Incorporation services in Japan differ in what they prepare, who performs regulated professional work, which government charges are included and what happens after registration. A low headline price sometimes covers only document preparation, while a higher quote often includes filing coordination, translation, office, banking or ongoing support.
Use this guide to compare equivalent scope rather than choosing from the displayed fee alone. Confirm every quote in writing because provider services, prices and partner arrangements can change.
Disclosure: SmartStart Japan publishes this guide and is one of the providers included. We have a commercial interest when a reader contacts or hires SmartStart. Provider details should be checked against the linked provider sources before making a decision.
This is part of our series offering valuable tips on incorporating a business in Japan. To learn more about setting up your company and achieving your dreams, check out our Incorporation service page.
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Why Use an Incorporation Service in Japan?
Working with experts in Japanese markets and company setups will save you time and money and ensure a smooth start. With their help, you won’t have to worry about handling the legalities or navigating the language barrier. An incorporation services provider will ensure your company is compliant with all regulations, allowing you to focus on your core business objectives.
See the company registration process in action: This video demonstrates exactly what’s involved when registering a business in Japan, and why professional services save time and avoid costly mistakes:
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What to look out for when choosing incorporation services?
While there are a variety of incorporation services available in Japan, selecting the right one is crucial for a successful entry into the market. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing an incorporation service in Japan:
- Experience and Expertise: Look for a service with a proven track record of successfully incorporating foreign businesses in Japan and experience in your specific industry.
- Services Offered: Ensure the service offers a comprehensive package that includes everything you need, from initial consultation to document filing and post-incorporation guidance.
- Business Manager Visa Support: If the founder also needs a Business Manager status of residence, confirm whether the provider performs immigration work, coordinates with an authorized professional or only offers a referral. Incorporation and immigration are separate scopes, and the cheapest incorporation quote may not include visa planning.
- Cost Transparency: Get clear pricing upfront and avoid hidden fees. Ask specifically about costs beyond the legal incorporation fees (about ¥167,000 to ¥242,000 for a KK and ¥60,000 to ¥100,000 for a GK), such as business plan verification fees, registered office services, and ongoing compliance support.
- Communication and Language Proficiency: Choose a service with a clear understanding of the needs of foreign entrepreneurs and strong English and Japanese-language communication skills.
- Customer Reviews and Reputation: Look for industry accreditations or affiliations if available, and research online reviews.
- Accessibility and Availability: Consider the service’s availability for communication and support during your preferred hours. For instance, check how time zone differences affect response times.
Network of Professionals: Some services have established relationships with local lawyers, accountants, and other professionals that can be valuable to your business.
How this comparison was prepared
- Inclusion: The page includes providers currently offering publicly described Japan incorporation support in English or to international founders.
- Sources: Each provider entry uses the provider’s current official service, pricing or contact pages. Third-party directories are not used as proof of scope or price.
- Checked date: The exact date is recorded beside every provider entry.
- Missing information: Where a provider’s page does not state an item, the entry says “Not stated on the checked source”. A blank is not proof that a service is unavailable.
- Order: The providers are presented for comparison, not as a verified quality ranking.
- Fees: Government charges, professional charges, provider administration fees, consumption tax and optional services are separated where the source allows.
Compare Japan incorporation providers
This table compares SmartStart Japan with five commercial providers serving founders and businesses entering Japan. It covers publicly described services and documented package restrictions. Listing a service does not establish that it is included in the incorporation fee.
| Provider | Incorporation scope | Visa support | Banking support | Ongoing support | Charges and exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SmartStart Japan | KK and GK formation, document preparation and registration coordination. | Business Manager Visa documents, Japanese business-plan preparation, office assistance and application coordination. | Bank selection, document preparation and translation, application support and bank communication. | Coordination of bookkeeping, annual accounts, tax filings and payroll through relevant professionals. | Written scope and quote before work starts. Statutory and third-party costs are separate unless expressly included. |
| Venture Japan | KK and GK formation, branch registration and representative-office setup. | Employee and Business Manager Visa services. | Corporate account-opening support and ongoing account management. | Bookkeeping, financial statements, annual tax returns, payroll and HR. | Incorporation packages list filing fees and a corporate seal as included; KK packages also list articles notarisation. |
| ACROSEED | KK or GK formation combined with Business Manager Visa support. | Business-plan preparation, visa applications, renewals and reapplications. | Personal banking preparation described for the four-month visa route; corporate account-opening scope is not specified. | Visa renewals and coordination with tax accountants and social-insurance specialists for startup support. | Combined incorporation-and-visa packages: GK ¥600,000; KK ¥660,000, excluding consumption tax. Expert business-plan verification is charged separately. |
| SBC Group | KK, GK and branch setup, incorporation documents, tax registration and employment setup. | COE, work and business visa applications, and renewals. | Bank-account management; opening assistance is not described on its services page. | Accounting, corporate tax, payroll, HR and financial reporting. | Its services page does not publish a fixed incorporation fee or a standard list of package inclusions. |
| SME Japan | Entity selection, document preparation, registration, company seals and first-board-meeting minutes. | Business and employee visa application assistance. | Corporate bank-account opening assistance. | Tax, accounting, HR, payroll and business advisory. | Its incorporation page does not publish a fixed package fee or specify which government charges are included. |
| weConnect | KK and GK formation and branch setup; registered-address and director services. | Visa support within corporate-secretarial services. | Bank-account setup and management, with English-language account visibility. | Accounting, tax, payroll, HR and corporate-secretarial services. | Its Japan services page lists service areas without defining a single package covering every listed service. |
ACROSEED’s quoted packages combine incorporation and visa work. They are a different scope from an incorporation-only service. Banking assistance also differs: account management covers operating an account, while account-opening support covers the application.
