Must-See for Legal Operations These Companies Must Obtain Financial Licenses!

Want to operate legally? Understand which companies need financial licenses! In the current economic environment, more and more companies are paying attention to compliance. Especially companies involved in fund flows, investment and wealth management, and payment settlements must hold the corresponding financial licenses to operate legally. A financial license is not only a symbol of a company's legality but also the foundation of investor trust. This article will analyze which types of companies require financial licenses, combined with recent news, and introduce relevant regulations and policies.

First, payment companies are typical examples that must apply for financial licenses. In recent years, with the popularization of mobile payments, third-party payment institutions have developed rapidly. According to the Measures for the Administration of Payment Services by Non-Financial Institutions issued by the People's Bank of China, companies engaged in payment services must obtain a payment business license. In June 2025, the central bank conducted on-site inspections of several payment institutions, focusing on checking their customer reserve fund management. A well-known payment platform was fined and ordered to rectify due to failing to store customer reserves as required. This shows that payment companies must strictly comply with regulatory requirements during operations.

Second, internet finance platforms also need financial licenses. In recent years, the P2P lending industry has undergone large-scale regulation, and many non-compliant platforms have been shut down. Currently, only platforms with appropriate qualifications can continue to operate. For example, online lending information intermediaries need to obtain an online lending information intermediary business filing certificate issued by the CBIRC. In July 2025, the State Financial Supervision Administration issued a notice to further regulate internet finance businesses, clearly requiring platforms to have legal qualifications and strengthen information disclosure and risk control. The release of this policy has also accelerated the compliance process for more platforms.

In addition, fund sales companies also need financial licenses. According to the regulations of the China Securities Regulatory Commission CSRC, institutions engaged in fund sales must obtain fund sales qualifications. In August 2025, a securities company was criticized by the CSRC and ordered to make corrections for conducting fund agency sales without the necessary qualifications. This indicates that the threshold for fund sales is high, and companies must pass strict reviews to obtain permission.

Moreover, insurance brokerage and insurance agency companies also need relevant licenses. According to the Insurance Law, insurance brokerage companies need to obtain an insurance brokerage institution license, while insurance agencies need an insurance agency institution license. In September 2025, the National Healthcare Security Administration jointly with the CBIRC issued documents to strengthen supervision of the insurance industry, especially regulating the sale of health insurance products. Some insurance agencies that did not meet the conditions were ordered to suspend operations for rectification, reflecting the high emphasis on compliance in the insurance industry.

Leasing companies and commercial factoring companies also need financial licenses. These companies belong to quasi-financial institutions, mainly providing financing services to small and medium enterprises. According to the regulations of local financial regulatory authorities, leasing companies need to obtain a leasing company operating license, while commercial factoring companies need to obtain a commercial factoring company filing registration certificate. In October 2025, local financial regulators conducted investigations on leasing companies within their jurisdictions, focusing on checking whether they had any illegal lending or false advertising. Companies that did not meet the requirements would be punished or have their qualifications revoked according to law.

Besides the above types, other companies also need financial licenses. For example, small loan companies need to obtain a small loan company operating license, consumer finance companies need to obtain a consumer finance license, and traditional financial institutions such as securities companies and futures companies must go through approval from the CSRC or stock exchanges.

Overall, financial licenses have become an important guarantee for companies to operate in compliance. With the continuous tightening of regulatory policies, companies must pay attention to the application and maintenance of financial licenses to avoid legal risks caused by operating without a license. At the same time, investors should prioritize choosing companies with legal qualifications when selecting partners, to reduce investment risks.

In the future, as the financial market continues to open up and the regulatory system is constantly improved, the importance of financial licenses will become even more prominent. Companies should plan ahead and actively apply for relevant qualifications to ensure sustainable development under compliant conditions. For ordinary consumers, understanding which companies need financial licenses also helps identify legitimate financial institutions and protect their own legal rights and interests.

In conclusion, financial licenses are not only a pass for legal operation but also the cornerstone of market trust. Whether in payment, fund, insurance, or leasing fields, companies should attach great importance to obtaining and managing financial licenses to achieve sustainable development.