Most paid websites require a license, but sites that sell goods solely through their own platforms without allowing third‑party vendors do not. Matching‑service platforms fall under a different licensing category; free sites only need to register

Cost: Registration itself is free. Obtaining a Value‑Added Telecommunications Services License costs money; this license governs whether a site may charge users. A company must exist before applying. For operations limited to one province, the registered capital must be at least 1 million RMB; for nationwide operations, it must be at least 10 million RMB. The review period lasts 60 days, and the license is valid for five years.

In plain terms: Most websites that collect fees must first obtain a Value‑Added Telecommunications Services License; individuals cannot apply for this license. Sites that sell only on their own platforms and do not permit other merchants to open stores are exempt. The same exemption applies to sites operating solely via WeChat Mini Programs, Alipay mini‑apps, or online shops. Operating a paid site without the proper license can result in confiscation of revenues, fines, and in severe cases, closure.

Benefit: The regulations state: “The state implements a licensing system for commercial Internet information services and a registration system for non‑commercial ones. No entity may provide Internet information services without a license or registration.” Paid services must secure a license; free services must register; without either, a site cannot operate. “Commercial” is defined as “providing information or web‑creation services to users for a fee.” In practice, this means charging users. Matching‑service platforms are classified as Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing services, commonly abbreviated EDI. They are described as “using data‑processing platforms linked to public communication networks to provide online data handling and transaction services,” including transaction processing, electronic data interchange, and device‑level data handling. Operating without a license or beyond its scope leads to confiscation of all earnings plus a penalty of three to five times that amount; if no earnings exist or they are under 50 000 RMB, a fine of 100 000–1 000 000 RMB applies, and serious violations may result in nationwide site shutdowns. Charging users does not automatically require a license. In October 2025, Guangdong’s Communications Administration clarified, per Ministry of Industry and Information Technology directives, three scenarios exempt from the license: (1) a company selling its own or others’ goods directly on its own site or app without third‑party vendors; (2) a company posting only its own information without offering a publishing platform to others; (3) a company operating solely through mini‑programs, official accounts, or online shops on WeChat or Alipay, without any independent platform. Conversely, any site that permits third‑party vendors or user‑generated content falls outside these exemptions.

Evidence grade: A

Sources:广东省通信管理局 (2025). 关于办理增值电信业务经营许可证的常见问题解答（2025 年 10 月 17 日，第一项）. https://gdca.miit.gov.cn/bsfw/bszn/jyxk/tzgg/art/2025/art_6bcbfa4f041247868c0de08e765b33e9.html ; 国务院 (2000). 互联网信息服务管理办法（国务院令第 292 号，2024 年 12 月 6 日第二次修订，第三、四、七、十九条）. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1860864.htm ; 国务院 (2024). 关于修改和废止部分行政法规的决定（国务院令第 797 号，第十八项）. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2025/issue_11786/202501/content_6997034.html ; 国务院 (2000). 电信条例（2016 年第二次修订，第七、九、十三、六十九条）. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2016/content_5139478.htm ; 工业和信息化部 (2017). 电信业务经营许可管理办法（工信部令第 42 号，第六、九、十一、十四条）. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2017/content_5240090.htm

Notes: To determine whether your operation qualifies as EDI, compare it to the definitions in the “Telecommunications Services Classification Catalogue.” No official statement explicitly mandates an EDI license for platforms that combine matching services with payment processing; the Ministry’s guidance merely advises applying for the appropriate license based on the service type. Consequently, eligibility must be assessed individually using these definitions. Additionally, only legally incorporated companies may apply for this license; individuals are ineligible. The three exemption scenarios originate from Guangdong’s FAQ, which cites Ministry requirements; similar wording has not been found in other provinces. When in doubt, contact your local communications authority. The FAQ also emphasizes that licensing can be applied for directly via the Ministry’s “Comprehensive Management Information System for Telecommunications Services” without any intermediary fees.