You’ve heard that it was simple to setup a company in Hong Kong. Well, how simple?
We’ll show you! You can incorporate a company through the Hong Kong government’s Companies Registry website in 20 minutes or less. This is our step by step guide.
Step 1: Register for an e-Registry account if you do not already have one
Follow the steps to register for an e-Registry account.
In order to verify your information, you will be asked to either provide Certified True Copies of your Identification document, or you can visit the Companies Registry (Admiralty MTR) in person to present your identification documents.
If you are in need of Certified True Copies of your IDs (HK$450), book an appointment with us here:
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Step 2: Check if the company name you want is available in the Companies Registry database
Check the Companies Registry databse to see if the company name you want is taken.
Link: ICRIS Databsae
- Click on the link “To enter Companies Registry Cyber Search Centre”
- Click on “Unregistered User”, a window will pop-up asking for your details
- You will be asked to select from (1) to (11) for the purpose of conducting your search. Since there is no option for checking existing company names, you can simply select choice (1) and Submit
- Scroll the Search menu and select Company Name
- In the Search Mode box, select “Left Partial Search”, this will allow you to search all existing company names by search the first 1-2 words of the name
- Search the first 1-2 words of the company name you want and make sure no one is already using it
Step 3: Download the Companies Registry e-Form Filer to sign the incorporation documents
You will need to download the Companies Registry’s e-Form Filer to use their online forms. Once you have downloaded and installed the program, you’re ready to fill out the incorporation form.
Step 4: Login to the Companies Registry Website and fill in the online Incorporation form
Login to the HKCR website using the User ID and Password you created in Step 1: Here
Click on e-Submissionand select “Online Submission”
You will be directed to the Online Submissions page, where you can Select “Local Companies”
Next, under the Set Up a Company section selected “Company Limited by Shares (Form NNC1)
Next, you can choose the language of the incorporatoin form you need to fill out, for this tutorial, we will be using the English Form. Once you have selected the preferred language, you will be asked to select whether the company will be private or public, and whether the company needs a custom Articles of Association. Choose “Private” and “Model Articles”. If you’re setting up a company that needs a custom Articles of Association, we suggest speaking with a legal professional to setup the company.
You can now start filling out the Online Incorporation Form with the details of your company.
Rules regarding Hong Kong Company names:
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- The name cannot be the same as another company that already exists
- The name should not be offensive
- The name can be in only English, only Chinese, or have both an English and Chinese name
Rules regarding the Registered Office Address:
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- The address must be in Hong Kong and cannot be a P.O. box
- You can use a residential address as the registered office address, however, if the residential address is rented, you may need to get permission from the landlord. Also, keep in mind that the registered office address is publicly available information
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Next, you will be asked to fill out the details of your company’s share capital. This is the part where you will distribute the shares amongst your founding members (shareholders). If you only have 1 shareholder and do not have preferences as to how many shares the company must have, we suggest you use 1,000 shares. More shares can be allotted in the future if needed.
You will now be asked to fill in Shareholder, Director, and Company Secretary information.
Rules regarding the company secretary:
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- If the company has only 1 director, that director cannot also act as the company secretary. You will either need to nominate another person, or use a company service provider
- If a person is nominated as the company secretary, they must be a Hong Kong resident
- If a company is nominated as the company secretary, they must hold a TCSP License
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Tick the box “Director e-form” to e-Sign all necessary documents online. If you would prefer to sign a physical form consenting you to act as the director, or if your company has more than 1 director, you can print the form and deliver it to the Companies Registry within 15 days.
After you click the “Add” button near the bottom right, the name of the person just added will be shown in the bottom text box. Now you will need to add the Company Secretary as well.
Once you have added the Company Secretary as well and their name appears in the bottom text box, you can click the “Continue” button.
Next, click on “Generate e-Form”
Step 5: e-Sign the form and make payment
After you generate the e-Form and checked the pre-filled details to make sure everything is correct, you can head to Page 5 of the form and click on the red box to e-sign the form.
Once you click on the red box, you will either be asked to go back and correct any errors on the form or a pop up will appear saying no errors have been found.
Select “Enter User ID and Password” and sign the document using the User ID and Password you created in Step 1. Once you have successfully signed the form, the red box will turn green.
Next, head to page 7 of the form and click on the yellow box that reads “Click here to select the year option for Business Registration Certificate”, which will send you automatically to page 10 of the form where you must click on either “Yes” or “No”. If you select:
- “Yes” – you will pay for 3 years of business registration, or
- “No” – means you will pay for business registration annually
Most people will choose to pay annually. After, you select “Yes” or “No”, click the yellow box that reads “Click here to return to the signing page of NNC1”, which will automatically direct you back to page 7
On Page 7, click the scroll down arrow at the bottom of the page to select the name of the founding member (shareholder). Click on the “Date” box to select today’s date. Then click the box that reads “Please sign by e-Cert or PIN” to e-Sign using the User ID and Password created in Step 1.
After e-Signing, on the top right side of the e-Form Filer, click on “Submit e-Form”. A window will pop-up for you to check the details one more time before clicking “Submit”. This will bring you back to your web browser, showing the submission result.
Now, you just need to pay the fees:
As of 2024, the current fees for incorporating your own company are
NNC1 application fee – HK$1545
Business Registration fee – HK$2150
Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a Hong Kong Company. Make sure to download the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate, as you will need both of these documents to open your bank account.
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