China remains one of the most compelling global opportunities for commercial real estate and property businesses due to its massive urbanization, expanding middle class, and continuous demand for modern commercial, industrial, and mixed‑use developments. Cities across China are still undergoing rapid transformation, with ongoing investments in infrastructure, smart‑city initiatives, and high‑growth economic zones that create consistent demand for property development, management, and investment services. For foreign CRE firms, entering China also opens the door to partnerships with local developers, access to large‑scale projects, and exposure to one of the world’s most active real estate markets. Despite regulatory complexity, the potential for long‑term growth, portfolio diversification, and access to a market of over a billion consumers makes China a strategic frontier for forward‑thinking property businesses. 

Commercial real estate and property businesses entering China face unique challenges that go beyond standard market entry. You need partners who understand property regulations, land use policies, foreign investment restrictions in real estate sectors, and the operational complexities of managing property portfolios across Chinese cities. From establishing the right legal structure to managing ongoing tax compliance and workforce administration, every step requires specialized knowledge of China’s regulatory environment.

We’ve shortlisted the top 5 market entry service providers that help commercial real estate and property businesses establish compliant operations in China while managing the administrative complexity that follows incorporation.

Ready to find your ideal partner? Let’s dive in.

China Market Entry Services at a Glance

1) MSA Asia – Complete Market Entry Through Operational Readiness

Entering China’s commercial real estate market requires more than just company registration. You need a partner who understands property-sector regulations, helps you navigate foreign-investment considerations, and supports you with post-incorporation accounting, tax, and compliance obligations. MSA Asia combines incorporation support with the operational services property businesses need immediately after setup, from payroll administration to ongoing regulatory filings.

With over 15 years of supporting foreign companies across China and more than 500 WFOEs registered, MSA Asia serves as your operational partner from market entry planning through day-to-day business administration across every province and major city in China.

Key Features:

• Multi-structure entity formation, including WFOEs, Joint Ventures, and Representative Offices, with complete post-registration support for banking, tax registration, and VAT invoice setup across all Chinese cities.
• Integrated accounting and tax services that maintain compliant financial records under Chinese accounting standards while ensuring transparency for international headquarters and managing VAT, corporate income tax filings.
• Dedicated account manager model providing one primary contact across all services and markets, supported by multidisciplinary teams including lawyers and CPAs for regulatory and tax requirements.
• Scalable operational support from initial market entry through ongoing payroll management, workforce compliance, financial reporting, and regulatory submissions as your property portfolio expands across China.

Pricing starts at $2,999

What else can you do with MSA Asia?

MSA Asia offers transparent, fixed pricing that many Big 4 firms don’t provide, making it accessible for small to mid-sized property businesses. Beyond incorporation, you get immediate access to accounting, payroll, tax advisory, and compliance management under one roof, eliminating the need to coordinate multiple service providers as your China operations grow.

2) Remote People – Global Workforce Platform for Property Operations

Remote People provides a platform-based approach to hiring and managing employees across 150+ countries, including China. If your commercial real estate business needs to build a team quickly without establishing a local entity first, their Employer of Record service handles the legal employment structure while you focus on property operations and business development.

The platform combines company incorporation services with workforce management tools, allowing property businesses to hire in 48 hours, manage payroll across multiple countries, and maintain compliance through automated workflows and localized employment contracts drafted by legal experts.

Key Features:

• Employer of Record across 150+ countries, enabling property businesses to hire full-time employees through owned local entities with payroll, benefits, and compliance included without setting up your own legal structure.
• Company incorporation in global markets as part of their broader platform, supporting businesses that need to establish legal presence where they operate with registration, local director services, and bank account guidance.
• Integrated payroll and benefits administration covering salary calculations, tax withholdings, statutory contributions, and both mandatory and supplementary benefits managed through one centralized platform across 100+ countries.
• Compliance engine monitoring that tracks law changes, tax updates, leave policy modifications, and classification risks, automatically applying them to employment, payroll, and contractor workflows across jurisdictions.

Considerations before going with Remote People:

Service coverage varies by product type, with EOR available in 150+ countries but payroll in 100+ and visa services in 80+ countries. Some background screening types and benefits are country-dependent based on local regulations and operational coverage.

Pricing starts at $6,900

3) China Company Incorporation – Specialized China Entity Formation

China Company Incorporation focuses exclusively on company formation in mainland China, providing end-to-end incorporation services for businesses establishing WFOEs, Joint Ventures, and Representative Offices. Their China-specific expertise helps property businesses navigate SAMR registration, MOFCOM approvals, SAFE coordination, and the complete regulatory process from initial filings through operational setup.

Each engagement is managed by a dedicated incorporation manager who oversees the process from consultation through final operational handover, including banking assistance, tax registration, and post-setup support for hiring, payroll, and ongoing compliance management.

Key Features:

• Complete WFOE formation process covering planning, filings, approvals, business license acquisition, banking setup, and operational transition with formations typically completed in 30-45 working days depending on city and scope.
• Business scope planning and alignment helping property businesses define the correct operational scope before filings begin, ensuring activities align with registered scope and regulatory expectations for real estate operations.
• Joint Venture structuring support including partner due diligence, agreement preparation, MOFCOM approval coordination, and ongoing compliance assistance for businesses requiring Chinese partner collaboration in property sectors.
• Post-incorporation operational support providing transition assistance for hiring, payroll administration, bookkeeping coordination, tax filing support, and compliance calendar setup to support ongoing business operations after entity formation.

