Light regulation, real obligations
Professional Consultancy Setup in Hong Kong
Most consultancy in Hong Kong needs no licence at all. The exceptions are narrow but serious.
GCC business setup specialists
Unregulated, with sharp exceptions
Management, marketing, IT and most advisory work requires no licence beyond Business Registration. Financial advisory, securities work, legal practice and accountancy are regulated and the regimes are demanding.
- Regulated or not, established on day one
- No invented licensing requirements
- Audit and secretary obligations explained up front
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
Black Swan Business Setup Services•Black Swan Business Setup Services•Black Swan Business Setup Services
Know which you are
Regulated and unregulated advisory
The distinction is binary and decides everything.
| Field | Typically | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| Management consultancy | Unregulated | Business Registration only |
| Marketing and media | Unregulated | Business Registration only |
| IT and software | Unregulated | Business Registration only |
| Financial and investment advice | Regulated | Securities and Futures Commission licensing |
| Legal practice | Regulated | Law Society admission |
| Audit and accountancy | Regulated | Professional body registration |
Which fields are regulated is set by Hong Kong law and changes. Yours is checked before any application. Company secretarial and registered office services in Hong Kong must be provided by a licensed trust or company service provider. We co-ordinate your engagement with a licensed Hong Kong provider and manage the process end to end; the regulated filings are made by them.
How it works
Setting up the consultancy
For unregulated fields this is among the simplest setups anywhere.
01
Confirm the field
Whether your advisory work touches a regulated sector. For most consultancies the answer is no, and we confirm it.
02
Incorporate
Company incorporated, Business Registration obtained, company secretary and registered office arranged.
03
Set up to operate
Bank introduction made, bookkeeping established and the audit and filing calendar set.
- A precise description of what you advise on
- Whether you advise on investments or securities
- Whether you handle client money
- Passport copies for directors and shareholders
- Proof of address for each
- Proposed company name
- Shareholding split
- Registered office and company secretary arrangements
- Intended client locations
- Financial year end preference
- Professional indemnity insurance arrangements
- Qualification evidence where the field is regulated
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Assessment of whether your field is regulated
- Honest confirmation where no licence is needed
- Incorporation and Business Registration
- Company secretary and registered office arranged
- Significant Controllers Register established
- Corporate bank account introduction
- Bookkeeping and audit calendar set
- One adviser co-ordinating it
Not included, quoted separately
- Government fees, paid at cost
- Securities and Futures Commission licensing, quoted separately
- Professional body admission
- Professional indemnity premiums
- Annual audit, performed by a Hong Kong CPA
- Accounts preparation, quoted separately
- Office premises
- Regulated filings, made by the licensed local provider
Verify independently
Official Hong Kong authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Inland Revenue DepartmentImmigration DepartmentLabour DepartmentMandatory Provident Fund Schemes AuthorityCustoms and Excise DepartmentFood and Environmental Hygiene Department
Questions
Hong Kong consultancy — FAQs
Do I need a licence to consult in Hong Kong?
For management, marketing, IT and most advisory work, no. Business Registration is sufficient.
What makes financial advice different?
Advising on securities or investments is regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission, with a substantial licensing process assessing the firm and its responsible officers.
Do I need an office?
You need a registered office, which is usually provided with the company secretary. Physical premises are a commercial choice.
Does a one-person consultancy still need an audit?
Yes. Every Hong Kong company is audited annually regardless of size.
Can I advise clients outside Hong Kong?
Yes, and most consultancies do. Where profits then arise is a source question relevant to profits tax.
Careers
Apply for a role
Tell us which role you are applying for and what you have done that is relevant. If you have UAE or GCC experience, say which jurisdictions and authorities you have worked with.
Connect with us
Request a setup assessment
For founders and business decision-makers considering paid business services. Not for job applications, employment searches or personal visa-only requests.
Talk to a consultant
At Black Swan Business Setup Services, our mission is simple: to empower entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes to establish and expand their presence in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and beyond.
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