Where a page does not specify a service or inclusion, the table records that information gap. It does not classify the service as unavailable.
Contact SmartStart Japan for a written quote covering your incorporation and connected services.
Service descriptions reviewed on 5 November 2026. SmartStart Japan publishes this comparison and is one of the providers included.
Incorporation providers included in this comparison
SmartStart Japan
SmartStart Incorporation is a service offered by SmartStart that provides clients with tax filing, back office, and incorporation support. It also offers post-incorporation support. Team credentials and professional details: Details available by written quote.
SmartStart offers incorporation support and coordination of connected visa, banking, office, tax and licensing needs. These are available service areas, rather than a statement that every service is included in the starting incorporation fee. Request a written quote identifying the work included, the responsible professional where applicable, statutory and third-party charges, and any separate or recurring fees.
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Provider and official source | SmartStart Japan: smartstartjapan.com/incorporation/ |
| Checked date | 22 October 2026 |
| Entity types | KK and GK. Other options: Details available by written quote |
| Administrative scope | Consultation, document preparation and submission. Translation: Not stated on the checked source |
| Regulated professional work | Work that legally requires a qualified professional is handled by or referred to an appropriate licensed professional. Responsibility for each item: Details available by written quote |
| Government fees | Statutory and third-party costs are separate unless the written quote says otherwise |
| Provider fee | GK from JPY 165,000 including consumption tax. KK from JPY 275,000, with tax treatment confirmed in the written quote |
| Office support | Not stated on the checked source. Details available by written quote |
| Bank support | Bank account creation is listed as a service. Scope: Details available by written quote |
| Visa support | Details available by written quote |
| Ongoing support | Tax and labor filing support is mentioned. Pricing: Details available by written quote |
| Evidence limits | Visa support description awaits service-owner confirmation. Office and translation scope not stated |
SME Japan
SME Japan describes itself as a one-stop partner for business services in Japan. Beyond helping businesses get started in Japan, SME Japan also offers accounting and tax services, as well as recruitment and HR.
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Provider and official source | SME Japan: www.smejapan.com/business-services-japan/company-incorporation-services/ |
| Checked date | 22 October 2026 |
| Entity types | Company and branch office referenced. Specific entity types: Not stated on the checked source |
| Administrative scope | Structure selection, name reservation, document preparation, registration with authorities and first board minutes. Translation: bilingual support stated, translation scope Not stated on the checked source |
| Regulated professional work | Not stated on the checked source |
| Government fees | Paying the necessary fees is listed as a task. Whether they are included in the price: Not stated on the checked source |
| Provider fee | Quote required |
| Office support | Office rental listed as a separate service |
| Bank support | Assistance with opening a corporate bank account |
| Visa support | Not stated on the checked source |
| Ongoing support | Tax, accounting, HR and payroll services listed. Pricing: Not stated on the checked source |
| Evidence limits | No pricing or professional-responsibility information on the checked page |
Hitodeki
Through Hitodeki‘s online incorporation system, you can easily register your company remotely from anywhere in the world. Hitodeki offers free membership registration and detailed step-by-step guides on how to set up your business in Japan cost-efficiently.
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Provider and official source | Hitodeki: www.hitodeki.com/ |
| Checked date | 22 October 2026 |
| Entity types | KK and GK |
| Administrative scope | Self-service Japanese-language document-creation tool. The user prints and seals the documents. Filing coordination and translation: Not stated on the checked source |
| Regulated professional work | Electronic articles of incorporation prepared by a partner administrative scrivener as a paid option. Registration documents prepared by the user |
| Government fees | Not stated on the checked source |
| Provider fee | KK: JPY 3,850 app fee plus electronic articles from JPY 5,000. GK: JPY 2,200 app fee plus electronic articles from JPY 3,000. Prices stated as including consumption tax |
| Office support | Not stated on the checked source |
| Bank support | Not stated on the checked source |
| Visa support | Not stated on the checked source |
| Ongoing support | Related tax and settlement services are linked. Pricing: Not stated on the checked source |
| Evidence limits | Japanese-language service. A notice dated 16 October 2026 says new electronic articles applications are temporarily suspended |
Venture Japan
Another reliable incorporation service that is fast and offers all-inclusive competitive fees is Venture Japan. Initially known for its free Japanese business guides, Venture Japan has been successful in supporting its clients with incorporation and office registration, ensuring seamless setup and ongoing support for new businesses.
