Service 2 — Corporate Formation Support
Start your company with the structure it will need
The choices made at formation tend to persist. This service helps founders and overseas companies entering Japan make those choices with a clear understanding of what each one will mean in practice.
← Back to HomeWhat this delivers
A company established and ready to operate
This service covers the full sequence from entity type selection to registration, with documentation prepared and the governance obligations that follow from incorporation explained. By the end of the process, the company is registered, its internal arrangements are documented, and the founders understand what they are required to do from that point.
Where more than one party is involved, shareholder arrangements are addressed at the same time. The governance calendar provided with this service sets out the meetings, resolutions and record-keeping obligations that registration creates — so that the company's formal requirements do not come as a surprise once trading begins.
The common situation
Formation decisions made too quickly
Starting a company tends to concentrate attention on the business itself — the product, the customers, the initial team. The legal structure is treated as an administrative matter to dispose of quickly, and the choices made at that stage are often not examined closely.
In Japan, the difference between entity types is not merely a matter of cost. It affects how liability is allocated, what the tax treatment will be, what reporting is required, and what options are available if the shareholders need to change the structure later. Shareholders who did not agree on their respective rights at the outset sometimes find that they have different understandings when a decision needs to be made.
For overseas companies, the additional question of what domestic presence means in terms of tax and regulatory exposure can be left unexamined until the structure is already in place and difficult to change.
How this helps
Entity selection explained, not assumed
This service begins with entity type selection. The practical differences between a kabushiki kaisha, gōdō kaisha and branch structure are set out in terms of what each one means for the founders' situation — not as an abstract comparison but as it applies to the specific business being established.
Once the structure is chosen, the articles of incorporation are prepared and filed. Where there are shareholders beyond the founding individual, their agreement is documented before the company comes into existence — covering voting rights, dividend entitlements, transfer restrictions and what happens if a shareholder wants to leave.
The governance calendar and template minutes provided with this service are designed to make the ongoing obligations manageable, particularly for founders who have not operated a Japanese entity before.
Working together
Four to six weeks from start to registration
The sequence from first meeting to a registered company, at each stage explained before it begins.
Initial discussion
The nature of the business, the parties involved and any time constraints are discussed. The most suitable structure is identified with the practical differences explained.
Documents prepared
Articles of incorporation and, where applicable, a shareholder agreement are drafted and reviewed with the founders before they are finalised.
Registration filed
The required documents are filed with the Legal Affairs Bureau. The timeline from filing to registration certificate is typically two to three weeks.
Governance handover
On completion, a governance calendar and template resolutions are provided, along with a summary of the obligations the company takes on from the date of registration.
The investment
What is included
Corporate Formation Support
Entity type selection with practical differences explained for your specific situation
Articles of incorporation prepared and filed with the Legal Affairs Bureau
Shareholder agreement where more than one party is involved
Governance calendar with ongoing meeting and record-keeping obligations
Template minutes for ordinary resolutions after registration
Written summary of each choice made and its later consequences
Registration fees payable to the Legal Affairs Bureau are separate from this service fee and will be confirmed at the outset.
Scope and timeline
What the process covers
Founders and sole directors
For single-founder companies, the focus is on entity selection and articles. The governance calendar sets out what a sole director is required to do and when.
Multi-party arrangements
Where two or more parties are involved, the shareholder agreement addresses what the articles do not — dividend policy, decision-making and exit provisions.
Overseas entrants
Foreign companies establishing a Japanese presence have additional considerations. These are addressed at the selection stage, before the structure is fixed.
Four to six weeks is the typical timeline from initial discussion to a registration certificate. This can vary depending on the complexity of the shareholder arrangements and on the Legal Affairs Bureau's current processing time.
Commitment
Decisions documented before they are made
Each choice in the formation process is explained in writing before you commit to it. The articles and any shareholder agreement are reviewed with the founders and adjusted in response to comments before they are signed and filed.
If, at any point in the process, the structure you have chosen turns out to be unsuitable for your situation, that is raised before the filing is made — not after. There is no charge for that conversation.
If you are not certain what structure is right for your situation, an initial consultation can be arranged before committing to this service. The consultation fee of ¥14,000 is a useful first step when the structure is genuinely unclear.
About the Initial Consultation →Next steps
How to begin
A brief description of the business and the parties involved is all that is needed to start. From that, the most suitable structure can usually be identified before the first meeting, so that the initial conversation focuses on substance rather than background.
Step one
Describe the business and the parties involved — by email or the contact form. Note any timeline you are working to.
Step two
An initial meeting is arranged to discuss structure and confirm scope. The fee and timeline are confirmed in writing before work begins.
Step three
Documents are prepared, reviewed with you, filed and the governance materials provided on registration.
Get in touch
Begin the formation process
If you are planning to establish a company in Japan — whether as a founder starting out or an overseas business opening a domestic presence — describe the situation briefly and the next steps can be confirmed from there.
Arrange Formation SupportOther services