Consulting Services for Establishing BRANCHES REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES
Expanding business operations across multiple provinces is no longer a barrier. VLIC helps enterprises establish branches, representative offices, and business locations in compliance with regulations, quickly and with legal certainty.
500+
Branches Established
3–5
Days to Complete
Our Vision
Present Everywhere – Legally Secure
The Challenges
CHALLENGES WHEN EXPANDING TO NEW LOCATIONS
Expanding into new markets requires careful legal preparation. Without a proper legal presence structure, businesses may easily violate regulations on business locations and face operational risks.
Choosing the Wrong Structure
Many businesses mistakenly choose between a branch and a representative office, resulting in violations of their permitted scope of operation.
Complex Procedures
Applications may involve multiple authorities and can easily be returned due to missing documents or incorrect registration information.
Tax Compliance Risks
Failure to register a branch on time may result in additional tax obligations, business license tax liabilities, and avoidable penalties.
Results from VLIC
Clients are satisfied after establishing legally compliant branch and representative office systems, ready for nationwide expansion.
Entity Types
3 TYPES OF BUSINESS PRESENCE OUTSIDE THE HEAD OFFICE
Each structure has a different scope of operation and legal obligations. Choosing correctly from the outset helps avoid future risks.
Branch
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Nature: A dependent unit permitted to perform all or part of the parent company's functions
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Business Activities: Permitted to conduct business directly, sign contracts, and issue invoices
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Business Lines: Same as, or part of, the business lines of the parent enterprise
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Tax Code: Has its own tax code and may declare and pay taxes independently or dependently
Representative Office
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Nature: A representative unit for liaison and trade promotion on behalf of the enterprise
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Business Activities: Not permitted to directly conduct business or sign commercial contracts
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Suitable For: Market research, product introduction, and monitoring contract performance
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Cost: Lean operations without direct revenue generation
Business Location
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Nature: A location where the enterprise or branch conducts specific business activities
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Procedure: Notify the business registration authority within 10 working days
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Suitable For: Stores, production workshops, retail outlets, or showrooms
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Note: May only operate within the province/city where the enterprise or branch is headquartered
Quick Compare
COMPARISON OF 3 BUSINESS STRUCTURES
Quickly compare the key differences to choose the most suitable structure for your business expansion needs.
| Criteria | Branch | Representative Office | Business Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Business Operations | ✔ Yes | ✘ Not | ✔ Yes |
| Signing Commercial Contracts | ✔ Yes | ✘ Not | Through Parent Company |
| Invoice Issuance | ✔ Yes | ✘ Not | Depending on Structure |
| Separate Tax Code | ✔ Yes | ✘ Not | ✘ Not |
| Geographic Scope | Nationwide | Nationwide | Same Province as Enterprise/Branch |
| Estimated Processing Time | 5–7 Days | 5–7 Days | 3–5 Days |
| Annual Business License Tax | ✔ Yes | ✘ Not | ✔ Yes |
Naming Rules
NAMING FORMULA FOR BRANCHES & REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES
The name of a branch or representative office must clearly reflect its relationship with the parent enterprise and comply with the statutory naming structure.
Element 1
UNIT TYPE
Branch / Representative Office / Business Location
Element 2
ENTERPRISE NAME
Full name of the parent company
Element 3 (Optional)
ORDINAL NUMBER / PROVINCE OR CITY
If there are multiple branches
Example: Branch (Unit Type) + VLICCONSULTING SOLUTION CO., LTD (Enterprise Name) + in Hanoi (Province/City)
cancel REQUIREMENTS AND PROHIBITIONS
- 01
The branch/representative office name must include the enterprise name and must not duplicate or cause confusion with another registered branch/representative office.
- 02
A representative office is not permitted to conduct direct profit-generating business activities in Vietnam under applicable law.
- 03
A business location may only be established within the province/city where the enterprise or branch is headquartered.
- 04
A branch may only register business lines that fall within the scope of the parent enterprise's registered business lines.
DOCUMENTS TO PREPARE
VLIC assists in preparing and submitting the entire application dossier on behalf of the enterprise, ensuring proper procedures and committed timelines.