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Provider and official source | Venture Japan: www.venturejapan.com/incorporate-a-japanese-company/ |
| Checked date | 22 October 2026 |
| Entity types | KK, GK, branch office and representative office |
| Administrative scope | Japanese and English documents, corporate seal and notarized articles (KK). Translation as a separate service: Not stated on the checked source |
| Regulated professional work | Not stated on the checked source |
| Government fees | All filing fees stated as included for KK (with stamp duty), GK and branch office |
| Provider fee | KK from JPY 358,000. GK from JPY 254,250. Branch office from JPY 283,000. Consumption tax: Not stated on the checked source |
| Office support | Not stated on the checked source |
| Bank support | Not stated on the checked source |
| Visa support | Not stated on the checked source |
| Ongoing support | Accounting from JPY 35,000 per month. Nominee representative director (KK) from JPY 29,500 per month. Separately priced |
| Evidence limits | Tax treatment not stated. The two-week timing is the provider’s own claim |
Tetra Consultants
Tetra Consultants is an international management consulting firm that helps its clients expand their businesses globally, including Japan. With its expertise in both the Japanese and foreign markets, Tetra Consultants is a great incorporation service for those interested in setting up an offshore company in Japan.
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Provider and official source | Tetra Consultants: www.tetraconsultants.com/jurisdictions/register-company-in-japan/ |
| Checked date | 22 October 2026 |
| Entity types | KK, GK and branch office described |
| Administrative scope | Company set-up, name reservation, document preparation and notarization. Translation: Not stated on the checked source |
| Regulated professional work | Not stated on the checked source |
| Government fees | Not stated on the checked source |
| Provider fee | Quote required |
| Office support | Not stated on the checked source |
| Bank support | Opening a local or international corporate bank account is listed in the package |
| Visa support | Business visa applications are listed. Who performs the work: Not stated on the checked source |
| Ongoing support | Tax registration and annual accounts listed. Pricing: Not stated on the checked source |
| Evidence limits | The provider states three weeks for registration and four weeks for bank account opening. Not independently verified |
Kreston ProWorks
Led by qualified bilingual professionals, Kreston ProWorks is known for its global outlook and expertise in helping foreign clients enter the Japanese market. Unlike traditional accounting and business consulting firms, Kreston ProWorks prioritizes flexibility, offering multiple incorporation options to suit your specific needs and successfully launch your business.
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Provider and official source | Kreston ProWorks: krestonproworks.com/ |
| Checked date | 22 October 2026 |
| Entity types | KK, GK, branch office and representative office |
| Administrative scope | Coordinates incorporation documents, notarisation and registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau. Translation: Not stated on the checked source |
| Regulated professional work | Not stated on the checked source |
| Government fees | Not stated on the checked source |
| Provider fee | Quote required |
| Office support | Registered address and resident representative solutions. Virtual office listed |
| Bank support | Supports the corporate bank-account opening process |
| Visa support | Supports Business Manager and other work-status applications. Who performs the work: Not stated on the checked source |
| Ongoing support | Bookkeeping, payroll, HR, tax and advisory. Pricing: Not stated on the checked source |
| Evidence limits | No pricing or timing stated on the checked source |
JMC
JMC is a client-focused professional consulting services provider in Japan that supports its clients with business formation and beyond. A team of bilingual experts will be assigned to your company throughout the incorporation process to ensure a smooth transition into the Japanese market.
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Provider and official source | JMC: japanconsult.com/company-setup-japan/ |
| Checked date | 22 October 2026 |
| Entity types | KK, GK, branch office and representative office |
| Administrative scope | Manages the registration process, resident representative services and tax registration guidance. Translation: Not stated on the checked source |
| Regulated professional work | Business licences with partners. Who performs regulated work: Not stated on the checked source |
| Government fees | Not stated on the checked source |
| Provider fee | Quote required |
| Office support | Office set-up guidance |
| Bank support | Opening a bank account is listed among support services |
| Visa support | Not stated on the checked source |
| Ongoing support | Tax compliance, bookkeeping, accounting and payroll. Pricing: Not stated on the checked source |
| Evidence limits | No pricing or timing stated on the checked source |
weConnect
weConnect offers company formation and ongoing back-office services for businesses establishing operations in Japan.
