Check a Chinese Business License Against Company Records
Start your China business license verification with the Chinese legal name or 18-character Unified Social Credit Code. Compare available registration details in an English-language PDF, from $12.99 USD excluding VAT.
Mainland China registration check
Turn a business license into a company check
A Chinese business license, or 营业执照, contains identifiers you can use to find a registered legal entity. Compare those details with available company records rather than relying on the image alone.
- Match the entity. Use the original Chinese legal name and USCC to distinguish the company from businesses with similar names or different English translations.
- Compare registration details. Review the legal representative, registered address, incorporation date and registered capital alongside the license supplied to you.
- Look beyond the document. Check the registration status in the report. Simple and Standard also include shareholders and executives; Standard adds further available records.
Read a Chinese business license
Which license fields should you compare?
Layouts vary by license version and entity type. Start with the legal name and USCC, then compare the remaining fields where available.
| License field | How to use it |
|---|---|
| 名称 Chinese legal name |
Copy the full name, including its company suffix. Use the Chinese text when comparing the license, search result and contract. |
| 统一社会信用代码 Unified Social Credit Code (USCC) |
Use this 18-character identifier to search for the entity. Check every character, especially when copying from a photograph or scan. |
| 法定代表人 Legal representative |
Compare the named person with the available registration record. This person may be different from your sales contact. |
| 住所 Registered address |
Compare the registered address. It may differ from a warehouse, sales office or factory location. |
| 成立日期 Incorporation date |
Check when the legal entity was established. This is not necessarily the date a brand or its founders began trading. |
| 注册资本 Registered capital |
Compare the amount and currency. Registered capital is not a statement of cash held, revenue or current ability to pay. |
| 经营范围 Business scope |
Review the registered activities where available. A listed activity does not by itself establish production capacity or possession of every required permit. |
Pricing
Compare China company reports
Choose between two automated reports, Simple and Standard, or use Sherlock for manual company identification from documents and links.
Simple
$12.99 / report
* VAT excl.
* VAT excl.
Basic plan for Chinese legal entity identification
- Company Registration Info
- Executives and Shareholders
- Contact Information (if available)
- Report delivered within 10 minutes
- See example
Standard
$29.99 / report
Save 33%
$19.99 / report* VAT excl.
The perfect plan with all necessary company information
- Company Registration Info
- Executives and Shareholders
- Contact Information (if available)
- Branches and Subsidiaries
- Company Ownership Chart
- Court Records
- Licenses and Certificates
- Trademarks
- Registered Websites
- Report delivered within 10 minutes
- See example
Sherlock
$79.99 / report
* VAT excl.
* VAT excl.
We help you identify a company using the uploaded documents and links
- All benefits of the Standard report
- 100% money-back guarantee if we can't find a company with the provided information
- Report delivered within 2 days
From license to report
How to check a Chinese business license
-
Locate the name or USCC
Find 名称 or 统一社会信用代码 on the license. Ask for a clearer copy or the identifiers as text if the image is difficult to read.
-
Search for the registered entity
Enter the Chinese legal name or USCC above. Compare the returned name, registration number and incorporation date before selecting the company.
-
Order the report you need
Choose Simple or Standard, enter your email and pay online. Report delivered within 10 minutes after successful payment for both automated options. Confirm the final amount and currency in checkout.
-
Compare the license with the records
Review the original identifiers, registration status and other available fields in the PDF. Check record dates and ask the company to explain differences with supporting documents.
Understanding discrepancies
What if the license details do not match?
A difference needs context. It may reflect a transcription error, an older license, a changed registration detail or a different legal entity.
- Recheck the identifiers. Compare the complete Chinese name and every USCC character. If the code resolves to another company, clarify which entity you are being asked to contract with.
- Compare dates and versions. An address or legal representative may have changed. Ask for the current license and relevant change records, and consider the update dates of the available data.
- Resolve the difference before relying on it. Keep the explanation and supporting records with your transaction documents. A missing search result alone does not establish that a license is false.
Sherlock identification
Only have a website or Alibaba profile?
Start with what you have. Sherlock option adds manual company identification before the Standard report.
- Share the clues. Send marketplace links, a website, documents, business cards or photos with identifying details.
- Identify the entity. We use the material to help find the company. Report delivered within 2 days after payment, including the Standard report.
- Money-back guarantee. If the company cannot be found from the information provided, the tariff includes a refund.
Understanding the data
Data sources and freshness
Available registration information and public records are obtained through company-data providers and organised into an English-language PDF.
- Check the record dates. The generation date is not the last update date of every source. Filings can appear late and sections may be unavailable.
- Match the original identifiers. English renderings help you read the report; use the Chinese legal name and USCC when comparing documents.
- Know what is self-reported. Paid-in capital may come from company annual reports. Public phone numbers and emails may be outdated and are not independently verified.
CNToolbox is not a registration authority; the report is not a certified registry extract. Need a specific record or effective date? Ask about coverage before ordering.
Checking a company registered in Hong Kong rather than Mainland China?
Use our Hong Kong company report.
Understand the result
Matching records and authenticating a document
| What the report helps establish | What requires a separate check |
|---|---|
| Whether the name and USCC correspond to an entity in the available records | Whether the supplied license image is genuine, unaltered and provided by an authorised representative. |
| The registration status and details recorded by the data source | Whether a recent change has reached the source and whether a certified registry extract is needed for your purpose. |
| Registered business information and additional available records | Operational capability, bank account ownership and the supplier's ability to fulfil your order. |
Chinese business license verification FAQs
Have a question about the information on a license?
Contact our support team before ordering.
- What information do I need to check a Chinese business license?
- Use the full Chinese legal name or the 18-character Unified Social Credit Code printed on the license. Keep a readable copy to compare the other fields with your report. If you cannot identify the company from your documents, consider Sherlock identification.
- Can I search using a Unified Social Credit Code?
- Yes. Enter the 18-character USCC in the search above and confirm the returned company details. If no match appears, check for copying errors and try the exact Chinese legal name. Contact support if you still cannot identify the entity.
- Why might a supplier's English name differ from its registered name?
- A supplier may use a translated name, brand or trading name in English. Different translations can refer to the same Chinese name, while similar English names may refer to different entities. Match the original Chinese legal name and USCC rather than relying on English wording alone.
- Does matching registration information prove a license image is genuine?
- No. Matching information supports consistency with the available company records, but genuine details can be copied into an altered document. The report does not certify the license image or authenticate its sender.
Related company checks
Choose the right starting point
- China company verification: explore report coverage for a mainland Chinese legal entity.
- China supplier verification: identify the company behind a supplier before placing an order.