Background and Challenge
Juice Time had already built a solid fresh-juice brand in its home market, with a loyal customer base and a clear brand identity focused on quality and freshness. The next stage of the business was to enter China — a market offering significant scale but presenting a demanding regulatory environment for foreign food and beverage brands.
The challenge involved four distinct layers:
- Entity registration complexity: Setting up a legally compliant company in China requires navigating the AIC, tax bureau, and industry-specific licensing — unfamiliar territory for a team new to local procedures
- Food-service licensing: A storefront serving food and beverages requires a separate Food Business Operating License, involving hygiene inspections, premises approval, and additional documentation
- Foreign employee work visas: Bringing key management from Yemen required Z visa applications — each requiring qualification documentation, notarization, and police clearance
- Ongoing tax compliance: As a foreign-invested retail business, Juice Time needed monthly VAT and income tax filings, invoice management, and annual financial reporting from Day 1Entering a new market while managing brand operations required a reliable, end-to-end compliance partner — not a series of fragmented vendors.
How Kerui Helped
Kerui managed Juice Time’s China market entry comprehensively — from the initial company setup through to ongoing compliance support.
China Entity Registration
Handled company name registration, business scope filing, and registered address documentationPrepared shareholder and director documents to meet foreign-invested enterprise requirementsGuided Juice Time through post-registration steps: tax registration, statistics registration, and bank account preparation
Food-Service License Coordination
Prepared and submitted the Food Business Operating License application Coordinated on-site hygiene inspections and premises compliance reviewManaged the additional documentation and approval steps specific to storefront food and beverage operations
Foreign Employee Work Visa Processing
Managed Z visa applications for Juice Time’s foreign staff and management teamCollected and organized qualification documentation: educational certificates, work experience letters, police clearance, and personal identity materialsCoordinated Residence Permit applications following work permit approval
Ongoing Tax Planning and Compliance
- Established bookkeeping and tax filing systems from the point of company registration
- Managed monthly VAT and corporate income tax filings
- Provided tax planning guidance to help the client understand deductible expenses and manage ongoing obligations
Outcome
Juice Time successfully entered the China market and is now operating stores in Guangzhou. The brand’s China launch was completed smoothly and on schedule.
- China entity registration, food-service licensing, and work visas were coordinated in a single, managed process rather than separate, sequential steps
- The team was able to focus on product development, brand promotion, and customer experience — rather than regulatory administration
- Ongoing tax compliance was established from Day 1, ensuring no compliance gaps or penalties in the post-launch operational period
- The client now has a fully operational China presence, with administrative infrastructure in place to support continued growth
