A business location is one of the dependent units that enables an enterprise to expand its operations into multiple locations without establishing a separate legal entity. Under current regulations, the establishment of a business location is carried out through a notification of establishment of the business location to the provincial-level Business Registration Authority.

1. Applicable cases

Pursuant to Clause 3, Article 44 of the Law on Enterprises 2020, a business location is a place where an enterprise conducts specific business activities. Unlike a branch, a business location does not have the function of representing the enterprise under authorization and is not an independent legal entity.

Under Point a, Clause 2, Article 30 of Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP, an enterprise may establish a business location at an address other than the location of its head office or branch. Accordingly, current regulations no longer restrict a business location to being located in the same province or centrally administered city as the enterprise’s head office or branch.

This procedure applies when an enterprise wishes to establish a location to directly conduct one or more specific business activities within the scope of the business lines registered by the enterprise.

2. Authority handling the application

Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 30 of Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP, the notification of establishment of a business location shall be submitted to the provincial-level Business Registration Authority where the business location is situated. This authority is under the Department of Finance of the relevant province or centrally administered city. Where the business location is located in a high-tech park, the competent authority shall be the Management Board of the high-tech park pursuant to Article 20 of Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP.

3. Procedures

Step 1: Decision on establishment of the business location

• Responsible entity: The enterprise.
• Work to be performed: The enterprise decides to establish the business location and determines relevant information, including its name, address, head of the business location, and business lines.
• Timeline: There is no specific statutory time limit for issuance of the internal decision.

Step 2: Preparation and submission of the application

• Responsible entity: The legal representative of the enterprise or an authorized person.
• Work to be performed: Prepare the Notification of Establishment of the Business Location and submit it to the provincial-level Business Registration Authority where the business location is situated.
• Timeline: Within 10 days from the date of the decision to establish the business location, the enterprise must submit the notification pursuant to Point b, Clause 2, Article 30 of Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP.

Step 3: Processing by the business registration authority

• Responsible entity: The provincial-level Business Registration Authority.
• Work to be performed: Review the validity of the application. If the application is valid, the Business Registration Authority shall update the business location information in the National Business Registration Database. If the application is invalid, the enterprise shall be notified to amend or supplement the application.
• Timeline: Within 03 working days from the date of receipt of a valid application pursuant to Clause 3, Article 30 of Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP.

4. Application dossier

The dossier for establishing a business location is relatively simple and includes the Notification of Establishment of the Business Location in the prescribed form. The notification must be signed by the legal representative of the enterprise where the business location is directly affiliated with the enterprise, or by the head of the branch where the business location is affiliated with a branch.

Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 30 of Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP, this constitutes the basic dossier for the notification procedure for establishing a business location. Accordingly, in principle, the enterprise is not required to submit a copy of the Enterprise Registration Certificate, documents evidencing the right to use the premises, or the decision on establishment as part of the registration dossier submitted to the Business Registration Authority, unless otherwise required by specialized legislation.

5. Results of the procedure

Within 03 working days from the date of receipt of a valid application, the provincial-level Business Registration Authority shall update the business location information in the National Business Registration Database. Pursuant to Clause 3, Article 30 of Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP, upon the enterprise’s request, the Business Registration Authority shall issue a Business Location Registration Certificate.

Accordingly, compared with the procedure for establishing a new enterprise, the establishment of a business location involves a simpler application dossier and a shorter processing period, making it suitable for enterprises seeking to expand their business operations into different locations.