Translation guide
A business that exists to hide the true nature of an activity, often illegal or secretive. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed with terms like ダミー会社 or ペーパーカンパニー, but the best choice depends on whether the company is a sham, a shell, or a legitimate-looking cover.
A company set up solely to disguise illegal operations, such as money laundering, fraud, or hiding true ownership.
Literally 'dummy company'. Widely understood and used in news and business contexts for a fake company used as a front.
That dummy company was being used for money laundering.
From English 'paper company'. Refers to a company that exists only on paper, with no real business operations. Often used for tax evasion or hiding assets.
He set up a paper company in a tax haven.
Literally 'ghost company'. Implies a company that exists in name only, often with no physical presence or employees. Slightly more dramatic or literary.
That ghost company had no substance at all.
A real, operating business that serves to hide another activity, such as espionage or organized crime.
Direct translation of 'front company'. Used especially for espionage or mafia fronts. Common in news and spy novels.
The spy was running a front company.
Literally 'camouflage company' or 'cloak company'. Emphasizes the hiding function. Less common but vivid.
Also used for this meaning, though it often implies the company itself is fake rather than a real business used as a front.
ダミー会社 is a general term for a fake company. ペーパーカンパニー specifically means a shell company with no real operations, often for tax or legal loopholes. フロント企業 is a company that appears legitimate but is used to hide illegal activities, like a spy front. In many contexts they overlap, but ペーパーカンパニー emphasizes the lack of substance, while フロント企業 emphasizes the cover function.
The organization moved funds using a front company.
The police busted the front company.