2026 Complete Guide to Setting Up a Hong Kong Company — Process, Fees, Documents, Timeline

The minimum statutory government fee to set up a Hong Kong company is HK$3,895 (company registration fee HK$1,545 + Business Registration fee HK$2,350, effective from April 2026). Engaging a licensed TCSP for full-service incorporation with company secretary and registered address, Alpha’s all-inclusive package starts from HK$6,980 (HK$7,980 for a specified incorporation date), with e-filing completed in as little as 3 working days (Companies Registry fee schedule).

Published:

2026-09-20

Last updated:

2026-09-20

How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Hong Kong Company? Government Fees vs. Full-Service Packages

Let’s be clear about the fees the government always charges. According to the Companies Registry fee schedule, incorporating a local private company with share capital costs HK$1,545 via e-filing (NNC1 form) or HK$1,720 via paper filing. In addition, a Business Registration Certificate (BR) is issued at the same time as incorporation — per the Inland Revenue Department’s Business Registration fee and levy schedule, a 1-year Business Registration Certificate issued between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027 costs HK$2,200 registration fee plus HK$150 levy, totalling HK$2,350 — in the previous two years (April 2024 to March 2026) the government waived the HK$150 levy, keeping the fee at HK$2,200, but that waiver period has ended and the levy resumed from April 2026. Combined, the minimum government fee for e-filing is HK$3,895.

Filing the forms yourself online might seem like a way to save money, but you still need to arrange a company secretary (a legal requirement), handle the registered address, and work through the Articles of Association yourself — the time cost and risk of errors are not small. Full-service packages in the market typically charge HK$6,000 to HK$10,000, depending on whether company secretary and address services are included. In our (Alpha Business Solutions) experience, clients most often ask not “is the service expensive” but “what exactly is included in the package” — that’s the real question that determines value for money. Details of our $6,980 all-inclusive Hong Kong company incorporation package already cover government fees, first-year company secretary, and first-year registered address; for a specified incorporation date, the package is $7,980 (also including government fees), with an extra $500/person for more than 3 directors or shareholders.

What Documents and Qualifications Are Needed to Set Up a Limited Company?

Before setting up a company, there isn’t actually much to prepare, but each item has a legal requirement:

At least 1 director: aged 18 or above, any nationality, not necessarily a Hong Kong resident.
At least 1 shareholder: can be the same person as the director — a one-person company is entirely legal.
1 company secretary: must be a Hong Kong resident individual, or a licensed TCSP (such as our licence number TC007448); a corporate shareholder cannot itself serve as the company secretary.
1 Hong Kong registered address: cannot be a PO box — it must be a physical Hong Kong address capable of receiving government documents.

As for documents, directors and shareholders need to provide a copy of their ID card or passport, plus proof of address within the last 3 months (utility bill or bank statement); you also need to decide the company’s Chinese and English names (the Chinese name is optional) and share capital (typically a default of HK$10,000, which doesn’t need to actually be deposited in a bank). Non-Hong Kong residents can equally serve as directors or shareholders without needing to visit Hong Kong in person — document signing can be completed via video witnessing arrangements.

How Does the 4-Step Incorporation Process Work? From Name Search to Certificate

The whole process can be broken down into 4 steps:

Company name search — Confirm the proposed name isn’t already taken; both Chinese and English names can be checked for availability through the Companies Registry’s search system, usually with results within minutes.
Prepare the incorporation form — Complete the NNC1 form together with the Articles of Association, specifying directors, shareholders, share capital, registered address, and other details.
E-file with the Companies Registry — Submit via the e-Registry electronic services portal; per the Companies Registry e-services FAQ, simple cases where the company name requires no further approval can typically complete e-registration within 1 hour; paper filing takes about 4 working days, depending on document completeness and processing volume at the time.
Receive the Business Registration Certificate simultaneously — The Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate are issued separately as electronic files (PDF); the company is then officially incorporated and can legally sign contracts and begin operations.

Note that receiving the certificates doesn’t mean your bank account is ready — bank account approval is handled separately and typically takes several working days to several weeks, depending on the bank and the company’s background information.

What Do You Still Need to Do After Incorporation? Can You Just Walk Away Once It's Set Up?

