Taiwan

A. BUSINESS MODELS:-

Companies wishing to establish business operations in Taiwan typically form one of the following: a Representative Office, a Branch, a Limited Company, or a Company Limited by Shares.

1. Representative Office-A Representative Office may operate in Taiwan only as the agent of its overseas principal and is not considered a separate legal entity. It may not engage in profit-seeking commercial activities nor act as principal in any domestic business transaction. A Representative Office is also not allowed to sell goods or provide services in Taiwan. Typically, a Representative Office functions as a sales or purchasing agent for international businesses which have no other presence in Taiwan. Representative Offices are also used to provide technical support and training as well as to oversee quality control in Taiwan. Representative Office Registration Procedures involves the following steps:-

• Set up a Company outside of Taiwan and prepare necessary documents;
• Apply to the Department of Commerce, MOEA, to register the details of Representative Office;
• Register for a Tax Number; and
• Apply for Health and Labor Insurance.

2. Branch-A foreign company may also establish a Branch to conduct business in Taiwan. Like a Representative Office, a Branch is not considered an independent legal entity, and so does not need to have shareholders, directors, or supervisors, as would be the case with a subsidiary. The steps involved in registration process of a Branch office involves:-

• Prepare Foreign Documents;
• Application for Branch Name;
• Application for Special Permissions, if applicable;
• Recognition of the Foreign Head Office;
• Open Bank Account;
• Issuance of a Tax Number;
• Application to the city Government for registration of the Branch Office as a Tax-paying Unit;
• Application to Bureau of Foreign Trade, MOEA, for Importer/Exporter registration and to the City Government to the Bureau of Foreign Trade, MOEA, for Importer/Exporter English Name Reservation, if applicable; and
• Application for Health and Labor Insurance.

3. Limited Company-Taiwan Limited Companies are similar in structure to US limited liability companies. Taiwan Limited Companies are organized by one or more members, with each member, in general, being only liable to the extent of his or her individual capital contribution.
4. Company Limited by Shares- A Company Limited by Shares is similar in form to a US corporation. Shareholder liability is limited to the amount of each shareholder’s capital contribution. A Company Limited by Shares is subject to certain corporate structural requirements: it must have shareholders (at least two individual shareholders or one juridical person shareholder), directors (at least three) and a supervisor (at least one). A Company Limited by Shares can, unlike a Limited Company, become a public company in Taiwan. For the registration of Company, the following steps are required:-

• Reserving the name of the Company on decision of names of Company key people;
• Application to Investment Commission of the MOEA for approval of foreign investors;
• Opening Bank Account as a preparatory office, then remit money
• Application to Investment Commission of MOEA to examine and certify foreign equity investment;
• Registration of company as a Tax-Paying Entity;
• Application for Import or Export License, if applicable;
• Change of Name on Bank Account
• Application for Health and Labor Insurance.

B. ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TAIWAN:-

Taiwan is ranked the best place to start a business in Asia. In Taiwan, with the emergence of a more open society and the development of the knowledge economy, women have come to account for an increasingly large percentage of entrepreneurs. The main factors affecting women’s entrepreneurial activity can be summarized as follows- The opportunity to achieve higher income levels and secure a better quality of life provided stimulus for the entry of women into the workplace; increased availability of educational opportunities has given women more options; service sector has provided women with significant opportunities for entrepreneurial activity; emergence of the knowledge economy has created new opportunities for women; growth of franchise operation and promotion by government.