A Super Simple Guide to TOSBEC (and How You Can Go Legit With It)

No need to cry, baby! You've got backup!

What is TOSBEC?

TOSBEC, short for the Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center, is a government-run service that makes starting a business in Japan feel marginally less like navigating an ancient, bureaucratic torture-dungeon! 

Instead of trying to figure everything out on your own (while weeping into stacks of indecipherable legal Japanese forms), TOSBEC puts everything in one place and says, “Relax. We’re here to help.” They offer:

• One-stop service: Everything you need, from business registration to taxes, all handled in one place.
  
  
• Multilingual support: English, Chinese, and other languages, so you don’t have to rely on Google Translate.
  
  
• Clear guidance for foreigners: Because Japanese bureaucracy isn’t exactly famous for being user-friendly.
  
  

Whether you need help registering your business, filing for a visa, or figuring out taxes, TOSBEC has people there who know exactly what to do, and are literally just sitting around waiting to help you.

Also they don't charge anything for their assistance, since these service are exactly what they were created to provide. Yes, you read that correctly: THEIR SERVICES ARE FREEEEEEEEEE. Why? Because it's in Tokyo's best interest for you to start a successful business so they can collect your sweet, succulent tax money. Thanks, Big T!

How To Start a Business in Japan Using TOSBEC

Turns out you didn’t need a master’s degree in Japanese bureaucracy after all. Those years of education... wasted.

1. Step 1: Pick Your Poison (Business Type)

   Are you thinking of making an LLC (godo kaisha) or a corporation (kabushiki kaisha)? 
   
   You'll have to do some research on the differences between them, but to super briefly summarize: a godo kaisha keeps things simple, while a kabushiki kaisha makes you sound fancy.
   
   Either way, TOSBEC will guide you through the decision without rolling their eyes (probably).

   
   

2. Step 2: Assemble Whatever Paperwork You Can
   

   TOSBEC has a list of documents they’ll eventually need you to gather. Think of it as a scavenger hunt where the prize is not getting rejected by the system. You don't NEED to have these ready when you contact them for the first time, but it doesn't hurt to have as many of these as you can.
   
   You’ll need things like:

   • Articles of incorporation (if you don't know what this is... don’t worry, they'll explain!)
     
     
   • Your passport (to prove you’re not a time traveler from the Edo period).
     
     
   • A document verifying the address for your business
     
     
   • Proof of funds
     
     
     

3. Step 3: Book Your Lovey-Dovey Date with TOSBEC

   Head to the TOSBEC website (https://www.startup-support.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/onestop/en/) and schedule a consultation.
   
   Whether you show up in person or do it online, they’ll make sure you’re prepared to take on the registration process. It’s like making a dentist appointment, but instead of getting your teeth drilled, you’re legally starting a business (then again... what's the difference? *slaps knee and guffaws like an American hillbilly*)
   

   
   

4. Step 4: Tackle the Big Stuff

   At your appointment, try not to blush as TOSBEC holds your hand through the tough parts:

   • Filing for business registration (at last, your company has a name!)
     
     
   • Applying for a business manager visa (if you plan on sticking around!)
     
     
   • Getting your tax ID (because the taxman ALWAYS finds you).
     
     
   • Enrolling employees in social insurance (yes, even hypothetical ones).
     
     

5. Step 5: Congratulations --You’re Official!

   Once everything is done, you’ll get the official paperwork that says, “You’re a real business now!!!!1!”. 
   
   Blast your friends and family about the accomplishment on social media. Bask in the glow of maybe a handful of likes and 3 or 4 congratulatory comments.
   

   
   

Why Entrepreneurs Should Use TOSBEC

From red tape to shipping tape.

TOSBEC exists to turn the chaos of legal paperwork into a mildly organized chaos you can actually handle. They’ll guide you step-by-step, so you won’t need to decipher regulations like you’re cracking an ancient proto-Japonic language. Time, money, stress? Saved. Thank 'em with later, with your taxes.

And once you’re all set up, let Mix-Mix Mail handle the messy logistics. We’ll store, pack, and ship your products from our Tokyo warehouse faster than you can say “ナメクジになりたい” (that’s Japanese for “I wish I was a slug”).

TOSBEC gets you started; Mix-Mix Mail keeps you going. It’s the partnership you didn’t know you needed.