Executive Decision Guide
Choosing the entity form depends on your need for risk isolation, willingness to disclose financials, offline expansion plans, and the size of the capital you can prepare. Use the criteria below to make an initial judgment.
Year 1 Cost Estimate
This is a practical budget range including establishment cost (CAPEX), monthly operating costs, and pass-through costs. An exact quote is provided during the consultation.
| Item | Amount range | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment cost (one-time CAPEX) | ||
| Branch registration and licensing fees | $1,500~$3,000 | One-time |
| Apostille, notarization, translation | $300~$800 | One-time |
| Office space deposit (optional) | $500~$2,000 | One-time |
| Monthly operating cost (×12 months) | ||
| KONIVO monthly management fee | $2,000 × 12 | Fixed |
| KONIVO fee (5% of revenue) | Revenue-linked | Variable |
| Tax filing fee (quarterly) | $200~$500/quarter | At cost |
| Pass-through cost (billed separately) | ||
| Logistics / 3PL (at cost, by channel) | 8–15% of revenue | At cost |
| Advertising (Coupang PPC, etc.) | 5–15% of revenue | At cost |
| Year 1 total KONIVO cost | ~$28,000~$32,000 | Management fee + establishment |
* Based on $0 revenue. Excludes logistics, advertising, and capital. An exact quote is provided during the consultation.
| Item | Amount range | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment cost (one-time CAPEX) | ||
| Entity registration and licensing fees | $2,000~$4,500 | One-time |
| Apostille, notarization, translation | $500~$1,200 | One-time |
| FDI capital (foreign currency, KRW 100 million or more) | about $70,000+ | Capital |
| Office space deposit (strongly recommended) | $1,000~$3,000 | One-time |
| Monthly operating cost (×12 months) | ||
| KONIVO monthly management fee | $2,000 × 12 | Fixed |
| KONIVO fee (10% of revenue) | Revenue-linked | Variable |
| Tax and transfer pricing advisory fee | $300~$700/quarter | At cost |
| Pass-through cost (billed separately) | ||
| Logistics / 3PL (at cost, by channel) | 8–15% of revenue | At cost |
| Advertising (Coupang PPC, etc.) | 5–15% of revenue | At cost |
| Year 1 total KONIVO cost | ~$32,000~$38,000 | Management fee + establishment |
* Capital (KRW 100 million+, about $70K) is separate. Excludes logistics and advertising. An exact quote is provided during the consultation.
Required Documents
KONIVO provides the document checklist and timeline in advance. Obtaining an Apostille typically takes 2–4 weeks, so it proceeds in parallel as soon as the contract is signed.
Glossary
We explain the legal, tax, and administrative terms that appear in Plan C/D.
Choose Your Structure
Both structures let you have an independent business entity in Korea and run e-commerce, hiring, and tax. They differ in entity form, scope of liability, and flexibility.
| Item | Plan C — Branch | Plan D — LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Legal personality | None (extension of parent) | ✓ Independent entity |
| Establishment period | 6–12 weeks | 6–10 weeks to register (3–5 months to first revenue) |
| Parent company liability | Unlimited liability | ✓ Limited liability (up to the contribution amount) |
| Financial non-disclosure | Disclosure obligation | ✓ No annual financial disclosure |
| Board of directors | Not required | Not required (managing member structure) |
| Offline channels | Optional add-on | ✓ Included by default |
| Transfer pricing advisory | Not included | ✓ Included |
| Independence after transfer | Plan D transition roadmap provided | ✓ Fully independent operation |
| Monthly management fee | $2,000 + 5% | $2,000 + 10% |
Only the establishment vehicle differs (branch vs. LLC); the core service structure KONIVO handles is the same.
Plan Details
Select a tab to see each plan's unique features, process, and pricing.
Features unique to Plan C
How It Works — Plan C
Pricing — Plan C
| Monthly revenue | Monthly Management Fee | Fee (5%) | Monthly total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $2,000 | $500 | $2,500 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| $50,000 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $4,500 |
| $100,000 | $2,000 | $5,000 | $7,000 |
* Branch setup fee and tax filing fee are billed separately; exact amounts provided during consultation.
FAQ — Plan C
Features unique to Plan D
How It Works — Plan D
Pricing — Plan D
| Monthly revenue | Monthly Management Fee | Fee (10%) | Monthly total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| $50,000 | $2,000 | $5,000 | $7,000 |
| $100,000 | $2,000 | $10,000 | $12,000 |
* LLC formation fee and tax filing fee are billed separately; exact amounts provided during consultation. Offline supply commission of 3% is billed separately from the online commission.
FAQ — Plan D
Other Plans
After requesting a structure assessment, receive a plan comparison analysis and cost estimate tailored to your situation in writing within 3 business days.
Receive a branch (C) vs. LLC (D) comparison analysis, a Year 1 cost estimate, and a document checklist in writing within 3 business days.