Considerations before going with China Company Incorporation:

Certain industries may involve additional foreign investment considerations or local partnership requirements. Manufacturing operations may require environmental clearances, and operational activities must align with the approved business scope registered during incorporation.

Fixed fee, no surprises:

China Company Incorporation operates on a fixed-fee engagement structure, with WFOE setup costs generally ranging from $6,000-$12,000 depending on city, operational scope, and incorporation complexity. The company provides free initial consultations and prepares fixed-fee proposals based on your specific requirements before engagement begins.

4) PwC – Enterprise-Scale Market Entry Advisory

PwC supports organizations expanding into China through comprehensive advisory services that address regulatory requirements, tax structuring, and operational planning. For large commercial real estate firms managing complex property portfolios or multinational property groups, PwC provides coordinated support across corporate structuring, regulatory filings, and tax-efficient entity design through its global network of member firms.

The firm combines industry expertise with technology capabilities to help property businesses navigate international expansion, assess market opportunities, and design structures that support cross-border operations while coordinating compliance, tax structuring, and operational planning across multiple jurisdictions.

Key Features:

• Corporate structuring and entity setup for organizations establishing legal entities in China, helping determine appropriate legal structures, navigate regulatory requirements, and coordinate entity setup as part of international expansion initiatives.
• Global network coordination allows property businesses to access local expertise across China while coordinating expansion strategies through PwC’s network of member firms, each operating as separate legal entities in their jurisdictions.
• Risk and regulatory advisory helping companies identify potential risks, implement appropriate controls, ensure compliance with regulations, and strengthen governance structures to respond to evolving regulatory and operational requirements.
• Digital transformation and technology integration supporting organizations in modernizing infrastructure, implementing cloud platforms, deploying data analytics, and integrating AI into business processes to improve operational efficiency and decision-making.

Considerations before going with PwC:

Services are delivered through consulting engagements tailored to each client’s needs, meaning implementation timelines and deliverables vary by engagement. Pricing is determined case-by-case based on scope and resources required, without standardized pricing models or publicly listed packages.

Custom Pricing:

PwC pricing varies based on engagement scope, service complexity, and resources required. Fees are determined by the type of advisory, consulting, audit, or tax services requested and the engagement scale. Services are structured through formal agreements defining scope, timelines, and delivery responsibilities, often involving collaboration between multiple PwC teams across regions.

5) Deloitte – Multidisciplinary Advisory for Complex Expansions

Deloitte provides advisory services supporting organizations during business expansion and transformation initiatives in China. Through its global network of independent member firms, Deloitte combines global expertise with local regulatory knowledge to help property businesses navigate complex regulatory environments, strengthen governance frameworks, and implement strategies that support growth and operational transformation.

The firm’s multidisciplinary approach integrates audit, assurance, tax, legal, and consulting capabilities to address the full spectrum of challenges commercial real estate businesses face when establishing and operating in China’s evolving regulatory landscape.

Key Features:

• Entity setup and corporate structuring advisory helping organizations navigate regulatory and business environments while implementing strategies that support growth, with legal professionals providing expertise on complex corporate matters and transactions.
• Regulatory compliance and risk management supporting organizations in interpreting regulatory requirements, strengthening governance frameworks, and building resilient risk management frameworks that address financial, operational, strategic, and regulatory risks.
• Accounting and payroll outsourcing through Operate services that help organizations manage financial administration and workforce compensation processes, maintaining accurate records and ensuring compliance with financial reporting and payroll regulations.
• Cross-border coordination through collaboration across Deloitte member firms, providing global expertise combined with local regulatory knowledge to help organizations operate across multiple jurisdictions and navigate cross-border business challenges.

Considerations before going with Deloitte:

Deloitte operates as a network of independent member firms, meaning service availability and scope may vary by jurisdiction and member firm capabilities. Service delivery may require coordination between multiple firms across regions, requiring alignment with local regulatory and operational frameworks.

Custom Pricing:

Deloitte pricing is determined based on engagement scope, complexity, and duration. Fees vary depending on service type, expertise required, and resources involved. Engagements are structured through formal service agreements defining scope, deliverables, timelines, and responsibilities, with each engagement tailored to specific client needs.

The Verdict: Which Service Should You Choose? (Our Top 3 Picks)

For commercial real estate and property businesses entering China, your choice depends on operational scale and budget.

MSA Asia stands out as the most practical choice for small to mid-sized property businesses. You get transparent, fixed pricing starting at $2,999 for incorporation, plus immediate access to accounting, payroll, and tax services under one roof with a dedicated account manager.

Remote People works well if you need to hire teams across multiple countries quickly without establishing entities first. Their platform-based EOR service gets you operational in 48 hours across 150+ countries.

PwC suits large property groups managing complex, multi-jurisdictional portfolios. While Big 4 firms like PwC target enterprise clients through custom-priced engagements, they bring unmatched global coordination and regulatory expertise for large-scale transformations.