Hong Kong Company Registration Compared 2026: DIY vs Agency Costs and How to Pick a Package
After deciding to set up a Hong Kong company, don't rush to compare which provider offers the cheapest first year. The two-year total — government fees, company secretary, registered address, renewals, and annual compliance costs combined — better reflects what you will actually spend. Amounts below are mainly in Hong Kong dollars; to help Taiwanese readers estimate, we use roughly HK$1 ≈ NT$4.1 and SG$1 ≈ NT$24.7, and actual card or remittance exchange rates will differ.
2026 Hong Kong Company Registration Government Fees: Confirm the Comparison Baseline First
From 1 April 2026, the registration fee for a one-year Business Registration Certificate remains HK$2,200, and the HK$150 Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund levy has been reinstated, for a total of HK$2,350. Incorporating a limited company also requires a Companies Registry fee: HK$1,545 for electronic applications or HK$1,720 for paper applications.
| Type | 2026/27 government baseline | Approx. NT$ | Key differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship / partnership (unlimited) | HK$2,350 | NT$9,600 | One-year business registration fee and levy only; the owner bears unlimited liability |
| Limited company: electronic filing | HK$3,895 | NT$16,000 | HK$1,545 + HK$2,350 |
| Limited company: paper filing | HK$4,070 | NT$16,700 | HK$1,720 + HK$2,350 |
The HK$4,070 figure often seen online is the government cost of incorporating a limited company on paper; the electronic total is HK$3,895. You can verify the fees against the Companies Registry fee schedule and the Inland Revenue Department business registration fee and levy table. An agency quote below HK$3,895 is not necessarily a problem, but ask whether the provider is subsidizing it, whether government fees are charged separately, and whether the cost will be recouped at next year's renewal.
DIY vs Using an Agency: The Difference Goes Beyond the First-Year Price
What does DIY involve?
The basic process has six steps:
- Check the company name — availability in a search does not mean it has been approved.
- Confirm shareholders, directors, share capital, and the company's purpose.
- Prepare the
NNC1, the articles of association, and theIRBR1. - Arrange a company secretary and a Hong Kong registered office address.
- File electronically or on paper, and keep the Significant Controllers Register (SCR) after incorporation.
- Separately apply for a bank account or other external payment tools.
With complete documents and no extra name vetting required, the electronic certificate for a private limited company is usually issued within one hour; paper applications generally take about four working days. Receiving the certificate does not mean you can operate immediately — bookkeeping, contracts, and external bank KYC come next, and account opening will not move at the same speed as incorporation.
A company secretary and a Hong Kong registered address are both statutory requirements. A company secretary who is a natural person must ordinarily reside in Hong Kong; a corporate secretary must have its registered office or place of business in Hong Kong. A sole director cannot also serve as the company secretary. If the founder has no qualified candidate or address, even the DIY route requires purchasing these from service providers in the market; for the secretary's duties and how to choose one, see the Hong Kong company secretary guide. Secretary-plus-address packages commonly start around HK$2,300, with widely varying inclusions.
How should you read agency market pricing?
Advertised first-year prices commonly fall between HK$3,000–8,000; basic company secretary quotes run about HK$1,000–3,000, while fuller packages covering the address, SCR, and document maintenance run about HK$3,550–5,500. These are market ranges for initial screening only, not government pricing, and audit, tax filing, and bank account opening are usually charged separately.
Names such as Sleek and Osome refer only to external service options on the market, useful for comparing inclusions and prices. This article does not rate or endorse them, and they are not Chan & Chung's own products.
Model the two-year total cost — don't stop at year one
Below are two hypothetical scenarios. The second-year government fee provisionally uses the 2026/27 BR of HK$2,350 plus HK$105 for filing the Annual Return on time; always check the official fees for the year of renewal. For a full breakdown of annual maintenance items, see the Hong Kong company annual maintenance cost breakdown.
| Hypothetical package | Year-1 all-in | Year-2 secretary & address | Year-2 government fees | Two-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: low first-year price | HK$4,680 | HK$5,000 | HK$2,455 | HK$12,135 |
| B: transparent renewal price | HK$6,200 | HK$2,800 | HK$2,455 | HK$11,455 |
Package B costs HK$1,520 more in year one yet HK$680 less over two years. Beyond the headline price, also compare whether director or shareholder changes, SCR updates, supplementary filings, and document courier services are charged separately.
5 Key Checks When Comparing Agency Packages
- Are government fees included? The 2026/27 baseline is HK$3,895 for electronic incorporation and HK$4,070 for paper.
- Year-2 pricing for secretary and address: ask for a quote that explicitly lists year-1, year-2, and the document handover fee if you cancel the service.
