Get Started HK Hong Kong Company Incorporation Service Review [2024]

Hong Kong attracts entrepreneurs from around the globe thanks to its business-friendly environment, low taxes, and strategic location as a gateway to China.

However, starting and operating a company in Hong Kong, with its unique local compliance requirements, can be challenging. That’s when a company formation service provider can help simplify and expedite the process.

Get Started HK is one such service provider. In this review, we’ll look at what Get Started HK offers—covering its services, pricing, and customer support—to help you determine if it’s the right choice for your business.

Get Started HK (GSHK) is a company formation agent based in Hong Kong. They facilitate company formation in Hong Kong, the Bahamas, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, Samoa, and Seychelles. The company positions itself as a specialist in services and guidance for small and medium enterprises.

In addition to company formation, GSHK offers separate corporate administration, accounting, and tax advisory services. These include director appointments and resignations, allotment and transfer of shares, advice on profits and salary taxes in Hong Kong, and more. 

What They Offer

A good service should handle the mandatory setting up and maintenance of a company in Hong Kong. 

Here are what you need before registering a company in Hong Kong:

• You’ll need a local registered address in Hong Kong for compliance reasons, and P.O. Boxes won’t meet the requirement.
• You’ll need a qualified Hong Kong Company Secretary to keep things compliant with local laws.
• You’ll need the Articles of Association that lay out your company’s rules and structure.

After registering a company, you must get 

• Business Registration Certificate (BRC), which proves that your company is officially registered.
• Certificate of Incorporation, which confirms your company’s legal standing.

To stay compliant, 

• You’ll need to maintain statutory records.
• You’ll need to maintain the Significant Controllers Register, which is a list of those who have significant control over the company.
• Every year, you’ll need to file an Annual Return Filling (NAR1) with the Companies Registry, which details your company’s financial status.

Cost

To avoid surprises, it’s helpful to review all potential fees when selecting company formation services, as some costs might not be immediately visible.

 Key factors to consider that could drive up your expenses include:

• Government fees: Are they included or excluded in the package?
• Annual fees for a local registered address
• Annual fees for Hong Kong company secretary services
• Costs related to the number of shareholders, including fees for having more than one, as well as for adding or removing shareholders.
• Fees for structural changes, such as appointing new directors

Good Customer Support

Good customer support is crucial, especially when dealing with legal documents during company setup. If the service is online, make sure you can reach them when you need to. Look for:

• How You Can Reach Them: Make sure they offer ways to get in touch that work for you—phone, email, chat, or other channels you prefer.
• How Fast They Respond: Quick responses can save you a lot of headaches, so consider how fast they address inquiries.

Client Feedback

Real customer reviews provide honest insights into what works well and what might not. You can find these reviews on trusted platforms like Trustpilot and Google Reviews. Depending on where the user base is active, you might see more feedback on one platform than the other. 

If you use Trustpilot, check if the reviews come from verified accounts —this confirms that they’re real customers sharing genuine experiences.

You might want to check out what people are saying about Get Started HK on the Get Started HK Trustpilot page and Get Started HK Google reviews.

Get Started HK offers four distinct company incorporation packages in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong – Residents Exclusive package is tailored for local residents who have their own addresses. The Deluxe Pack is the most popular choice, ideal for businesses that need a local registered address. 

For those doing online business, the Ecommerce Pack is specifically designed to meet their needs. Lastly, the Crypto Pack caters to businesses involved in cryptocurrency, addressing their specific requirements.