Procedure
PROCEDURE &
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- 01
Consultation & Structure Identification
VLIC experts advise on choosing between a branch, representative office, or business location based on your expansion objectives.
- 02
Application Dossier Preparation
Includes: establishment notice, owner's decision, copy of the parent company's business registration certificate, and identification documents of the head of the unit.
- 03
Submission to the Department of Planning and Investment
Submit to the Business Registration Office of the province/city where the branch/representative office is located. Processing time: 3–5 working days.
- 04
Certificate Collection & Tax Registration
Collect the branch/representative office operation certificate, register a tax code (for branches), fulfill business license tax obligations, and display the required signage.
- 05
Post-Establishment Support
VLIC supports bank account opening, digital signature registration, and initial tax declaration for the branch.
WHY CHOOSE
VLICCONSULTING
Local Regulatory Expertise
Practical experience across multiple provinces, with a clear understanding of local procedural requirements for fast and accurate handling.
Timeline Commitment
Complete the application dossier within 3–5 working days. Delivery commitment and refund policy apply if delays are caused by VLIC.
Multi-Province Support
Able to handle multiple branches in different provinces simultaneously, maximizing time savings for businesses.
All-Inclusive – Transparent
All-inclusive pricing with no hidden charges. Includes government fees, dossier preparation, submission, and result tracking.
Senior Partner
VLICCONSULTING CO., LTD
PRICING
BẢNG GIÁ DỊCH VỤ
- ✓ Business Scope & Industry Advisory Determine the appropriate business sectors for the branch within the scope of activities permitted for the parent company.
- ✓ Preparation & Filing of Branch Registration Documents Prepare the complete application dossier and submit it to the Department of Planning and Investment in the province where the branch will be established.
- ✓ Collection of the Branch Operation Certificate Monitor the application process, collect the original certificate, and deliver it directly to the client.
- ✓ Branch Tax Identification Number Registration Activate a separate tax code and complete the initial tax registration procedures with the local tax authority.
- ✓ Company Seal Engraving & Registration Arrange the creation of a legal seal bearing the officially registered branch name.
- ✓ Bank Account Opening Assistance Provide guidance and support in opening a suitable corporate bank account for the branch.
- ✓ License Tax & Tax Allocation Advisory Advise on annual license tax obligations and corporate income tax allocation procedures applicable to branches.
- ✓ Completion Time: 5–7 Business Days Timely completion commitment with continuous updates via Zalo and telephone.
- ✓ Representative Office Activity Advisory Clearly define the lawful scope, authority, and limitations of representative office operations.
- ✓ Preparation & Filing of Representative Office Registration Documents Prepare the complete application dossier and submit it to the Department of Planning and Investment where the office is located.
- ✓ Collection of the Representative Office Operation Certificate Monitor the application process, collect the original certificate, and deliver it directly to the client.
- ✓ Representative Office Seal Registration Arrange the creation and registration of a legal seal bearing the approved representative office name.
- ✓ Head of Representative Office Appointment Advisory Provide guidance on appointment procedures, authorization documents, and legal responsibilities of the office head.
- ✓ Tax Compliance Advisory Advise on reporting obligations, labor registration requirements, and statutory compliance procedures.
- ✓ Signboard Registration Guidance Advise on the lawful design and placement of office signage in compliance with Vietnamese regulations.
- ✓ Completion Time: 5–7 Business Days Timely completion commitment with continuous updates via Zalo and telephone.
- ✓ Location Eligibility & Scope Assessment Verify that the business address is legally valid and located within the same province or city as the parent company or managing branch.
- ✓ Preparation & Filing of Registration Documents Prepare the notification dossier and submit it within the statutory 10-working-day deadline.
- ✓ Collection of Business Location Registration Confirmation Monitor the registration process, collect the confirmation document, and deliver it directly to the client.
- ✓ License Tax Advisory Provide guidance on declaration and payment of annual license tax obligations applicable to the business location.
- ✓ Business Signage Compliance Advisory Advise on lawful signage requirements and display standards applicable to the business premises.
- ✓ Post-Registration Support Assist with amendments, relocation procedures, temporary suspension notices, or business location closure procedures.
