Doing Business in Taiwan

Foreigners are often unprepared for doing business in Taiwan. The working culture is unfamiliar to most Westerners, and achieving an adequate understanding may require some cross-cultural training.

Though the country prides itself on its capitalist success, Confucian values still permeate the business environment and dictate etiquette and common practice. Expats should familiarise themselves with this system of behaviour to better succeed in the business sphere.

Taiwan was ranked 15th out of 190 economies in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Survey for 2020, scoring particularly well for dealing with construction permits (6th), getting electricity (9th), and enforcing contracts (11th). One area of concern, however, is getting credit in Taiwan, with the country placing 104th in that category.

Taiwan is largely dependent on foreign trade and the number of multinationals in the country means that locals are often accustomed to interacting with expats in the business world.

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Fast facts

Business hours

Office hours are typically 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Business language

Taiwanese and Mandarin are the official languages. English is rarely spoken outside large multinational organisations, so a translator may be necessary.

Dress

Formal and conservative, with dark suits for men and modest dresses and skirts for women. Pantsuits are considered business casual and might not always be appropriate.

Gifts

Gift-giving is an essential relationship-building tool. A simple gift for all members involved in a meeting is appropriate. A slightly better gift may be presented to the most important member of a party. It is customary to open gifts in private.

Gender equality

Taiwan is a fairly equal society, but elements of patriarchy have prevailed. That said, women are taking on larger roles in the working world and the salary gap is decreasing. Foreign businesswomen are also treated with respect.

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Business culture in Taiwan

While Taiwan’s highly developed capitalist economy is marked by modern enterprise, its business culture is rooted in old-world tenets.

Hierarchy

With the exception of a few multinationals, most businesses in Taiwan are small- to medium-sized and family-owned. Senior managers assume a paternal role and not only take an interest in all activities but expect to be consulted on each decision prior to action being taken.

Hierarchy is established and greatly respected, although protocols are not as formal as in nearby Japan and South Korea. As a consequence, lower-level employees often lack initiative.

Relationships

In accordance with Confucian principles, maintaining a sense of harmony by carefully controlling one’s interpersonal relationships is paramount. Individualism is abandoned for the collective and in many cases, local work groups are a major source of identity for people.

According to this line of thought, the most important aspects of business culture in Taiwan are ‘face’ and guanxi (relationships).

Creating and sustaining relationships are integral to doing business in Taiwan. Local enterprises rarely engage in negotiation before establishing a connection between the parties involved. Expats should take note of the practices that support this concept, like gift-giving, and should avoid rushing business dealings in order to allow for relationships to develop.

Saving face 

‘Face’ is a complicated concept relating to a person’s dignity, prestige and reputation. Both individuals and companies have face. Expats will find that the concept often informs both personal interactions and business decisions.

Giving face, saving face and avoiding losing face is so important that expats may find the principles that usually guide negotiation don't apply. For example, Taiwanese colleagues will avoid pointing out other's mistakes to allow them to keep face, even if this comes at a cost to the company.

New arrivals should abide by these principles, as causing someone to lose face will have a negative effect on business dealings.

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Dos and don'ts of business in Taiwan

• Do speak directly to the most senior person in a meeting, even if they don’t speak the best English

• Don’t do or say anything that will embarrass or bring shame to the company. Causing a collective group to 'lose face' has an extremely negative impact on business relations in Taiwan.

• Do accept any invitations to events outside of the normal working environment. Relationship-building is paramount, and it's important to capitalise on any and all opportunities to connect with clients and colleagues.

• Don’t be afraid to depart from a meal during tea time, even if asked to stay or go somewhere else. This is a feature of all Taiwanese meals, and an appropriate time to leave.