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Zagdim Reader Desk · Japan solo founders

Starting a business in JapanSolo founders, online shops and the Business Manager visa

If you want to start a business in Japan on your own, decide first whether you will relocate: running a Japanese company from overseas and moving to Japan on a Business Manager visa have very different thresholds. The Zagdim Reader Desk first establishes your plan and budget, then shortlists suitable Japanese professionals.

Book a free 20-minute callSee what the service covers
A small shop front in Japan
Who it is forSolo founders and online sellers, relocating or not
Handled byJudicial scriveners, administrative scriveners and certified tax accountants
LanguagesEnglish or Japanese; other languages on request
Reader Desk feeFree of charge

Information checked: 29 October 2026

01 · ABOUT

Whether you move to Japan sets the threshold

Forming a company and obtaining a visa are two separate matters. If you only form a company, the representative can live overseas and the capital can start from ¥1. If you intend to move to Japan and run the business yourself, you must meet the Business Manager visa (経営・管理) rules in force since 16 October 2025.

  • Some goods need a separate licenceSecond-hand goods, food, alcohol and similar.
  • Only a KK has its articles certifiedA GK does not need certification, and its minimum registration and licence tax is also lower.
  • Formation date = date of filingOnce registration is complete, the company’s formation date is the date the registration was applied for.

Where it is handled

Legal Affairs BureauLegal Affairs Bureau

Incorporation of a kabushiki kaisha (KK) or godo kaisha (GK) is registered with the Legal Affairs Bureau.

Immigration Services AgencyImmigration Services Agency

Recognition and examination of Business Manager status of residence are handled by the immigration authorities.

Logos belong to the respective bodies and are shown only to identify where a matter is handled. Zagdim is not affiliated with them.

Former main building of the Ministry of Justice, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo
Former main building of the Ministry of Justice, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo
Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, Konan, Minato
Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, Konan, Minato

Do you plan to move to Japan?

Closest to your situation:

Running it from overseas

  • CompanyA kabushiki kaisha (KK, 株式会社) or godo kaisha (GK, 合同会社); the representative can live overseas, and capital starts from ¥1.
  • To arrange separatelyReceipt of the capital, the company address, a bank account and how you will take payments.
  • Online shopBusiness details must be displayed under the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (特定商取引法); some goods need a separate licence.

Next steps

  1. Tell the Reader Desk what you will sell and which kind of company address you plan to use

Moving to Japan

ConditionsRequirements under the new rules (from 16 October 2025)
Capital¥30 million (about US$190,000) or more; for a sole proprietorship, calculated on the total actually invested
Full-time employeeAt least one, limited to Japanese nationals, special permanent residents, permanent residents, spouses of Japanese nationals and similar statuses
Japanese languageThe applicant or a full-time employee at a level equivalent to B2, for example JLPT N2
Experience or educationYou personally have at least 3 years’ experience in business management, or a relevant master’s, doctoral or professional degree
Place of businessA physical place of business; one shared with your home is not accepted in principle
Business planConfirmed by a registered management consultant (中小企業診断士), a certified public accountant or a certified tax accountant (税理士, zeirishi)

Next steps

  1. Check whether all six can be met before choosing the company form

Still deciding

If you have only an idea or a budget range, set out three things first: your budget, the goods you will sell and your purpose of residence. Then decide whether to relocate and which type of company to form.

Next steps

  1. Tell the Reader Desk your budget range and the business you have in mind

Sources: Ministry of Justice / Immigration Services Agency – explanation of the revised Business Manager permission criteria / Consumer Affairs Agency – explanation of the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions. Draft verified 28 October 2026; page checked 29 October 2026.

02 · SERVICE

What will the professionals complete?

Start from whether to relocate and plan the company, the online shop and the visa together; professionals then carry out the work.

Who charges what

What the Reader Desk does at no charge

Establishes what you need, sets it out in a written brief and introduces a professional.

Professional fees

Quoted by the professional handling the matter once they understand your situation.

How payments flow

Zagdim does not charge readers a matching fee and does not handle payments for professional services. Providers quote case by case, and you contract with and pay the provider directly.

  1. 01Assessing the route

    Forming a company first while living overseas, or relocating and applying for the Business Manager visa, compared against your budget and plan.

  2. 02Company formation

    A KK or GK; a judicial scrivener (司法書士) handles the incorporation registration.

  3. 03Preparing to run an online shop

    Disclosures under the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions, goods licences such as the second-hand dealer licence (古物商許可), and the decision on consumption tax and invoice registration.

