My friend who lives abroad is looking to purchase property in Japan and turn it into a hotel. He’s down to take capital contributions to split the risk. It sounds like a 合同会社 might work for this, but had a few concerns and questions after reading the following about whether that was the best structure vs a KK or other structures.
1. As a resident of Japan, I could be the Executive Manager and he would be the Managing Member?
2. To prove the capital contribution, can I use my personal bank account to collect the funds? Should I start a new bank account?
3. Is it fine to first register the business where I live using my address vs. the ward where we are buying the property?
4. There looks like there’s a unanimity requirement for major business decisions amongst all partners. Can we get around this requirement with appropriate clauses in the Articles of Incorporation? Any resources on how to draft up the Articles of Incorporation?
Can we shortcut the two step process described here since I’m a resident? https://www.venturejapan.com/doing-business-in-japan/how-to-start-a-company-in-japan/how-to-incorporate-gk-godo-kaisha/
He plans to hire local staff to operate the hotel, we think that would qualify for the business manager visa if we meet the capital contribution requirement.
It also seems like to get a minpaku license, the operator needs to have their resident registration in the ward where we would run it. I don’t really want to change my registered residence, perhaps we can form the 合同会社 first, get him the business visa later and have him register in the ward?
3 comments
Lawyer
This is too deep and u really need a lawyer.
>we think that would qualify for the business manager visa if we meet the capital contribution requirement.
#L.A.W.Y.E.R.
If your partner does not have solid previous experience running a hotel/hostel, Immigration is going to put your formal business plan under a microscope. Also under Immigration’s electron microscope will be your hotel experience/Japanese ability and even your key Japanese employees.