In 2026, China’s consumer market continues to burst with vitality. As international metropolises, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou not only gather a large consumer group, but also introduce a number of convenient policies to simplify the access process for foreign-funded physical operations, becoming the preferred destinations for foreign travelers to open restaurants and characteristic shops in China. However, most foreign travelers face core difficulties: they are not familiar with the license processing requirements for physical operations in China, do not understand the policy differences between the three cities, have no idea how to proceed with key links such as site selection, compliant operation and personnel management, and even face the risk of suspension due to incomplete licenses or illegal operations. Combined with the latest 2026 policies on foreign-funded physical operations, this article takes Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou as examples, details the entire license processing process for foreigners to open restaurants/shops, sorts out the core focus of operation, and supplements pitfall avoidance tips. With more than 700 words, it helps foreign travelers quickly and compliantly start their physical business journey.
First, clarify the core premise: For foreigners to open restaurants or shops in China, they must first complete the subject compliance registration (linking to the previous guide on foreign-funded enterprise registration) — foreign travelers without a Chinese Green Card need to first register a foreign-funded enterprise (either wholly foreign-owned or Sino-foreign joint venture) or an individual industrial and commercial household (supported in some cities, requiring additional review), and obtain a business license and foreign investment filing receipt; those holding a Chinese Green Card can register as Chinese citizens without additional foreign-funded filing. Whether opening a restaurant or an ordinary shop, subject compliance is the foundation. Without a legal business entity, it is impossible to handle subsequent business licenses, let alone carry out business activities. At the same time, restaurants belong to special industries and require additional food-related licenses, while ordinary shops (such as cultural and creative shops, grocery stores) have relatively simple license requirements, and the specific differences are detailed below.
I. Core Link: Full License Processing Process in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou (Detailed by Restaurant/Shop)
License processing is the core for foreigners to open physical stores. The processes in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are basically the same, but there are slight differences in material details and review efficiency. All three cities support online and offline combined processing. In 2026, the foreign-funded review process has been further simplified, and many redundant certificates have been cancelled. The details are as follows:
(I) General Basic Licenses (Required for Both Restaurants and Shops, Applicable to All Three Cities)
General basic licenses are necessary for all physical operations. Whether it is a restaurant or a shop, these two types of licenses must be processed first, and then special licenses shall be processed according to the business type.
1. Business License (Core Certificate): The applicant is a registered foreign-funded enterprise or individual industrial and commercial household; Processing Department: Market Supervision Bureau of the three cities (can be processed online through the local government service network, or offline at the government service hall of the corresponding district); Required Materials: Copy of foreign-funded enterprise business license (or application form for individual industrial and commercial household registration), legal representative’s passport (notarization verification required; all three cities support online upload of notarization documents in 2026), proof of business address (lease contract, real estate certificate, stamped with the seal of the lessor), foreign investment filing receipt (required for those without Green Card), description of business categories; Processing Process: Submit materials → online/offline review → review passed (3-5 working days in Beijing, 2-4 working days in Shanghai, 2-3 working days in Guangzhou) → receive electronic/paper business license; Note: All three cities support filling in materials in both Chinese and English, and the review result can be pushed via SMS or government platform, without multiple visits to the window.
2. Tax Registration Certificate (Now Integrated into Business License, No Need for Separate Processing): In 2026, China fully implemented the “one license, one code” system. Tax registration is automatically completed when applying for a business license. After receiving the business license, you need to log in to the official website of the local tax bureau within 15 days to complete tax type verification, bank account binding, and apply for invoices (supporting Chinese and English invoices). All three cities have special foreign-funded tax service windows that can provide English consultation. At the same time, foreign-funded entities can enjoy some tax incentives (such as tax reduction for small and micro enterprises, which can be consulted with the local tax bureau for details).
(II) Special Business Licenses (Significant Differences Between Restaurants and Shops)
1. Special Licenses for Restaurants (Core: Food Business License): Restaurants belong to the category of food business. Whether it is Chinese food, Western food or fast food, a food business license is required. The requirements of the three cities are basically the same, with slight differences in details. Processing Department: Market Supervision Bureau of the three cities (Food Supervision Section); Required Materials: Copy of business license, floor plan of business address (marking the location of kitchen and dining area), food safety management system, employee health certificates (at least 2 people; foreigners need to provide physical examination certificates in China), list of kitchen equipment, description of food procurement channels; Processing Process: Submit materials → on-site inspection (on-site inspection is required in all three cities; Beijing focuses on kitchen hygiene standards, Shanghai focuses on food traceability, and Guangzhou focuses on employee qualifications) → review passed (5-7 working days in Beijing, 4-6 working days in Shanghai, 3-5 working days in Guangzhou) → receive food business license; Note: Beijing requires the restaurant business area to be ≥ 6 square meters, Shanghai ≥ 5 square meters, and Guangzhou has no clear area limit; If a foreign-funded restaurant sells imported food materials, it needs to provide additional food import declaration form and inspection and quarantine certificate.
