trade fairs in China, and support after launch.
If you start a full project within 3 months, the assessment fee is credited against it.
What we do
- Market check: demand, competitors, price levels, sales channels and the rules that apply to your product, researched in Chinese sources and with people in the trade.
- Choose the route: a clear recommendation on how to enter, what it will take and in what order.
- Protect your brand first: China registers trademarks on a first-to-file basis. We arrange registration of your brand, and a Chinese-character name, through a licensed trademark agent.
- Product approvals and labels: we identify the certifications, registrations and Chinese labelling your product needs, and coordinate licensed agencies to obtain them.
- Find and check partners: importers, distributors, platform operators and agents, approached in Chinese and checked before you sign, with the same checks we run on suppliers.
- Meetings and visits in China: we arrange and attend meetings, factory and partner visits, and trade fairs, and interpret in the room.
- Launch and support: Chinese-language materials, contract terms that protect your payments and exclusivity, and ongoing support as your Chinese business grows.
How we are paid
- China Market Entry Assessment: from £2,500, fixed price agreed before we start.
- Market entry projects: scoped and quoted in writing; the assessment fee is credited if you go ahead within 3 months.
- Advice as you need it: £250 per hour through China Advisory.
- Partner checks: Express Check £175, Full Supplier Check £450.
- Trademark, certification, legal and tax fees are paid to the licensed firms that do the work. We tell you the likely costs in advance.
We are not a law firm, trademark agent or certification body. Regulated work is done by licensed professionals in China and the UK.
Read more
How can a UK company start selling in China? Routes, rules and costs
Common questions
Do I need a Chinese company to sell in China?
No. Many companies start through cross-border e-commerce or a Chinese importer or distributor. A Chinese company makes sense once demand is proven and you want direct control.
Should I register my trademark in China before I start?
Yes. China generally grants trademarks to the first applicant, so register your brand, and a Chinese name, before you show your products to partners or at trade fairs.
Can you find a distributor for my product?
Yes. We identify and approach suitable importers and distributors in Chinese, check them before you sign, and arrange meetings. We cannot guarantee that a partner will sign.
Do you attend trade fairs and meetings in China?
Yes. We can arrange and attend meetings and trade fairs with you or on your behalf, and interpret in the room.
Thinking about selling in China?
Tell us about your product and your plans. We'll come back with a scope and a price.
Request a free quote