Business Licensing — District 7
Find business licensing providers on vServe: company registration, household business, industry permits (food safety, fire safety, security, healthcare, education), product declaration, trademark registration, construction and environmental permits in Ho Chi Minh City.
Industry overview
Registering a household business usually takes 3-5 working days, setting up an LLC or joint-stock company takes 5-7 days, while sub-licenses like food safety, fire safety, or security certificates each follow separate approval timelines. On vServe, you request the specific service and providers quote the real price and timeline before you confirm.
When you need a household business, a company, or a sub-license
A household business suits small-scale operations with one location and no need for complex VAT invoicing, with registration fees starting at 700,000 VND. An LLC or joint-stock company is needed when there are multiple capital-contributing members, when you need to issue invoices, sign larger contracts, or raise capital, with setup costs from 2,000,000 to 15,000,000 VND depending on charter capital and business lines. Beyond the main license, industries like food service, spas, or restaurants also need sub-licenses such as food safety certificates or fire safety approval before they can legally operate.
How to choose a legal service provider on vServe
Providers on vServe have their identity verified through tax codes and business registration certificates before listing services. vServe does not verify a lawyer's practicing license or an individual consultant's legal credentials, so you should ask directly how many files they've processed in your specific field (for example, fire safety files for restaurants, or food safety files for manufacturing facilities) before booking, especially for higher-value licenses like private clinics or travel agency permits.
How the booking process works on vServe
You select the license type you need, describe your business scale and operating location, and providers respond with a specific quote within a few hours since most licensing services run on a quote system due to varying case complexity. Once you agree on price and timeline, you pay through vServe, the provider prepares the documents, submits them to the relevant authority, and updates you on progress until the license is issued.
Realistic processing times for each license type
Processing time depends on the government agency, not the service provider: household business registration and business registration changes typically take 3-7 working days, company incorporation 5-10 days, food safety certificates 15-20 days, fire safety permits 15-30 days due to on-site inspection requirements, and environmental or construction permits can take 30-60 days depending on project scale and locality.
Industry-specific licensing notes
Each industry requires a different set of sub-licenses: restaurants and food manufacturers need product declarations and food safety certificates; spas, hotels, and bars need security and fire safety certificates; private clinics need a separate operating license from the health authority covering staffing and facility requirements; language centers need an establishment permit under education regulations. Missing one sub-license can lead to a business being suspended during an inspection.
Risks to avoid when hiring a licensing service
The most common risk is choosing a provider with an unusually low quote who then adds hidden fees when documents get rejected repeatedly, or submitting incorrect information that adds 10-20 extra days to fix. Ask the provider to clearly state what the quoted price covers (government fees, service fees, number of free document revisions) upfront, and keep the submission receipt from the government office so you can track progress yourself if needed.
Reference price table
| Household business registration | 700.000đ – 3.500.000đgiá tham khảo của ngànhgiá tham khảo — chưa xác nhận | Price increases with the number of registered business lines and whether seal-making and bank account opening are included |
|---|---|---|
| Company incorporation (LLC/JSC) | 2.000.000đ – 15.000.000đgiá tham khảo của ngànhgiá tham khảo — chưa xác nhận | Depends on number of capital-contributing members, conditional business lines, and whether e-invoicing setup is needed immediately |
| Product declaration / food safety self-declaration | 1.500.000đ – 12.000.000đgiá tham khảo của ngànhgiá tham khảo — chưa xác nhận | Priced by number of products declared and whether lab sample testing is required |
| Trademark registration | 3,000,000 – 30,000,000 VNDgiá tham khảo của ngànhreference price — not confirmed | Depends on the number of goods/service classes registered and pre-filing protectability search |
| Food safety certificate | 3.000.000đ – 20.000.000đgiá tham khảo của ngànhgiá tham khảo — chưa xác nhận | Depends on facility scale, floor area, and whether physical conditions need fixing before inspection |
| Fire safety permit | 5.000.000đ – 60.000.000đgiá tham khảo của ngànhgiá tham khảo — chưa xác nhận | Wide range because it depends on building size and whether new alarm/suppression systems must be installed or just inspected |
