Quick Answer: Incorporating a private company limited by shares in Hong Kong costs HK$3,895 in government fees for 2026/27 (HK$1,545 Companies Registry fee plus HK$2,350 one-year business registration) and e-filed applications are normally approved within an hour. You need one director of any nationality, a Hong Kong-resident company secretary and a Hong Kong registered office; agents charge from about HK$4,650 for a package.
Forming a private company limited by shares in Hong Kong costs HK$3,895 in government fees in 2026/27: the Companies Registry incorporation fee of HK$1,545 (e-filed) plus the one-year business registration fee of HK$2,350, paid together in one application. File electronically and the certificates normally arrive within one hour; on paper it is about four working days. Agents charge from roughly HK$4,650 to HK$14,000 for a package that adds a company secretary, a registered address and the first year's filings. This guide covers the entity choice, the legal requirements, the fees and timeline, what happens after incorporation and what to check before paying an agent. Firms that do this work are listed under company formation services and corporate services on Portal Hong Kong.
Which entity should you form?
Most foreign founders and local startups use a private company limited by shares: liability is limited to share capital, one shareholder and one director are enough, and banks and customers expect it. A sole proprietorship only needs business registration with the Inland Revenue Department, costs the same HK$2,350 a year and skips audit, but the owner is personally liable and profits are taxed at the personal-business rates. A branch of an overseas company is registered with the Companies Registry as a non-Hong Kong company and keeps the parent's liability; it suits groups that do not want a separate Hong Kong balance sheet but still triggers business registration and profits tax. For the tax side see profits tax filing in Hong Kong 2026.
What does the Companies Ordinance require?
- Directors: at least one director who is a natural person (section 457). A non-resident of any nationality can be a director, per the Companies Registry's FAQ on directors and secretaries.
- Company secretary: an individual who ordinarily resides in Hong Kong, or a body corporate with its registered office or place of business in Hong Kong. A sole director cannot also be the secretary (section 475(2)). Commercial providers must hold a Trust or Company Service Provider licence, mandatory since 1 March 2018 under the TCSP licensing regime.
- Registered office: must be in Hong Kong; the address, first directors and secretary go on the incorporation form and cannot be left blank.
- Share capital: no minimum. The Ordinance prescribes no number of shares; one founder member holding one share is enough (CR incorporation FAQ).
The application is Form NNC1 for a company limited by shares, plus articles of association (the Registry publishes model articles for e-filing) and Form IRBR1 for business registration. Directors who did not sign the NNC1 file Form NNC3 consent within 15 days of incorporation.
How much are the government fees and how long does it take?
| Step | Who does it | Government fee (2026/27) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name search and NNC1 with articles | Founder or agent | None | Same day |
| Incorporation, e-filed via CR e-Services Portal | Founder or agent | HK$1,545 (HK$1,280 refundable if rejected) | Certificates normally within 1 hour |
| Incorporation, hard copy at Queensway Government Offices | Founder or agent | HK$1,720 (HK$1,425 refundable if rejected) | Within 4 working days |
| Business registration, same application | Companies Registry on behalf of IRD | HK$2,350 for 1 year (HK$2,200 fee + HK$150 levy) or HK$6,170 for 3 years | Issued with the Certificate of Incorporation |
| Annual return (NAR1) each year | Company secretary | HK$105 within 42 days of the anniversary; HK$870 to HK$3,480 if late | Annual |
Fees are from the Companies Registry's major fees page and the IRD's Business Registration Fee and Levy Table for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, checked September 2026. Late annual return fees are on the Registry's annual return page. The one-hour e-filing time is the Registry's stated norm for a private company limited by shares; a company limited by guarantee takes about three weeks.
What happens after incorporation?
You receive the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate together; since 27 December 2023 the company number is the 8-digit business registration number. Within the first weeks the company must set up its significant controllers register at the registered office and name a designated representative, a requirement in force since 1 March 2018 under the Companies Registry's SCR rules. Then open a bank account (see opening a business bank account in Hong Kong), enrol any staff in an MPF scheme within 60 days of hiring, and watch for the first profits tax return from the IRD. The company secretary keeps the registers and files the annual return; the company secretary guide covers duties and fees.