  4. 04Business Manager visa assessment

    Capital, full-time employee, Japanese language, experience, place of business and business plan are checked one by one; the application is handled by an administrative scrivener (行政書士).

03 · CASES

Whichever route you take, what should you watch?

In every caseCompany registration, opening a bank account and payment services are separate reviews; completing registration does not mean you can open an account. An address that can be registered or displayed does not necessarily meet the place-of-business condition for the Business Manager visa.

Documents sorted with coloured clips beside a pair of glasses on a desk
Company formation documents
Office towers and traffic on a Tokyo business street
Office buildings in Tokyo

04 · SERVICE PROCESS

From planning to registration: who does each step?

Who does each step is shown within the step.

English or JapaneseOther languages on request

  1. Initial understanding

    The Reader Desk establishes your business plan, budget and purpose of residence.

  2. Confirm the route

    You decide whether to form a company without relocating, or to relocate and apply for the visa.

  3. Incorporation registration | possible without travelling to Japan

    A judicial scrivener files with the Legal Affairs Bureau on your behalf; online filing is possible.

  4. Online shop and visa

    An administrative scrivener handles goods licences and the Business Manager visa; a certified tax accountant handles filings after incorporation.

Not included

  • Official fees such as registration and licence tax and certification of the articles (charged separately at official rates)
  • Company capital (the company’s own funds)
  • Review for a bank account and payment services
  • Business Manager visa application, bookkeeping and tax filing (can be engaged separately)

What you need to prepare

  • Set out your business plan, goods and budget
  • Provide personal documents such as passport and proof of address
  • Decide whether to relocate and which company form to use
  • Remit the capital

05 · TIME

How long does forming a company take, and what affects it?

There is no single official standard for how long company formation takes. It depends on when your personal documents, the capital and the company address are settled, and on the Legal Affairs Bureau’s review. The professional gives an estimated timetable once they understand your situation.

  1. Your preparation

    Personal documents, capital and company address

  2. Handled by the professional

    Articles of incorporation, certification (KK) and the registration application

  3. Handled by the Legal Affairs Bureau

    Review of the incorporation registration

If you are relocating, preparation for the Business Manager visa and the immigration review take additional time, as do opening a bank account and launching the online shop.

06 · FEES

What costs should you prepare for?

Taxes and official fees

  • Registration and licence tax (登録免許税)From ¥150,000 (about US$940)(KK; from ¥60,000 for a GK.)
  • Fee for certifying the articles of incorporation¥15,000–¥50,000(Depends on capital and the incorporators; KK only.)

Your own funds

  • Company capitalAssessed against your plan(These are company funds; from ¥1 if you only form a company.)
  • Working capital: company address and rentAs charged by the lessor

Professional and service fees

  • Incorporation registration and drafting the articlesQuoted once your situation is understood(Judicial scrivener)
  • Licences for the online shopQuoted once your situation is understood(Conditional: if you sell second-hand goods, food or alcohol.)
  • Business Manager visa applicationQuoted once your situation is understood(Conditional: if you are relocating; by an administrative scrivener.)
  • Bookkeeping and tax filingQuoted once your situation is understood(Certified tax accountant)
  • Zagdim Reader DeskFree of charge(Consultation, clarifying what you need and shortlisting professionals)

Items marked “Conditional” are added only when the condition applies. The professional fee for incorporation usually covers drafting the articles and the registration application; official fees and conditional items are charged separately, the quote governs, and you contract with and pay the professional directly. Properly executed electronic articles are exempt from the ¥40,000 stamp duty on paper articles.

07 · EXPERTS & PROFESSIONALS

Which Japanese professionals are involved?

Depending on the case, different Japanese professionals are involved.

Judicial scrivener

司法書士 · shihō shoshi

Files the incorporation registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau on your behalf and checks the registered particulars.

Administrative scrivener

行政書士 · gyōsei shoshi

Application documents for the Business Manager visa, and licence applications such as the second-hand dealer licence.

Certified tax accountant

税理士 · zeirishi

The decision on consumption tax and invoice registration, bookkeeping and tax filing; can also confirm the business plan for the Business Manager visa.

