Por Vincent Cheung

Para abrir restaurantes en Shangai, usted tiene dos opciones:

1. Establezca a compañía de gerencia de abastecimiento poseída enteramente extranjera.
2. Abra simplemente un restaurante

Si usted desea otorgar la concesión en Shangai o preponerse vender sus restaurantes en el futuro, la opción 1 sería cabida para usted, o usted puede abrir simplemente un restaurante. Usted no tiene que alquilar un cuarto en un bloque de la oficina para hacer la compañía de gerencia del abastecimiento establecer. Para setting-up a una compañía de gerencia del abastecimiento, un lugar conveniente para abrir un restaurante es suficiente. Tan pronto como haya establecido, usted puede comenzar a abrir restaurantes, barras o caf'es como sus compañías del rama. Desde la compañía de gerencia del abastecimiento, que se licencia enganchar a consulta de la inversión, la consulta del negocio, consulta de la gerencia corporativa, abasteciendo (alimento, postre, bebida, alcohol) tiene ya la mayor parte de las licencias requeridas y permite para enganchar al negocio del abastecimiento, usted no necesita solicitar ellas cuando usted es compañías del rama de la abertura.

La edición más crítica es la localización del restaurante. Algunas aprobaciones y licencias son necesarias antes de que usted someta su uso a SMERT (Comisión extranjera municipal de la relación económica y del comercio de Shangai). La oficina del ambiente de Shangai impone los requisitos exigentes para el restaurante. La descarga del humo, de las aguas residuales, de la basura sólida, de la influencia posible en los residentes vecinos, del etc, es factores críticos. Antes de usted firme el acuerdo de arriendo con el propietario, invitan a funcionarios de la oficina del ambiente que examinen el lugar, cerciorándose de la localización es aceptable, después emplea una agencia de la evaluación del ambiente para hacer el informe de la evaluación del ambiente. The officials from public security will come over to inspect the fire and security facilities, fire permit and public place license won’t be issued if they think your facilities don’t meet the requirements. So, before you start the decoration, consult those two authorities about their requirements, or you might risk yourself redecorating the place. For instance, there are specific requirements for the height and location of the vent. Shanghai Health Department will also send people to inspect the place, public & Food Hygiene License will be issued if they find the food and facilities are in compliance the regulations. Besides, they will also check your employees’ health certificates. Annual physical is required for waiters and cooks.

Besides, license for the sale of alcohol, permit for the use of electricity and water, license for special industry, etc, are needed.

You should be very careful with the lease agreement. When the landlord is an individual, the first page of the four-paged property right certificate copy needs to be signed by the landlord, photocopy of the landlord’s ID card with signature needs to be provided. If the landlord is a company, its business license needs to be provided and the first page of the property right copy needs to be stamped. In case the landlord is a sublessor, the letter of authorization of the original landlord, sublease agreement stamped by the original landlord needs to be provided. You have to be sure that the office hasn’t been registered.

Only after all abovementioned issues are properly handled, can you start to apply to SMERT for a Certificate of Approval, to SAIC (State Administration for Industry & Commerce) for a Business License, to the Tax Bureau for a Tax Registration Certificate, then register at the Shanghai Foreign Exchange Bureau, have you an RMB account opened, inject and verify the capital, finally renew the business license.

It would be ideal if you’ve got a few friends who are currently doing catering business in Shanghai. Give them a call and ask them to share their experiences, so you can avoid a lot of wrong decision-makings.

Vincent Cheung, www.pathtochina.com

“Path To China“ is an International Business Consulting Firm that provides foreign investors with business registration service in China.