Setting up a Company in Hong Kong the Easy Way in 2025

Starting a business in Hong Kong should feel exciting, not overwhelming. But many entrepreneurs pause their plans because they don’t know what step comes next, get lost in outdated advice, or aren’t sure where to turn for help.

If you’re ready to launch but not quite sure how to move forward, this guide is for you.

At Statrys, we’ve helped hundreds of business owners, many of them first-time founders, set up their Hong Kong companies with ease. Whether you’re doing this from overseas or based in Hong Kong, we’ll show you how to register your company the right way.

To get your business up and running legally in Hong Kong and benefit from its favourable corporate tax regime and potential offshore tax exemptions, you’ll need to incorporate your company with both the Hong Kong Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).

You can register the company yourself through the Companies Registry’s website as long as you meet the requirements and have the necessary documents prepared. 

Here's a checklist of what you'll need to set up and maintain a new company:

Another alternative is to partner with a professional company incorporation service like Statrys. We handle all the necessary paperwork, filings, and ongoing compliance requirements. This option can be helpful if you want to incorporate quickly and without any issues.

If you choose to do it yourself, here are the 8 steps to follow.

1. Get Familiar with Local Organisations and Institutions
2. Choose the Legal Entity of Your Company
3. Choose Your Company Name
4. Appoint a Company Secretary
5. Select the Registered Address of Your Company
6. Prepare the Incorporation Documents
7. Submit to the Companies Registry
8. Pay the Government Fee

Next, let’s dive into each step for more details.

When setting up your company, you will primarily need to engage with 2 government departments:

1. Companies Registry: The Companies Registry is the Hong Kong government’s business registration office. It is responsible for overseeing company incorporation and compliance with corporate laws and regulations, following the Companies Ordinance guidelines. It also issues a Certificate of Incorporation, a document that establishes a company as a legal entity.
2. Inland Revenue Department (IRD): The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) in Hong Kong is a government department responsible for administering taxes and duties, where you must file your company tax return every year. The IRD is the issuer of Business Registration Certificates, which grant tax IDs for businesses.

The first real step in the registration process is choosing your company structure. This decision is crucial, as it will influence how you name your company, your tax obligations, the flexibility you have in running the business, and the extent of your legal liability.

Here are the 3 main business structures in Hong Kong.

• Private Limited Company: This type of company is owned by a limited number of shareholders and cannot raise capital by selling shares to the public. The company must file an annual profits tax return with the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department (IRD), reporting its income and paying corporate tax. This structure is the most popular and common legal entity in Hong Kong because of its limited liability, share-based structure, and convenient share transfer process.
• Sole Proprietorship: A business that is owned and operated by a single individual. The owner must file an annual tax return under personal income tax. It’s a low-cost option but offers no liability protection.
• Partnership: A business entity that is formed by two or more individuals who agree to share the profits and losses of the business. Each partner is required to declare their share of the profits on their personal tax return. The most common form is a General Partnership, where all partners share liability equally unless stated otherwise in a partnership agreement.

Choosing a company name is an important step, as it must comply with specific regulations. If the name is considered offensive or too similar to an existing registered company, your registration may be rejected, and you’ll need to restart the process.

Your company names can be in Chinese, English, or both, but you cannot mix Chinese and English characters within the same name. 

Here’s what to do and what to avoid when naming your company.

It is mandatory for all companies in Hong Kong to appoint a local company secretary when registering your company, as they are the main point of contact with local authorities and play a key role in keeping your business compliant with regulatory obligations.

Most businesses choose to hire an outsourced company secretary. While that’s common, it adds an extra cost on top of government fees. That’s why the easier and often more cost-effective option is to use a professional service that handles both company registration and secretarial services in one package.

Your registered office address is where government departments will send all official correspondence. It must be accessible to your company secretary, who handles legal documents and government notices. That’s why many companies use their secretary’s address as the registered office.

If you do not have a physical office in Hong Kong, you can opt for a service provider that provides a registered business address or virtual office services to receive mail and packages without needing to rent office space. Just make sure the address is a physical location and not a P.O. Box.

It’s also important to note that certain business activities and industries, like food and beverage, may not be eligible to use a virtual office for their registered address.

In Hong Kong, the company incorporation process is streamlined, with a clear set of required documents outlined by the government. 

Here are the required documents for company incorporation: 

• Identification Documents: Copies of the identification documents for the directors, shareholders, and company secretary, typically Hong Kong ID cards for Hong Kong residents and passports certified by a CPA for foreigners.
• Articles of Association: A document outlining the company’s internal governance rules, such as a director appointment and financial management. It also includes information on the share capital amount. 
• Proof of Address: Documentation confirming the residential addresses of directors and shareholders, such as recent utility bills issued within the last three months.
• NNC1 or NNC1G Form: These are company incorporation forms that require information like the proposed company name, the nature of the business, and the director’s information. The NNC1 form is used for companies limited by shares, while the NNC1G is for companies that are not limited by shares.
• IRBR1 Form: A notice that will be sent to the Business Registration Office.