| Private clinic operating license | 20.000.000đ – 150.000.000đgiá tham khảo của ngànhgiá tham khảo — chưa xác nhận | Depends on medical specialty, number of functional rooms, and staffing requirements |
Services (18)
- Individual Business Household RegistrationCheckingfrom 700.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Company Formation (LLC/Joint-Stock)Checkingfrom 2.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Business Registration AmendmentCheckingfrom 800.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Product Declaration / Food Safety Self-DeclarationCheckingfrom 1.500.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Product Barcode (GS1) RegistrationCheckingfrom 1.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Trademark Registration (Logo, Brand Name)Checkingfrom 3.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Food Safety Facility CertificationCheckingfrom 3.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Fire Safety PermitCheckingfrom 5.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Security and Order Compliance CertificateCheckingfrom 2.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Tour Operator Business LicenseCheckingfrom 15.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Retail License for Alcohol and TobaccoCheckingfrom 2.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Private Clinic Operating LicenseCheckingfrom 20.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Education / Language Center Establishment LicenseCheckingfrom 10.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Construction PermitCheckingfrom 5.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- Business DissolutionCheckingfrom 3.000.000đreference price — not yet confirmed
- ISO Management System Consulting and Certification SupportCheckingfrom 15.000.000đ/projectreference price — not yet confirmed
- Sample Testing and Laboratory Analysis ServiceCheckingfrom 500.000đ/samplereference price — not yet confirmed
- GMP Compliance Dossier and Certification Support for Manufacturing FacilitiesCheckingfrom 40.000.000đ/projectreference price — not yet confirmed
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to set up a company?
Setting up an LLC or joint-stock company usually takes 5-10 working days from when a valid application is submitted to the Department of Planning and Investment, not counting seal-making and bank account opening (another 2-3 days). Actual time depends on whether the file needs revisions and whether the registered business line falls under conditional business categories.
Should I register a household business or an LLC?
If you're running a small operation at one location without needing to issue many VAT invoices, a household business is simpler since registration starts at just 700,000 VND with easier tax procedures. If you need to raise capital from multiple people, sign contracts with larger companies, or plan to scale up later, an LLC or joint-stock company works better despite higher setup costs starting at 2,000,000 VND.
What types of businesses need a fire safety permit?
A fire safety permit is required for businesses with fire risk or high foot traffic such as restaurants, karaoke lounges, hotels, factories, or warehouses that exceed certain size or capacity thresholds. Costs range from 5,000,000 to 20.000.000đ – 150.000.000đ depending on the building's size and whether new fire alarm and suppression systems need to be installed or an existing system just needs inspection.
What's the difference between product declaration and a food safety certificate?
A food safety certificate confirms that a production or business facility meets hygiene conditions, while product declaration (or self-declaration) is a separate procedure for each specific product before it's sold on the market. A food manufacturer usually needs both: a facility certificate (3,000,000-5.000.000đ – 60.000.000đ) and declarations for each product or product line (1,500,000-3.000.000đ – 40.000.000đ).
How long does trademark registration take to be granted?
The time from filing to receiving a trademark protection certificate is typically 12-18 months under the examination process of the National Office of Intellectual Property, even though the registration service fee (3,000,000-30,000,000 VND depending on the number of goods/service classes) is paid and the file submitted much earlier. This timeline depends on the government agency's review schedule, not the service provider.
Does vServe verify the professional license of legal service providers?
No. vServe verifies a provider's business identity through their tax code and business registration certificate, but does not check a lawyer's practicing license or an individual consultant's legal credentials. For high-value filings like clinic or travel agency licenses, you should ask the provider directly about their experience handling similar cases before booking.
What do I need to prepare to dissolve a company?
Dissolving a company requires completing tax finalization with the tax authority, settling debts and employee obligations, then submitting a dissolution application to the Department of Planning and Investment. Service costs range from 3,000,000 to 40,000,000 VND depending on the state of accounting records and whether there are unresolved tax debts or contract disputes, and the process usually takes 30-60 days.