- Is the SCR handled? Confirm whether initial setup, the designated representative, and future updates are included, rather than just a blank template.
- How are audit and tax filing charged? Audit and tax work are adjacent external professional services — ask whether the provider does them in-house, refers them out, or quotes separately by transaction volume; for the annual process, see the Hong Kong audit and tax filing overview.
- How far does bank account support go? Providing a bank list, making referrals, checking documents, or accompanying your preparation are different tiers of service — and no provider should guarantee bank approval.
Hong Kong vs Singapore: The Second Layer of Comparison
| Comparison | Hong Kong | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Government incorporation fee | About HK$3,895 electronic, ≈ NT$16,000 | Name SG$15 + registration SG$300 = SG$315, ≈ NT$7,800 |
| Corporate income tax | Generally 16.5%; 8.25% on the first HK$2 million under the two-tiered regime if eligible | Generally 17%; qualifying start-ups may use tax exemptions |
| Consumption tax | No VAT/GST | GST regime applies |
| Local roles | Directors can be non-residents, but a qualified company secretary and Hong Kong address are required | At least one director meeting local residency requirements |
| Best fit | China market, cross-border trade, and preference for a simple territorial-source tax system | Southeast Asian operations, investment, or regional headquarters |
Singapore's SG$315 is only the ACRA government fee; costs for a resident director, company secretary, and address are not included. Hong Kong's 8.25% is not automatic for every company either; where there are connected entities, usually only one nominated entity may use the two-tiered rates.
Don't choose a jurisdiction on headline tax rates alone. Hong Kong's offshore profits treatment depends on the source of profits, actual operations, and supporting evidence; the FSIE regime imposes separate rules on foreign-sourced passive income received by in-scope multinational enterprise entities. Shell arrangements lacking contracts, accounting records, and decision trails rarely survive bank, audit, or tax scrutiny.
Can Non-Hong Kong Residents Set Up a Hong Kong Company?
Yes. Directors of a Hong Kong limited company can be non-Hong Kong residents, and shares can be held by foreigners — there is no need to arrange a local Hong Kong shareholder to qualify. The company must still maintain a Hong Kong registered address and a qualified company secretary.
Bank account opening is a separate, external approval process. Non-resident applicants should prepare identity and address proof, the shareholding structure, business contracts, customer and supplier information, source of funds, and expected transaction patterns. Allow 2–4 weeks in your planning; complex shareholding, high-risk jurisdictions, or requests for supplementary documents can take longer. Incorporation does not guarantee that a bank will approve the account. For more, see the Hong Kong bank account opening document checklist.
Conclusion: How to Choose in Three Situations
- Tightest budget: DIY filing is feasible, but first confirm you already have a qualified company secretary and Hong Kong address; otherwise factor in the cost of buying them.
- Want speed and reliability: choose an agency with transparent pricing, compare on two-year total cost, and confirm SCR, renewal, and handover fees item by item.
- Planning a multi-jurisdiction setup: compare Hong Kong and Singapore on market access, banking, tax, and real operating requirements — not just registration fees.
Chan & Chung can coordinate Hong Kong company incorporation, company secretary, and annual compliance services; to assess your company's purpose, two-year budget, and compliance timeline, get in touch via the services page.
Regulated trust or company services are provided by Intelligent Services Limited (TCSP licence no. TC010349), not Chan & Chung Consultancy Services Limited.
FAQ
How much does it cost to open a Hong Kong limited company in 2026?
From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, the government fee for electronic incorporation of a limited company is HK$3,895, or HK$4,070 on paper. Agency, company secretary, address, audit, and tax filing fees are extra.
Can I skip appointing a company secretary if I incorporate myself?
No. A private limited company must have a company secretary, and a sole director cannot take the role. An individual secretary must ordinarily reside in Hong Kong, while a corporate secretary must have a registered office or place of business in Hong Kong.
Can Taiwanese or other foreigners serve as directors of a Hong Kong company?
Yes. There is no Hong Kong residency requirement for directors, and shares can be held by foreign shareholders, but the company must still meet the company secretary, registered address, and ongoing filing requirements.
Why shouldn't I judge by the first-year package price alone?
A low-priced package may exclude government fees, the address, or the SCR, and may raise renewal and handover fees in year two. To compare, simply add up: year-1 total + year-2 government fees + year-2 secretary and address + necessary add-ons.
What does a Hong Kong company have to pay every year?
Typically business registration renewal, the Annual Return, the company secretary, the registered address, plus bookkeeping, audit, and tax filing professional fees as they arise. Bank accounts and external payment tools may also carry their own charges.