What do formation agents charge in 2026?
Prices below are from each provider's own pricing page, checked 16 September 2026, and include the HK$3,895 government fees unless stated.
- Osome: Essential from HK$4,650 (incorporation, one-year BRC, company secretary, annual return filing); Comprehensive HK$8,950, on promotion at HK$3,950 when bundled with an Aspire account; registered address HK$3,000 a year.
- Sleek: Starter from HK$4,982 (incorporation, BRC, secretary, SCR designated representative); Compliance from HK$8,473 adding audit and tax filing; Full Compliance from HK$13,973 with bookkeeping and employer's return; registered address HK$2,000 extra.
- Air Corporate: Basic US$90 for Hong Kong residents (government fees paid separately); All-Inclusive US$1,070 with government fees and 12 months of TCSP-licensed secretary; renewal US$955 a year.
- Startupr: Digital US$699 including government fee, secretary and registered address; US$798 bundled with an Airwallex account application.
What should you check before paying an agent?
Search the agent's name and licence number on the Companies Registry's TCSP register; an unlicensed secretary or address provider puts the company's filings at risk. Ask whether the quoted price includes the HK$2,350 business registration fee, the registered address and the second-year renewal, since these are the usual add-ons. Confirm who signs as company secretary and whether the registered address is a real office that receives government mail. Finally, line up an accountant early; the guide to choosing a CPA firm explains audit and tax timing. Established corporate service providers on Portal Hong Kong include Tricor Hong Kong, CompanySec.com and Gee Kay Systems.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to register a company in Hong Kong in 2026?
- Government fees for a private company limited by shares are HK$3,895 in 2026/27: the Companies Registry incorporation fee of HK$1,545 for an electronic filing (HK$1,720 on paper) plus the one-year business registration fee of HK$2,350, which is HK$2,200 plus the HK$150 levy. A three-year business registration certificate costs HK$6,170 instead. Agent packages that add a company secretary, registered address and annual return filing start at about HK$4,650 from Osome and HK$4,982 from Sleek, and run above HK$13,000 with audit and bookkeeping.
- How long does it take to incorporate a company in Hong Kong?
- If the application is delivered electronically through the Companies Registry e-Services Portal, the Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate are normally issued within one hour for a private company limited by shares. A hard-copy application lodged at the Queensway Government Offices takes up to four working days. A company limited by guarantee takes about three weeks. Opening a bank account afterwards is the slow part and can take days to weeks.
- Can a foreigner be the sole director and shareholder of a Hong Kong company?
- Yes. The Companies Ordinance requires at least one director who is a natural person, and the Companies Registry confirms a non-Hong Kong resident can be a director. One founder member is enough and there is no minimum share capital. The company must, however, appoint a company secretary who is an individual ordinarily resident in Hong Kong or a body corporate with a Hong Kong office, and the sole director cannot act as that secretary, so a foreign founder normally buys the secretary service from a licensed provider.
- Do I need a registered office address in Hong Kong?
- Yes. The registered office must be in Hong Kong and its address must be stated on Form NNC1; the Registry rejects forms that leave it blank. It does not have to be a physical office you occupy, so most small companies use the address of their company secretary or a virtual office provider. Any business that provides a registered office address for companies must hold a Trust or Company Service Provider licence, so check the licence number before using the address.
- What is the business registration fee for 2026/27?
- For certificates commencing between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, the one-year business registration fee is HK$2,350, made up of a HK$2,200 fee and a HK$150 levy to the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund. A three-year certificate is HK$6,170. For a newly incorporated company the fee is charged with the incorporation application and the certificate starts on the date of incorporation; renewals are billed by the Inland Revenue Department each year.
- What has to be done after a Hong Kong company is incorporated?
- Set up the significant controllers register at the registered office and appoint a designated representative, open a business bank account, enrol any employees in an MPF scheme within 60 days of hiring, and keep proper accounts for the annual audit and profits tax return. Every year the company secretary files the annual return (HK$105 if within 42 days of the incorporation anniversary, HK$870 to HK$3,480 if late) and the business registration certificate is renewed.