Supplementary: Additional Notes for Restaurants — Beijing has strict requirements on catering fume emissions, and it is necessary to complete the acceptance certificate of fume purification facilities in advance; Shanghai prohibits opening restaurants on the first floor of residential buildings (except some business districts); Guangzhou supports the entry of characteristic catering blocks, and can enjoy the green channel for license processing, with the review efficiency shortened by 30%.
2. Special Licenses for Ordinary Shops (No Food License Required, Handled on Demand): Ordinary shops (such as cultural and creative shops, grocery stores, clothing stores, characteristic handicraft shops, etc.) do not need to apply for a food business license. They only need to apply for special licenses according to the business category (most shops do not need additional processing). For example: Selling tobacco requires a tobacco monopoly license (application to the local tobacco monopoly bureau in all three cities); Selling cosmetics requires cosmetics business filing (can be completed online); Selling alcohol requires alcohol circulation filing (separate processing required in Guangzhou, integrated into business license in Beijing and Shanghai); Shops without special business categories can start business after completing basic licenses.
(III) Other Necessary Procedures (Applicable to All Three Cities)
1. Public Place Health License (Handled on Demand): If the shop involves public place operation (such as beauty salon, coffee shop, teahouse), a public place health license is required. The required materials are similar to those of restaurants, no on-site inspection is required, and the review efficiency is 3-4 working days.
2. Fire Safety License (Handled on Demand): Restaurants and shops with a business area of ≥ 300 square meters need to apply for a fire safety license; those with an area of < 300 square meters only need to complete fire safety filing, no separate license is required. All three cities support online filing, and only the fire floor plan of the business address needs to be submitted.
3. Employee Procedures: For foreigners employed in China (such as participating in operation themselves or hiring foreign employees), they need to apply for a foreigner employment license and a work-type residence permit. Illegal employment is not allowed; when hiring Chinese employees, labor contracts must be signed in accordance with the law and social security must be paid. All three cities have foreign-funded enterprise employment service windows that can provide English consultation and procedure agency guidance.
II. Operation Focus: Core Points of Physical Operation in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou (Key to Avoid Pitfalls)
After completing the license processing, operation and management are the keys to the long-term survival of the physical store. Combined with the consumption characteristics and policy requirements of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, 4 core operation points are sorted out to help foreign travelers avoid risks and increase revenue:
(I) Site Selection Points (Significant Differences Between the Three Cities, Accurately Matching Needs)
1. Beijing: Priority is given to business districts (such as Wangfujing, Sanlitun, Zhongguancun) or around universities. The consumer group is mainly young people and tourists, which is suitable for opening characteristic Western restaurants, cultural and creative shops, and Internet-famous shops; Note: The rent in Beijing’s business districts is relatively high, so it is necessary to control the rent cost (it is recommended that the rent account for no more than 25% of the revenue). At the same time, it is necessary to abide by the business norms of the business district and prohibit occupying roads for business and illegal decoration.
2. Shanghai: Focus on international blocks (such as Xintiandi, Tianzifang, Jing’an Temple) or around communities. The consumer group pays attention to quality and experience, which is suitable for opening high-end restaurants, niche characteristic shops, and imported commodity shops; Note: Community shops in Shanghai need to abide by residents’ work and rest time, prohibit noise pollution at night, and pay attention to the store decoration style to fit Shanghai’s international aesthetic.
3. Guangzhou: Priority is given to old urban areas (such as Shangxiajiu, Beijing Road) or food blocks (such as Liwan District Food Street). The consumer group pays attention to cost performance and characteristics, which is suitable for opening down-to-earth restaurants, characteristic snack shops, and handicraft shops; Note: The rent of shops in Guangzhou’s old urban areas is relatively low, but it is necessary to verify the house property right in advance to avoid renting illegal buildings. At the same time, it is necessary to adapt to Guangzhou’s consumption rhythm and pay attention to the freshness of ingredients (restaurants) and the practicality of goods (shops).
(II) Compliant Operation Points (Top Priority to Avoid Suspension and Fines)
1. License Display: All licenses (business license, food business license, etc.) need to be hung in a prominent position of the store. Beijing and Shanghai require a Chinese-English bilingual version to be displayed, and Guangzhou can choose according to business needs, but it must be clearly visible, otherwise a warning or fine will be faced.
2. Business Scope: Strictly operate in accordance with the business scope approved by the business license. Over-range operation is prohibited (such as shops are prohibited from selling food, restaurants are prohibited from selling tobacco). The three cities have strict inspections on over-range operation. The first violation will be fined 5,000-10,000 yuan, and the second violation may face suspension of business for rectification.
