Jinan is among the most OPC-friendly provincial capital cities in northern China — operating costs run at 50-60% of Tier-1 cities, the 2026 Incubator Management Measures explicitly support OPC incubation, and combined with the 5% small-business income tax rate and VAT exemption, an independent developer earning under ¥1.2M/year can operate at near-zero tax burden. However, two core costs demand clear-eyed acknowledgment before deciding: the ¥14,000-24,000/year social insurance obligation that cannot be avoided, and the actual timelines for corporate bank account opening (2-4 weeks) and ICP filing (10-20 business days) that far exceed official promises. The ideal OPC profile: budget-conscious, expecting annual revenue under ¥1M, not dependent on venture capital, delivering products or services that can be fulfilled online. If you need rapid scaling, capital backing, or international market access, Nanjing or Hangzhou may be better-suited alternatives.