MATCHING

How Zagdim shortlists the right professionals

What you need
Zagdim Reader Desk
  • Clarifying the need
  • Matching providers
  • Follow-up at key points
The right professional

Zagdim Reader Desk

Establishes what you need · shortlists and introduces · follows up

No charge to readers

Professionals in Japan

Professional advice and handling

Quote · contract · payment · receipt

Tell the Reader Desk where you want to set up the company

  1. You tell the Reader DeskIntended location, whether you will relocate, and your goods
  2. The Reader Desk checksWhether a professional can be arranged locally
  3. The Reader Desk repliesIf no suitable provider is available, we say so plainly
Tokyo Tower and the city skyline lit up at dusk

JAPAN · START SMALL

Starting alone: work out the budget and conditions first

Whether to relocate, how much to budget and what to sell: a free consultation is where the sorting begins.

08 · CONSULTATION

What to have ready before you get in touch

Zagdim Reader DeskFirst understand the situation, then shortlist the right professionals

Have the points below ready, then arrange a time by WhatsApp or email.

  • Whether you will move to Japan
  • What you will sell, and whether it includes second-hand goods, food or alcohol
  • The capital and budget you can commit
  • Whether the company address will be your home, a virtual office or a physical place of business
WhatsAppEmail the Reader Desk

The Zagdim Reader Desk handles contact and follow-up.

Send us your details

The more you tell us, the better the Zagdim Reader Desk understands your situation before we speak.

Four steps after you get in touch

  1. Contact the Reader DeskSay whether you will relocate, what you will sell and your budget.
  2. A written briefThe Reader Desk prepares it; you confirm it.
  3. Introduction to a local professionalThe introduction is made according to your intended location. Before it, the written quote, out-of-pocket costs and conditions for extra charges are confirmed.
  4. Quote and engagementYou decide whether to engage, and contract with and pay the professional directly.

09 · FAQ

Starting a business in Japan on your own: common questions

Can you form a Japanese company while still living overseas?

Yes. All representative directors of a KK may live overseas, and the representative member of a GK is not required to have an address in Japan either. Receipt of the capital, the company address and a bank account must be arranged separately.

Company capital starts from ¥1. Does that mean you can relocate on a small budget?

No. The capital threshold for forming an ordinary company is different from that for the Business Manager visa. Since 16 October 2025, the visa has required capital of ¥30 million or more, among other conditions.

Running an online shop alone, can you apply for the Business Manager visa without hiring anyone?

No. The new rules require at least one full-time employee, with no exception for online shops or one-person businesses. The employee must be a Japanese national, a special permanent resident or permanent resident, a spouse of a Japanese national or hold a similar status.

If you operate as a sole proprietor instead, do you avoid the ¥30 million?

No. A sole proprietorship is measured by the total actually invested, such as the cost of the place of business, one year of staff salaries and equipment, and must likewise reach the ¥30 million scale. The conditions on a full-time employee, Japanese language, experience or education and place of business must all be met as well.

If you do not have Japanese at N2 yourself, is an application ruled out?

Not necessarily. The language requirement can be met by either the applicant or a full-time employee (equivalent to B2, for example JLPT N2 or above). You as the applicant must still have at least 3 years’ experience in business management, or a relevant master’s, doctoral or professional degree.

Can your home, a virtual office and the online shop share one address?

The three have different requirements. An address that can be used for registration or display does not thereby qualify as a physical place of business for the Business Manager visa; a home doubling as the place of business is not accepted in principle.

If you do not want to publish your home address for the online shop, can you give only an email address?

No. The Act on Specified Commercial Transactions requires the business name, address, telephone number and other details to be displayed; an email address alone is not enough. Subject to conditions, the contact details of a platform or virtual office may be used, and you must confirm that this complies.

Does an online shop have to obtain a Japanese invoice registration number?

Not necessarily. Registration as a qualified invoice issuer (適格請求書発行事業者) is voluntary. Once registered, you must handle the corresponding consumption tax filings; whether to register depends on your customers and tax position.

Decide whether to relocate first, then confirm the budget and conditions.

Book a free 20-minute call

Incorporation is registered with the Legal Affairs Bureau in Japan and the Business Manager visa is examined by the Immigration Services Agency; taxes and fees follow the current notices of the Japanese authorities. Quotes, contracts, payments and receipts for professional services are handled by the professional concerned; the outcome of incorporation, account opening and visa applications is decided by the respective authorities and banks. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice. Information checked to 29 October 2026.

Photographs of institutions (Wikimedia Commons): former main building of the Ministry of Justice, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, Kakidai (CC BY-SA 4.0); Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, Konan, Minato, Nesnad (CC BY 4.0)

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