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Official sources | Japan overview · Japan services |
| Checked date | 4 November 2026 |
| Entity types | KK, GK and branch-office formation |
| Provider fee | No fixed incorporation package price found on the pages checked. Request an itemised quote. |
| Government fees and exclusions | Package inclusions, consumption tax and third-party charges should be confirmed in writing. |
| Office support | Registered-address and director services advertised |
| Bank support | Bank-account setup and management advertised |
| Visa support | Visa services advertised. Confirm the applicable visa, filing professional and engagement scope. |
| Ongoing support | Accounting, tax, payroll, HR and corporate-secretarial services |
| Evidence limits | Listed services are not necessarily included in one incorporation package. Confirm setup charges, recurring fees and minimum engagement terms. |
Understanding Incorporation Costs in 2026
When budgeting for your Japan incorporation, it’s essential to separate legal fees from service fees.
Legal registration costs (paid to government):
- 株式会社 (Kabushiki Kaisha / KK): About ¥167,000 to ¥242,000
- Registration tax: ¥150,000 (or 0.7% of capital, whichever is higher)
- Notary fee for certifying the articles: ¥30,000 to ¥50,000 depending on capital, or ¥15,000 for a company with capital under ¥1 million that meets the reduced-fee conditions
- Certified copy of the notarised articles: about ¥2,000 (¥250 per page)
- Storage of electronic articles at the notary office: ¥300
- Paper Articles of incorporation stamp duty: ¥40,000 (waived if electronic)
- 合同会社 (Godo Kaisha / GK): ¥60,000 to ¥100,000
- Registration tax: ¥60,000 (or 0.7% of capital, whichever is higher)
- No notary certification required
- Paper Articles of incorporation stamp duty: ¥40,000 (waived if electronic)
Service fees in this comparison range from about ¥5,000 for a self-service document tool to ¥358,000 for an all-inclusive KK package. The provider entries above show which costs each provider’s own page says are included; where a page is silent, the entry says so.
Confusing fees? We make the costs clear.
- Pricing details available by written quote, no fees added after you sign.
- Legal and service costs itemized before you commit to anything.
- Trusted by 100+ companies incorporated across Japan.
Additional costs to consider:
- Corporate seal set (3 seals): ¥5,000-10,000
- Certificate of seal registration: ¥500 per copy
- Certified copy of Articles of incorporation: ¥2,000 per copy
- Capital (minimum ¥1 is legal, but ¥30 million required for Business Manager Visa applicants as of October 2025)
- Office rental deposit and advance rent
- Professional fees for business plan verification (required for Business Manager Visa): varies by consultant
Capital requirements note for foreign entrepreneurs: If you’re planning to apply for a Business Manager Visa, be aware that the October 2025 reforms increased the minimum capital requirement from ¥5 million to ¥30 million. This capital must be genuinely invested in the business and cannot simply be borrowed temporarily for the visa application. Work with your incorporation service and immigration specialist to structure your capitalization properly.
For a detailed breakdown of all setup costs, including post-incorporation expenses, see our complete guide to company setup costs.
SmartStart Japan vs weConnect: incorporation and ongoing support
SmartStart Japan and weConnect both provide company formation, banking support and connected business services in Japan. SmartStart publishes a GK incorporation starting fee. weConnect’s Japan overview and services pages do not publish a fixed incorporation package price.
| Service | SmartStart Japan | weConnect |
|---|---|---|
| Company formation | KK and GK incorporation, with document preparation and registration coordination | KK, GK and branch-office formation |
| Banking support | Bank selection, document preparation, translation and communication with the bank | Bank-account setup and management, including English-language account visibility |
| Visa support | Business Manager Visa document preparation, office assistance and application coordination | Visa support listed within corporate-secretarial services |
| Ongoing administration | Coordination of bookkeeping, annual accounts, tax filings and payroll through the relevant professionals | Accounting, tax, payroll, HR and corporate-secretarial services |
The documented difference is pricing disclosure and the description of the engagement. SmartStart states a GK service starting price and coordinates the connected setup work. weConnect describes company formation alongside continuing finance, payroll and compliance services.
The listed services describe each provider’s offering. They do not establish that every service is included in the incorporation fee.
Sources: SmartStart incorporation, SmartStart banking, weConnect Japan services. Reviewed 5 November 2026.
How to choose the provider
Shortlist providers that support the required entity, founder location and document situation. Then request written quotes using the same list of government charges, provider work, professional work and optional services.
Confirm who is legally responsible for each regulated task, what the founder must supply, which post-registration filings are included and what happens if the scope changes. A transparent quote is more useful than the lowest starting price.
To compare a SmartStart quote on the same basis, request a written quote from SmartStart.
