Business license

The business license is the certificate issued by the administrative department for industry and commerce to the industrial and commercial enterprises and individual operators to permit them to engage in certain production and business activities. The format shall be uniformly prescribed by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

The registered items are: name, address, person in charge, amount of capital, economic composition, scope of business, mode of operation, number of employees, duration of operation, etc. The business license is divided into original and duplicate, both of which have the same legal effect. The original shall be placed in an eye-catching position at the company's domicile or business premises. The business license shall not be forged, altered, leased, lent or transferred.

Industrial and commercial enterprises or self-employed operators without business licenses are not allowed to start business, and they are not allowed to engrave official seals, sign contracts, register trademarks or publish advertisements. Banks are not allowed to open accounts.