How to Check a Chinese Supplier’s Business Licence
Before placing an order with a mainland Chinese supplier, ask for its Chinese business licence and compare the company details with official records. Start with the registered Chinese name and Unified Social Credit Code, then check the company's status and any published warnings.
A matching registration record helps establish which company you are dealing with. It does not prove that the person contacting you represents that company, that it owns a factory, or that your goods will meet your specifications.
1. Ask For The Right Documents
Request a clear, complete copy of the business licence, called 营业执照, and ask the supplier to send its registered Chinese company name and credit code as typed text. This avoids mistakes when copying small characters from an image.
Also ask which legal entity will issue the quotation, sign the order and receive payment. Establish this before agreeing to a deposit, rather than discovering several different company names at payment time.
You can send this message:
请发一下贵公司的营业执照，并提供公司中文全称和统一社会信用代码。也请确认报价、签合同和收款是否都是同一家公司；如果不是，请说明各公司的关系。
English meaning: Please send your business licence, full registered Chinese company name and Unified Social Credit Code. Please also confirm whether the quotation, contract and payment will involve the same company. If not, explain the relationship between the companies.
2. Search The Official Company Register
Use the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System, known as 国家企业信用信息公示系统. Search using the full Chinese company name or Unified Social Credit Code. SAMR's published guidance also lists registration number as a search option. [1]
The Unified Social Credit Code, 统一社会信用代码, contains 18 characters. Compare the full code; a similar company name is not enough. [2]
The system uses access controls, and viewing information can require real-name registration or verification. Follow the official access process. If access fails, record the check as incomplete; a loading error is not evidence that a company does not exist. [3]
This guide covers mainland Chinese company checks. If the contracting entity is registered elsewhere, use that jurisdiction's registry too.
3. Compare The Details
Use this checklist to compare the supplied licence, registry record and transaction documents. Field labels can vary by entity type.
| Chinese Field | Meaning | Buyer Check |
|---|---|---|
| 名称 / 企业名称 | Registered company name | Match the Chinese legal name, not only the English trading name. |
| 统一社会信用代码 | Unified Social Credit Code | Compare every character across the licence and registry. |
| 法定代表人 | Legal representative | Record the name; do not assume the salesperson must be this person. |
| 住所 | Registered address | Ask how it relates to any claimed production address. |
| 成立日期 | Establishment date | Compare it with claims about the age of this particular company. |
| 经营范围 | Business scope | Read the activities listed and clarify any mismatch with the proposed work. |
| 注册资本 | Registered capital | Do not treat the figure as cash available for your order. |
For limited liability companies, registered capital refers to subscribed shareholder contributions; it is not simply a statement of the company's bank balance. The Company Law distinguishes subscribed contributions and actual payment. [4]
Treat business scope as a starting point for questions. Words referring to manufacturing do not demonstrate that a particular factory has the machinery, staff or capacity to make your product.
4. Read Warnings And Their Context
Review the registration status and available records, including annual reports, administrative penalties and abnormal-operation information. Official records include both information published by authorities and disclosures made by the company itself. These do not all provide the same type of evidence. [5]
For any warning, record the reason, date and whether it has been resolved. An abnormal-operation entry can relate to disclosure failures; it is not automatically proof of fraud. Equally, the absence of a visible warning does not guarantee reliable delivery.
Save the date of your check and the relevant records. If the licence and current registry disagree, request an explanation and updated documentation before proceeding.
5. Connect The Company To The Transaction
A genuine licence can still be presented by someone who is not authorised to act for its holder. Compare the supplier's identity with the quotation, contract and payment beneficiary.
Pause if an unexplained company appears on the invoice or payment instructions change unexpectedly. Ask for supporting documents and confirm the arrangement through an independently established company contact. Do not rely solely on a new email supplying new bank details.
A separate export company or payment recipient needs explanation, not an automatic accusation. Identify each party's role and responsibility before paying. This is our practical purchasing recommendation, not a conclusion that every mismatch is fraudulent.
What A Business Licence Cannot Prove
Registration checks answer identity questions. Other checks must address the product and order:
- Production capability: Assess the actual production site and relevant equipment when needed.
- Product suitability: Review samples against written specifications.
- Order quality: Agree an on-site inspection scope and acceptance criteria.
- Compliance: Check the requirements for the product and destination market, with appropriate testing or specialist support where needed.
Do not describe a supplier as fully verified solely because a licence matches the register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is An English Company Name Enough?
Use the registered Chinese name and credit code for mainland registry checks. Ask the supplier to explain how its English trading name relates to that entity.
Does A Valid Licence Prove The Supplier Is A Factory?
No. Company registration and demonstrated production capability are different questions. Check the site and manufacturing arrangement for the proposed order.
What If I Cannot Find The Supplier?
Recheck the typed Chinese name and credit code. Confirm whether the entity is registered in mainland China or another jurisdiction. If you still cannot establish the identity, leave the check unresolved and request clarification before proceeding.
Should I Skip Inspection After Checking The Licence?
No. A registry check does not assess the goods made for your order. Decide sample and inspection requirements separately based on the product and purchase risk.
Need Help With China Sourcing?
HMZ Global provides China sourcing and procurement, including supplier research, RFQs and negotiation, with sample services and on-site quality inspection available. Our China-based teams support sourcing work on the ground.
Read our China sourcing guide for the wider buying process, or our sourcing fees guide to plan service costs.
Sources
- SAMR: Company searches using company name, credit code or registration number.
- Beijing Administration for Market Regulation: Understanding the 18-character credit code.
- SAMR: Real-name access to the publicity system.
- Company Law of the People's Republic of China, Articles 47–49, official tax authority publication.
- SAMR: Interim Regulations on Enterprise Information Disclosure.