2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 18 Registering a Company
Should we rent an apartment first or find an agency first?

"Go find an agency first. It's okay to rent a place a little later."

Even without a registered address, the agency can provide proof of premises or a lease certificate, charging varying fees depending on the region.

Tan Jincheng wasn't sure how much it would cost, so he decided to inquire first; if he couldn't find a suitable office space, the agency would provide it.

As for office space, Tan Jincheng also plans to find an intermediary agency to solve the problem; it will cost more money, but professional things should be done by professionals, which will be more efficient.

However, this was also due to his social experience accumulated in his previous life. If it were in his previous life, Tan Jincheng would not dare to do such a thing.

I'm afraid of being scammed. These days, information channels aren't as developed, and there are traps everywhere. You could be ruined if you're not careful.

After changing buses twice, Tan Jincheng brought Zhang Xupeng to the former government affairs center of Beicang, near the tax bureau. He had also registered a business here in 08 in his previous life.

I don't know if that company is still in operation; but it doesn't matter, there are plenty of companies like that around here, if I can't find one, I'll just find another.

Fortunately, Tan Jincheng found the agency he remembered in no time.

Depending on the different attributes of the registered company, there are certain requirements for the registered capital; in 2004, the minimum registered capital stipulated by the Company Law was a huge sum of money for ordinary people.

Before the Company Law was revised, the minimum registered capital requirement for a limited liability company mainly engaged in production, operation, and wholesale of goods was 50 yuan.

The minimum investment is 30 yuan for companies primarily engaged in commercial retail, and 10 yuan for companies primarily engaged in technology development, consulting, and services.

These days, it's not like the later era where people could just register a company for fun. Anyone who dares to register a company either has considerable strength or is as daring as Tan Jincheng.

Even if the Company Law is amended next year, changing the minimum registered capital for limited liability companies to 3 yuan, this is still not something that an ordinary family can afford.

Even in Shanghai, the city with the best economic conditions in the country, the average annual salary of an employee is only over 2 yuan. Even if they didn't eat or drink for a year, it wouldn't be enough to cover the registered capital.

The two individuals' registered capital was naturally insufficient, which is where an agency comes in. Such services are available these days.

Cats have their ways, and mice have theirs; in a thriving, untamed era, as long as you dare to think and act, you've already won half the battle.

Like all internet companies these days, it all started by skirting the edges. Back then, Pony Ma even dressed up as a woman to promote Tencent.

The threshold for setting up a company this year is higher than next year, but the value of the company is also higher, and legitimate trading companies are more trustworthy.

However, when Tan Jincheng and his companion found the familiar agency, the sales staff were still taken aback, especially by the young man surnamed Tan.

With his deep eyes, mature speech, and composure when negotiating, who would guess that this young man is not yet 20 years old if they hadn't seen his ID card?

After resting for nearly half a month after going ashore, Tan Jincheng's complexion, though not fully recovered, was much fairer than when he was on the ship.

If it weren't for their still somewhat youthful faces, one would have no idea of ​​their actual ages, except for knowing that the two people who came to do business were relatively young.

But no matter how you look at it, it's impossible to imagine that these two are only 19 years old.

"Wow, are young people these days so awesome? Starting a company at such a young age, and doing foreign trade at that."

"The two people are from out of town and don't look like rich kids. They don't have enough funds to register capital."

"That's still better than us. They can pull out 10 yuan at 19, what were we doing at 19?"

"That's true. I was still an apprentice when I was 19, earning 200 yuan a month, haha."

"Never mind all that, this deal looks like it'll be fine today. I'll treat you to lunch." These words came from the manager of the agency. He had just heard that two 19-year-olds had come to set up their company, so he couldn't help but come out and take a look.

Many people in Ningbo go into business, and many start working at the age of 19, but it's still rare to see someone preparing to start a company at 19 these days.

"Haha, thank you very much, manager."

"Alas, it's a pity that the one leading the group, surnamed Tan, is too shrewd. He's too good at haggling, and there's no way to fool him."

"It's alright. If they can keep going, there's still a chance. If the company goes bankrupt, there's an even better chance."

The manager confidently stated that entrepreneurship is addictive, especially for young people; if the business fails, they might come looking for him again next time.

Tan Jincheng managed to reduce the agency service fee to 1000 yuan, and the remaining fees for seal engraving, bank fees, taxes, tax filing, etc., were reduced to a total of 2000 yuan.

If a registration address is provided later, the specific fees will be discussed in detail based on the location. Including the bridge fee for the remaining funds, this transaction can earn a maximum of 10,000 yuan.

After verifying the capital, a portion or even all of the registered capital is withdrawn. This is a common practice for setting up companies and one of the foundations for the survival of these agencies.

"Xiao Tan, you're amazing! Where did you learn all this?" After leaving the agency, Zhang Xupeng, who had been holding back for a long time, could no longer contain himself.

After following Xiao Tan through a maze of twists and turns all morning, we arrived here. During the process of handling the business, Xiao Tan was not entirely calm, but she was certainly not afraid at all.

Most importantly, this guy can actually speak the Ningbo dialect, which even he himself can't understand at all!
"Haha, aren't I amazing?"

"Where did you learn Ningbo dialect? We only arrived last night, after spending two days on land. Besides, we haven't met many people. I don't believe you could learn something so difficult in just three days."

"Is it difficult? Not at all, it's very simple. There was a guy from Ningbo on the ship before, and I learned a bit from him."

Not only have I learned it, but you will probably learn it in three or four years.

"When were there ever any people from Ningbo on the ship? How come I don't know? Besides, why were you imitating him back then?"

"Can't I learn it for fun? I can also speak other dialects, you know that."

"That's true, I envy you for that; I couldn't understand a word of what you were saying."

Tan Jincheng wasn't exaggerating when he said that. He had a good talent for languages ​​since he was a child, and he could understand most local dialects if he listened to them carefully a few times.

If you can stay in a place for a year or two, you can basically speak some of the local dialect, not to mention that I spent more than 10 years in Ningbo in my previous life.

"Stop using that foreign language. You're trying to make a living on someone else's turf, so show some respect," Tan Jincheng reminded him.

People in Ningbo these days are still somewhat xenophobic; older people generally refer to outsiders as "foreigners."

"Okay, I got it; what do we do next?" Zhang Xupeng nodded hurriedly, at this point he was quite impressed with Tan Jincheng.

Over the course of one night and one morning, Xiao Tan revealed many sides of herself that I had never seen before.

"Go find a real estate agent first and look at houses."

Posting this at night seems too late and will affect the reader's ability to follow along; I'll change it back.

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(End of this chapter)