How to Start a Business in Taiwan

How to Start a Business in Taiwan is a 2013 book by Elias Ek, a Swedish entrepreneur and writer. The book covers the main areas of information that a foreigner living in Taiwan who wants to set up a business or invest in a Taiwanese business needs to know. Launched during the 2013 Taipei International Book Exhibition (Jan 30-Feb 4, 2013), the book was very well received by both customers and society. The very first copy was handed over to Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who said he hoped the book would help bring more foreign investors to Taiwan.^[1]

How to Start a Business in Taiwan

First edition
Author	Elias Ek
Cover artist	Roma Mehta
Language	English
Subject	Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Investment
Genre	Non-fiction,
Publisher	Enspyre
Publication date	January 2013
Publication place	Taiwan
Pages	325 pp
ISBN	978-986-89260-0-4

Author Elias Ek explains that his book is not about how to start a successful business, but rather how to successfully start a business in Taiwan. The book focuses on Taiwan-specific topics, including:

• An introduction to doing business in Taiwan
• A step-by-step guide to setting up a business in Taiwan
• Hiring and managing staff in Taiwan
• Choosing the right business entity
• Registering your business
• Financing options in Taiwan
• An overview of Taiwan’s legal system, trademarks, and patents
• Interviews with successful foreign entrepreneurs in Taiwan

Ek states his main goal in writing the book was:

“When you hire an accountant to do the paperwork, you know the questions to ask. You can point to a Chinese term and say: ‘Is that what you’re talking about?’ so you can get on the same page more easily. My second ambition is that you could also do the whole process on your own.”

The well-regarded blog InTaiwan.de recommended the book, though it noted that the section on pensions was confusing and some chapters felt out of order.

Ek was also featured on the government-sponsored 100 Innovators program on Uni FM, where journalist Lilian Kim described him as “one of Taiwan's most successful foreign entrepreneurs.”

Background

Author Elias Ek is from Sweden but has lived in Taiwan since 2000. In 2002 he co-founded the B2B Marketing company Enspyre.^[2] While building his business, he has also spent a lot of time supporting foreign entrepreneurs. In 2006 Enspyre sponsored what was probably the first seminar for foreign entrepreneurs, and in 2008 Ek became the co-chair of the European Chamber of Commerce Taipei SME Centre, spending 3 years arranging seminars and workshops. He is currently active in a similar capacity at the French Chamber of Commerce.

In January 2011, Ek was at the Bangkok airport and discovered a book for foreigners about how to set up a business in Thailand.^{[citation needed]} He was inspired to write such a book for Taiwan as well. Despite assembling a great team of interns to help, it took two years to make the book a reality.^[3]

Ek has also invested in many other Taiwanese startups and was one of the initiative takers to bring Startup Weekend to Taiwan.^[4]