3. Food Safety (Key for Restaurants): Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have all strengthened the supervision of catering food safety. The use of expired and deteriorated ingredients is prohibited, and the sale of imported unquarantined ingredients is prohibited. Restaurants need to establish a food procurement ledger, which should be kept for at least 6 months for inspection by the supervision department; if food safety problems occur, they will not only be fined, but also have their licenses revoked, affecting subsequent operations.
4. Tax Compliance: Declare and pay taxes on time, and prohibit tax evasion and default. All three cities support online tax declaration, which can be operated through the tax bureau’s official website or mobile APP. Foreign-funded entities can entrust professional accounting companies to handle tax declaration on their behalf to avoid violations due to unfamiliarity with China’s tax policies.
(III) Personnel Management Points
1. Foreign Employee Management: To hire foreign employees, it is necessary to apply for a foreigner employment license and a work-type residence permit in advance. The license must be renewed within 15 days before expiration. It is prohibited to hire foreigners with illegal employment (such as foreign students who have not applied for an employment permit), otherwise a high fine (up to 50,000 yuan) will be faced; at the same time, labor contracts must be signed with foreign employees, specifying salary and working hours, and complying with China’s Labor Law.
2. Chinese Employee Management: To hire Chinese employees, it is necessary to pay social security in accordance with the law, sign labor contracts, and prohibit defaulting on wages. All three cities have labor supervision departments. If labor disputes occur, the normal operation of the store will be affected; it is recommended to give priority to hiring employees with relevant work experience to reduce training costs, and pay attention to the cultivation of employees’ service awareness (especially for restaurants and service-oriented shops).
(IV) Marketing and Adaptation Points (Fitting the Consumption Habits of the Three Cities)
1. Beijing: Focus on online marketing (such as WeChat official account, Douyin, Dazhongdianping). It is suitable to launch Internet-famous products and preferential activities to attract young people to check in; at the same time, the store can be combined with Chinese traditional culture (such as integrating Peking Opera elements into cultural and creative shops) to enhance competitiveness.
2. Shanghai: Focus on offline experience and brand building. Offline activities (such as new product launches, manual experience, food tasting meetings) can be held to fit the experience needs of Shanghai consumers; at the same time, pay attention to the international promotion of the store, and attract foreign tourists through English social media (such as Instagram).
3. Guangzhou: Focus on word-of-mouth marketing. It can be promoted through Meituan, Dazhongdianping and local communities, fitting the “cost performance first” demand of Guangzhou consumers, and launching affordable packages (restaurants) and preferential activities (shops); at the same time, it can integrate into Guangzhou’s local culture (such as restaurants launching Cantonese fusion dishes, shops selling Cantonese embroidery handicrafts) to quickly gain recognition from local consumers.
III. High-Frequency Pitfall Avoidance Tips for Foreigners Opening Physical Stores in 2026 (Must Read)
1. Carrying out business without completing subject registration: Opening a store without a legal foreign-funded enterprise or individual industrial and commercial household subject and without handling any licenses will be ordered to suspend business, confiscate illegal gains, and be fined a high amount. It is necessary to complete subject registration first, then handle various licenses.
2. Confusing the license requirements of the three cities and handling blindly: For example, ignoring Beijing’s fume emission requirements and Shanghai’s catering site selection restrictions, leading to failure in license processing or subsequent investigation. It is necessary to understand the differences between the three cities in advance and prepare materials targetedly.
3. Hiring foreign employees with illegal employment: Foreign employees without employment permits participating in operation will face high fines and even affect the survival of the store. It is necessary to complete all procedures for foreign employees in advance.
4. Ignoring the details of compliant operation: For example, licenses are not displayed, over-range operation, and food safety is not up to standard. Although they seem trivial, they will face warnings, fines, and even suspension of business. It is necessary to pay attention to compliant details regularly.
5. Not fitting local consumption habits: Blindly copying foreign operation modes and not adapting to the consumption preferences of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou lead to few customers and poor revenue. It is necessary to investigate the local market in advance and optimize products and services.
Summary: For foreigners to open restaurants and shops in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in 2026, the core is “subject compliance + complete licenses + operation adaptation”. Beginners can first choose ordinary shops with low thresholds to test the waters, and then upgrade to restaurants after being familiar with the process; when handling licenses, they can entrust professional intermediary institutions to assist, saving time and energy; in the operation process, focus on fitting the consumption habits of the three cities, adhere to the bottom line of compliance, and avoid high-frequency pitfalls. The policies for foreign-funded physical operations in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are constantly optimized. As long as the process is followed and accurately adapted, foreign travelers can smoothly start their physical business journey in China and seize the opportunities of the huge consumer market.
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