Company Incorporation in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a popular choice for foreigners with offshore limited liability corporations. Foreigners are allowed to be the sole owner of their companies. Plus they don’t need to visit Hong Kong for opening and doing business there. There is no requirement for local resident management. Also, Hong Kong is tax-friendly for startups.
Requirements for company formation in Hong Kong
- Shareholders and capital. A Private Limited Company in Hong Kong might have up to 50 shareholders without a residency requirement. Shareholders can be foreign people or even a company. There is no requirement for minimum share capital. You can choose to be the only shareholder and keep the share in any currency you want.
- Local corporate address. All Hong Kong companies are required to have a physical address, not P.O. Box. We can provide it for you.
- Director and secretary. You can choose how many directors will be in your company. Directors can be of any nationality but residents of Hong Kong. The corporate secretary is mandatory to be a local resident.
- Public information. All information about your business (shareholders, directors, officers, and the secretary) will be published as per Hong Kong Company Law.
Knowledge Base
- Types of companies in Hong Kong.
- Corporate Secretary
- Nominee director
- Nominee shareholder
- BRN vs CRN. What is the difference?
- Seal and Stamp.
- Employment and Resident visa in Hong Kong.
- Trademark registration
- Special licenses
- Hong Kong company + business in China
- Hong Kong high court apostille
- Taxes and tax exemption in Hong Kong.
- Annual return and Tax profit return.
- HSBC Bank Account in Hong Kong.
- Offshore banking solution.
- How to close company in Hong Kong?
Step by step guide for company incorporation in Hong Kong
Step 1. Company Name and Type
Before we start company incorporation in Hong Kong, You need to choose the type of your company and provide 2 — 3 names. The most popular types of companies:
- Private Limited Liability Company. The best choice for a new company. Maximum 50 shareholders. Limited by shares.
- Public Limited Company. For big companies and more than 50 shareholders. Must be registered at the Stock Market to make it Public.
Requirements for the business name:
- The name is required to be in English or Chinese language. Mixing up letters is not allowed. The English name has to end with the word «Limited»
- The name cannot be vulgar, offensive, cannot be the same with an already registered company.
- If the name contains the following words: «Department», «Federation», «Government», «Commission», «Bureau», «Council», «Authority»,»Bank», «Exchange» it might be rejected by the Registrar.
Step 2. Director and Shareholders.
Hong Kong Offshore Company or non-resident company can be opened with 1 director and 1 shareholder both non-residents of Hong Kong. You need to choose how many shareholders will be involved in your business, how many % of shares for each one, and provide information to us. Standard corporate capital is 10000 HKD, later on, you can change this amount.
Any shareholder can sell their share anytime.
We can do the Fast Incorporation within 1 day. In this case, the Hong Kong company will have a share and rights to sign all documents online. After the incorporation in Hong Kong will be done, the Hong Kong company leaves this share to another shareholder with all rights. Or we can manage your company in Hong Kong with a Trust Agreement if you wish to.
If you wish to stay private, we can provide Nominee Director and Shareholders Service.
Step 3. Corporate address and Local secretary
All Hong Kong companies are required to have a local registered address. it cannot be just a P.O. box. We can provide a virtual office option with the following benefits:
- Registered mailing address in Hong Kong.
- Scanning all your mail and sending it to your email.
- Hong Kong phone number with redirecting to any country.
Corporate secretary service can be on us as well. What exactly local company secretary do:
- Registration of all changes inside the company (directors, shareholders).
- Filling and applying all annual reports.
- Renewal of Business Registration Certificate and paying all fees.
Our company also provide bookkeeping service. Each company annually must fill Annual Return and Tax Profit Return. Even if the company did not operate.
Step 4. Company kit
The list of documents you will receive after incorporation:
- Certificate of Incorporation.
- Business Registration Certificate
- Form NNC1 (information about Directors and Shareholders)
- Article of Association
You can also order Green Box or Company Kit:
- Certificate of Incorporation.
- Business Registration Certificate
- Articles of Association — 10 printed copies
- Share Certificate book
- Statutory Book
- Company Seal
- Round corporate stamp
- Square signature chop
Step 5. Bank account and special licenses.
Bank account opening in Hong Kong is not that easy. There are a few ways for foreigners how to open it:
- Get your HKID. Our company will help you to fill all required documents for getting residency in Hong Kong. With your national ID, you can apply for a bank account. The only resident of Hong Kong can legally open a bank account. We will assist you with bank documents as well and set up an appointment in the bank.
- Nominee director for a bank account. Another option but it will be way more expensive. We always choose trustworthy people for this service and they require equal payment. We will prepare Trust Deed for using his name for the bank account.
DIA / Digital Advice will assist you with getting special licenses:
- License for Money Exchange and Money Remittance, MOL — (Money Operating Licence). With this license, you can operate as a bank and make a payment system worldwide.
- Money Lending Licence
- International Securities Identification Number, ISIN