Here's a breakdown of the features for each Get Started HK package:

Hong Kong – Residents Exclusive Pack

• Processing time in 5 business days
• Government fees included
• Articles of Association
• Completion of the share capital declaration form
• Filling out the incorporation form
• Drafting of the initial written resolution
• 1-year Company Secretary 
• Certificate of Incorporation
• Business Registration Certificate
• A certificate of incumbency
• AGM declaration (director & shareholder)
• Prepare the Register of Significant Controllers
• Compliance reminder notification
• Get the Annual Return reminder notification
• Get a referral to a Neobank
• Assist with bank document preparation
• Stamp and chop for banking use

Deluxe Pack

Includes everything from the Hong Kong – Residents Exclusive Pack, with added perks:

• Speedy processing within 1-2 business days
• A registered office address for one year
• Complimentary referrals to Airwallex and neobanks
• Introduction to in-house accounting team
• Customer service support
• Unlimited owners 

Although Get Started HK mentions that the deluxe package accommodates unlimited owners, their application page limits entries to 6 shareholders and 6 directors. For further inquiries, you may need to contact them directly.

Ecommerce Pack

Everything in the Deluxe Pack, plus

• A Hong Kong phone number
• Assistance with PayPal account setup (Subject to PayPal HK approval)
• Dedicated support for PayPal HK account

Crypto Pack

Everything in the Deluxe Pack, plus

• A Hong Kong phone number
• A crypto-friendly RD Wallet (licensed as a Hong Kong Stored Value Facility)

Get Started HK also offers separate services, including accounting, audit, tax advisory and corporate administration services (such as change of company name, certificate of good standing, director appointment and resignation, allotment of shares, and transfer of shares). However, this article focuses solely on their incorporation packages.

Below are the price details for each of the Get Started HK incorporation packages.

For more information, please refer to this Hong Kong company incorporation pricing page on the Get Started HK website.

Here’s a guide on what to expect when forming a company with Get Started HK:

1. Select a Package: Choose a package that suits your needs from the Get Started HK company formation service page.

2. Complete the Company Profile: After you click “Apply Now,” provide details including the nature of your business, two proposed company names and the total number of shares to be issued.

3. Fill in Shareholder and Director Information: This includes their name, address, and passport number. You can add up to 6 shareholders and 6 directors on their application page. 

4. Leave Your Contact Details: Next, you'll be able to review the package details you've selected one more time before being prompted to provide your contact details.

5. Make Payment: Complete your payment by entering your payment details through PayPal.

6. Confirmation and Follow-Up: Get Started HK will check the availability of your proposed company name with the HK Company Registry. They will then contact you via phone and email to confirm the details. They may request additional information and will guide you through each step.

7. Get Started HK Handles the Remaining Process: Get Started HK takes care of the rest. Once the company is registered, they will notify you and provide all the necessary documents for your records.

Required Documents:

These are the primary documents needed. Get Started HK may request additional documents depending on individual circumstances.

• Hong Kong Residents: HKID and valid Hong Kong proof of address.
• Foreigners: A scanned copy of your passport and proof of residential address issued within the last three months (in English or Chinese), such as a residency card, phone bill, utility bill, or bank statement.

You can connect with Get Started HK customer support through various channels:

• Phone: +852 2813 7600
• Email: info@getstarted.hk
• WhatsApp: +852 5540 2713, +852 5541 0778
• Skype: HongKong.Setup
• Address: Central Main Branch, Suite C, Level 7, World Trust Tower, 50 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong
• Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm Hong Kong Time

In their package details, customer service support is included as a feature starting from the Deluxe pack. However, the level of support provided in the Hong Kong – Residents Exclusive pack is not clearly specified.

If Get Started HK doesn't completely suit your needs for setting up a company in Hong Kong, consider Statrys. 

Starting in 2019 as a payment service provider for businesses in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the BVI, Statrys later expanded in 2022 to offer company registration services in Hong Kong and Singapore.

What makes Statrys stand out is its all-in-one package, which not only covers all aspects of setting up and maintaining your Hong Kong company but also includes a multi-currency business account on the same platform. You can have your company set up and a business account active within 5 days. This makes the process of starting and managing your business in Hong Kong faster and more straightforward.

Statrys also offers personalised recommendations for accounting firms that match your business’s transaction, nature and industry. Here’s a quick look at what Statrys provides for Hong Kong company incorporation: