Opening a branch in China and India

skyjumper

we have a Limited Company and was thinking of opening up a branch office in India and China- is that some thing which come under the legal boundaries of a Limited Company- to have offices outside UK , along with the main headquarters in the UK.

I have no clue about this and is trying to do a bit of a research. Anyone who has some ideas, please feel free to add your comments and suggestions

thanks in advance

skyjumper

> 24 hours and nearly 50 clicks, but no luck with any answers.

did i post this in a wrong section?

ukbill69

I think you are asking for tax evasion. Sorry there chap.

devils_advocate

The short answer is yes you can, but why do you want to do it?

There is a strong chance that the expense could outweigh the benefits.

Debt_Free_Chick

What benefits do you perceive you will have with "a branch" in India or China? What is it you do?

skyjumper

thanks for all who took time to reply

our's is a Ltd Company which delivers services to Hospitals including NHS and Private Hospitals- instruments and surgical equipments.
there is a good potential in India and China and would like to benefit from the upcoming markets there.

It's nothing to do with tax evasion, and once the company branch is set up, things will be easy for me to control from here, esp because the timings are totally different and I could employ local staff to do the bits in that end like taking orders and delivering stuff.

Debt_Free_Chick

You will need to consider all the local regulation for trading in that country (the equivalent of our Companies Act requirements) - and any regulation over the provision of services to the medical industry.

Is there an NHS equivalent in either country? If not, how are medical services delivered? How is medical care funded? If paid for, is it thriving? Or underused as many cannot afford it?

You will also need to comply with local labour/employment laws. And local tax/social security regulations.

And you will need to understand local cultural customs/etiquette too.

This is going to be a huge project - expect to pay your legal and other professional advisers tens of thousands of pounds to get it right.

Horace

Try speaking to your local chamber of commerce too as they often have international trading links and can probably give you some advice on how to set up a branch in China or India (why anyone would want to work with Chinese crooks however is beyond me).

Debt_Robot

Research: You will need to do extensive research in what parts of the country you will be setting up. China and India are massive nations. Will you be setting up in Beijing or Shanghai and in regards to India, will you go to Mumbai or New Delhi?

You have to choose the perfect location for your business b/c choosing China and India is too vague.

Emerging Markets: In your original post, you noted about 'emerging markets', in your research, you have to do enough research to show you have gone beyond the generalisation because China and India are emerging markets but the worldwide recession is affecting them too.

Office Branch: You also said "once the company branch is set up, things will be easy for me to control from here, esp because the timings are totally different and I could employ local staff to do the bits in that end like taking orders and delivering stuff."
--I don't mean to sound harsh but I think you shouldn't think that it will be 'easy' to control from afar. Of course, having the right staff in place is key but you will probably need to move there whether it's China or India for maybe even a few years to get everything sorted out because like Debt_Free_Chick said it is going to be a huge project.

If you were opening an office in Paris, it would be much easier to control from afar but not India or China.

Debt_Robot

Horace wrote: »

Try speaking to your local chamber of commerce too as they often have international trading links and can probably give you some advice on how to set up a branch in China or India (why anyone would want to work with Chinese crooks however is beyond me).

Nothing like a little xenophobia on New Year's Day. That is a really rude and ignorant thing to say.

skyjumper

people don't have any problems buying and using chinese products and in these days, more than 75% of things you get in any British supermarkets, are make in china, including the laptop you are using and that mobile phone you carry. I'm not Chinese or have anything against anyone, but I think the comment

(why anyone would want to work with Chinese crooks however is beyond me).

is a bit too much, don't you think