Many business owners think getting the certificate is the finish line, but incorporating a company is really just the starting point — several statutory obligations follow:

Bank account opening — Requires company documents, a business plan, and background information; traditional banks and virtual banks have different approval requirements, covered in a separate article.
Business Registration Certificate renewal — Renewed annually; the 2026/27 fee is HK$2,350 (IRD fee schedule).
Annual Return (NAR1) — Private companies must file with the Companies Registry within 42 days of the incorporation anniversary date; the on-time registration fee is HK$105, with late fees increasing over time — HK$870 for more than 42 days but not exceeding 3 months, rising to a maximum of HK$3,480 — and the Registrar has no discretion to extend this 42-day statutory deadline.
First Profits Tax return — The IRD typically issues the first Profits Tax return (BIR51) about 18 months after incorporation, with the first filing deadline generally within 3 months of the issue date.
Significant Controllers Register (SCR) — Since 2018, all applicable companies must maintain an SCR recording details of persons holding more than 25% ownership or having significant control, and must designate at least one representative; failure to maintain this properly is a criminal offence, with the company and responsible persons each liable to a fine of HK$25,000 plus a daily default fine of HK$700.

These obligations are all interconnected — the real value of a company secretary package is largely in helping you remember these deadlines so you don’t discover a missed filing at the last minute.

Limited Company vs. Unlimited Company — Which Should You Set Up?

If you’re still deciding between a limited company and an unlimited company (sole proprietorship/partnership-style business registration), here’s a comparison:

Item	Limited Company	Unlimited Company
Setup cost	Government fees from HK$3,895; full-service packages typically from HK$6,980	About HK$2,000 (excluding first-year BR fee of about HK$250)
Shareholder/owner liability	Limited liability — personal assets separated from company debts	Unlimited liability — owner bears debts with personal assets
Audit requirement	Must be audited annually by a practising accountant, with Profits Tax return filing	No audit required, simplifying annual statutory filing
Bank/client trust	More trusted by banks and large clients; easier to open a corporate bank account	Some banks apply stricter approval criteria
Best suited for	Businesses with growth plans, needing external fundraising, or doing large-scale business	Small-scale operations, simple business, wanting to start quickly

In short, a limited company costs more but protects personal assets and makes it easier to build commercial credibility; an unlimited company is faster and cheaper to set up, but the owner bears all the risk. Most business owners planning for the long term, or needing a corporate bank account for trade or receiving payments, ultimately choose a limited company.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to set up a Hong Kong company?

With complete documents, e-filing can typically be completed within 3 working days, and simple cases may be approved within 1 hour; paper filing takes about 3 working days, depending on document completeness.

Do I need to visit Hong Kong in person to set up a company?

No. Non-Hong Kong residents can equally serve as directors or shareholders — document signing can be completed via video witnessing and electronic signature arrangements, with no need to visit Hong Kong in person at any stage.

How much share capital is required to set up a company?

There is no minimum share capital requirement by law. Market practice defaults to HK$10,000 as nominal share capital, which doesn’t need to actually be deposited into a bank account.

Can I set up a one-person company?

Yes. One person serving as the sole director and sole shareholder is a legal structure, but you still need to separately appoint a qualified company secretary (a Hong Kong resident or a licensed TCSP).

Can I start doing business immediately after incorporation?

Once you receive the Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate, the company is officially incorporated and can legally sign contracts and operate; however, before actually receiving payments you still need to complete bank account opening, which typically takes several working days to several weeks.

Why did the Business Registration fee increase in 2026?

Because the government waived the HK$150 levy from April 2024 to March 2026, keeping the total fee at HK$2,200; that waiver period ended on 31 March 2026, and from 1 April 2026 the Business Registration fee reverted to HK$2,200 registration fee plus HK$150 levy, totalling HK$2,350 (IRD Business Registration fee and levy schedule).

Need Help?

If after reading through this process you still feel there are too many forms and deadlines, and worry about missing a filing — that’s how many business owners feel. Setting up a company itself isn’t difficult; the challenge is remembering the pile of statutory filing obligations that follow. Details of our all-inclusive Hong Kong company incorporation package already cover government fees, first-year company secretary, and registered address, with certificates issued in as little as 4 working days; for annual renewal afterward, check out our company secretary renewal package, which covers Annual Return filing, company secretary, and SCR representative services. For specific questions, feel free to contact us.