The forms can be found and downloaded on the Companies Registry's official website. The website also provides examples of Articles of Association, including a simplified form and model articles for private limited companies.

If you're registering your company online, you don't need to download the NNC1, NNC1G, or IRBR1 forms. Simply fill in the required information on the website, and these documents will be automatically generated.

Once you have prepared all the necessary information and documents, you can submit the incorporation documents in one of the following ways:

• Online submission through e-Registry Portal
• Send by mail to the Companies Registry’s address to 14/F, Queensway Government Offices, or
• In person at the Shroff Counters at the Companies Registry office.

You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see this sign!

Once the application is approved, the Companies Registry will issue two documents evidencing your company's incorporation. The document will be delivered within 4 business days for hard copy delivery and within 1 hour for electronic delivery. Those documents are:

1. Certificate of Incorporation: Issued once at the time of company formation, this document serves as official proof of your company’s legal existence and remains valid during the entire lifetime of the company.

1. Business Registration Certificate: This confirms your company is authorised to conduct business in Hong Kong. Valid for one or three years, the BRC must be renewed annually within one month of your company’s incorporation anniversary to avoid penalties.

At the time you submit the incorporation documents to the Companies Registry, you will be required to pay the applicable government fee.

Below are the incorporation fees for Hong Kong private limited companies. Please refer to the Companies Registry’s official website for other related service fees.

After registration, there are a few important things to keep in mind to operate legally in Hong Kong.

Businesses in certain industries are required to apply for licences and permits to operate, such as restaurants, selling liquors, money service operators, and import and export. Some types of businesses might need more than one licence. 

For example, if you’re opening a restaurant, you must obtain a General Restaurant Licence, a Provisional General Restaurant Licence, and a Liquor Licence from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

You can visit the Trade and Industry Department website to find out which licences, permits, certificates, and approvals are needed for certain businesses.

After incorporation, the Companies Registry will automatically report your company's existence to the Inland Revenue Department, so you don’t have to do everything twice.

However, it is your responsibility to keep up with your financial reporting. Typically, your company secretary should handle your reporting and tax notifications, as well as communicate with you on this matter, depending on the level of service your company secretary provides. 

For more information and updates regarding the rules and regulations for tax in Hong Kong, you can check this guide to the Hong Kong tax system and the Hong Kong Government’s website.

Establishing a company in Hong Kong as a foreigner is relatively straightforward, and many of the procedures are the same as those for local entrepreneurs. However, certain considerations can make the process more challenging for non-residents, including having a registered business address in Hong Kong and appointing a Hong Kong-based company secretary.

In this section, we answer some frequently asked questions for foreign entrepreneurs looking to set up their business in Hong Kong.

Do You Need a Physical Office?

No. Hong Kong law does not require businesses to have physical office space. What is required, however, is a registered business address. This is the address where official correspondence from the government and tax authorities will be sent.

For foreign business owners, virtual office solutions are a popular option. These services provide a local business address and mail forwarding services.

Can You Register Remotely?

Yes. You can set up a Hong Kong company entirely online without visiting in person. The process is accessible to international founders through digital systems and service providers. This flexibility is one of the reasons why Hong Kong remains a popular destination for international entrepreneurs, freelancers, and investors.

What Are the Visa/Residency Requirements?

You don’t need a visa or residency to register a company. All you need is a valid passport and proof of address.

However, if you plan to live or work in Hong Kong, you’ll need an Investment Visa (for owners/investors) or an Employment Visa (if hiring or working in your own company). Processing can take a few weeks, so plan ahead if needed.

By now, you might be thinking the company setup process is simple enough to handle on your own, and in many ways, it is. However, there are a few challenges that can catch new founders off guard, especially when it comes to ongoing obligations and hidden costs beyond the initial registration pricing.

Company setup doesn’t end once your business is registered. You’ll need to manage annual returns, maintain statutory records, and stay compliant with tax and reporting requirements.

Many first-time entrepreneurs overlook this, which can lead to missed deadlines, penalties, or even deregistration. That’s why choosing the right company secretary from the start, ideally, one that offers continued support beyond setup, is just as important as choosing the right pricing package.

Having a business account is key for tracking your finances and preparing audit reports. However, setting one up in Hong Kong can be more challenging than expected, especially for foreign-owned companies.

Opening a business account in Hong Kong with traditional banks often requires in-person meetings, extensive documentation, and proof of local operations. Depending on the bank, this can delay your launch by several weeks. 

Whether you're abroad or simply want to skip the admin, Statrys takes care of the entire setup process for HKD 7,740, with no hidden fees and no back-and-forth.

Your all-in-one package includes:

• Company registration with all filings and government fees
• One year of company secretary service
• A registered address with mail scanning
• 24/7 access to your company portal
• A fast-track business account application (subject to approval)

You complete a short form. We do the rest.

Getting started takes less than 5 minutes:

1. Visit statrys.com/hong-kong-company-registration
2. Click “Get Started”
3. Fill in your details
4. Make the payment

From there, we make sure everything is in place so your business is ready to get up and running.