Planning to launch a business in Japan? Start with a clear picture of what your business will do, who will own it and who will run it. This checklist is designed to help overseas companies and individual entrepreneurs prepare for an initial legal consultation.
1. Describe the Business and Your Plans
Prepare a short summary of your products or services, customers, sales channels and proposed launch date. Explain whether you will hire staff, rent premises, import goods or handle customer funds. These details help identify the legal questions that should be addressed before launch.
2. Discuss the Business Structure
Consider the appropriate structure for your Japanese operations, including ownership and management. Bring details of the proposed investors, decision-makers and relationship with any overseas parent company. Ask how the choice of structure affects the establishment process and ongoing administration.
3. Plan Incorporation and Registration
Company establishment involves preparing corporate documents and completing registration. The Ministry of Justice provides separate English guides for stock companies (kabushiki kaisha) and limited liability companies (godo kaisha). Discuss the company name, business purposes, address, capital, ownership and management before preparing the documents.
For overseas founders, identify early which documents will be needed from outside Japan and allow time for their preparation. Agree who will collect the documents, prepare the filings and manage the schedule.
4. Coordinate the Steps Around Registration
JETRO’s setup guidance covers registration alongside tax procedures, banking, premises, immigration and personnel matters. Build these workstreams into your launch plan and identify the advisers responsible for each. Confirm which steps can run in parallel and which depend on an earlier step.
5. Review the Business Before Launch
Prepare a list of questions about any sector-specific permissions or notifications, foreign investment procedures, customer terms, supplier agreements, employment arrangements, privacy and intellectual property. The relevant issues depend on your activities and ownership structure. A clear description of the actual business model is more useful than a company name alone.
How Nakasaki Law Firm Can Help
We assist overseas companies and entrepreneurs with company formation, incorporation documents and registration, and legal matters arising during business launch and ongoing operations. Our practice also includes commercial contracts, payments and FinTech regulation, AML/CFT compliance, and internet and technology businesses.
For an initial enquiry, send a brief business outline, your preferred timing and the assistance you need. Please avoid sending sensitive documents before we confirm the appropriate arrangements. Scope and fees are agreed individually after reviewing the matter and checking for conflicts.
Explore our practice areas · How consultations work · Contact us
Official Resources
- JETRO: Setting Up Business in Japan
- Ministry of Justice: Establishment of Stock Companies
- Ministry of Justice: Establishment of Limited Liability Companies
This article provides a general planning checklist. The steps and requirements for a particular business should be confirmed for its circumstances.