When a supplier sends you a copy of their business license, most buyers glance at the company name and assume everything is fine.
But that document contains far more than a name.
The 18-digit Unified Social Credit Code (USCI) is the master key to verifying whether the entity you are about to pay is the entity you think it is.
Every legitimate Chinese company has a unique, permanent 18-digit code.
It doesn’t change, even if the company changes its name.
If the code on the license doesn’t match the code in the official registry, you are not dealing with the legal entity you think you are.
Registered vs. Paid-in Capital：
The registered amount is a paper promise. The paid-in capital is actual money contributed.
A large gap suggests the company lacks the financial buffer to fulfill your order.
Legal Representative：
This is the person legally responsible for the company. If they have changed recently, it can be a sign of instability.
Business Scope：
Check whether the scope includes manufacturing, or just trading and import/export.
This determines whether you are buying from a factory or a middleman.
A license is a snapshot of registration. It does not show litigation history, enforcement actions, unpaid tax arrears, or hidden related-party transactions.
For that, you need a structured review of court records and tax filings.