Incorporation and business registration
Company Formation & Registration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong incorporation is fast, but it comes with two obligations founders routinely miss: a resident company secretary and an annual audit.
GCC business setup specialists
Quick to form, strict to maintain
A Hong Kong company can be incorporated in days with no resident director requirement. What catches people is the ongoing side: every company must appoint a company secretary who is resident, keep a Significant Controllers Register, and have its accounts audited every year regardless of size.
- Incorporation and Business Registration handled together
- Resident company secretary arranged from day one
- Audit obligation flagged before you commit
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
What a Hong Kong company needs
The components of incorporation
There is no trade licence here, but these requirements apply from day one.
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Company name | English, Chinese or both; must be available and not infringe restrictions. |
| Registered office | A Hong Kong address where official correspondence and the registers are kept. |
| Company secretary | Mandatory, and must be resident in Hong Kong or a body corporate with a registered office there. |
| At least one director | A natural person; no residency requirement. |
| Shareholders | At least one; no minimum capital in practice. |
| Significant Controllers Register | Must be kept and available for inspection at the registered office. |
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
From decision to trading
Incorporation is fast; banking is the slow part.
01
Structure and people
Company name, directors, shareholders and significant controllers settled, with the company secretary and registered office arranged.
02
Incorporate and register
Incorporation at the Companies Registry and the Business Registration Certificate obtained from the Inland Revenue Department.
03
Set up to operate
Significant Controllers Register established, statutory records opened, bank introduction made and your filing calendar set.
Before you start
What incorporation needs
Lighter than a GCC file; the ongoing obligations are the heavier part.
- Proposed company name in English and/or Chinese
- Passport copies for directors and shareholders
- Proof of residential address for each
- Details of significant controllers
- Shareholding split and share capital
- Director and shareholder contact details
- Intended business activity description
- Registered office arrangements
- Company secretary arrangements
- Financial year end preference
- Details of any corporate shareholder
- Certified documents where a corporate shareholder is involved
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Company name availability check
- Incorporation at the Companies Registry
- Business Registration Certificate application
- Company secretary arranged with a licensed provider
- Registered office arranged
- Significant Controllers Register established
- Statutory records opened
- Filing calendar for annual return and audit
Not included, quoted separately
- Companies Registry and IRD fees, paid at cost
- Regulated filings, made by the licensed local provider
- Annual audit, performed by a Hong Kong CPA
- Accounts preparation, quoted separately
- Bank account opening decisions
- Sector licensing applications
- Work visa applications, quoted separately
- Trademark registration
Verify independently
Official Hong Kong authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Companies RegistryInland Revenue DepartmentImmigration DepartmentMandatory Provident Fund Schemes AuthorityIntellectual Property DepartmentGovHK
Questions
Hong Kong company formation — FAQs
Do you do this yourselves or through a partner?
Company secretarial and registered office services in Hong Kong require a licence. We manage your engagement end to end and act as your single point of contact; the regulated filings are made by a licensed Hong Kong provider we work with.
Do I need a Hong Kong resident director?
No. There is no residency requirement for directors, which is one of Hong Kong’s main attractions. You do need a resident company secretary.
Does every Hong Kong company need an audit?
Yes. Audited financial statements are required annually regardless of size or whether the company traded, which surprises founders coming from jurisdictions with small-company exemptions.
What is the Business Registration Certificate?
A separate registration with the Inland Revenue Department, distinct from incorporation. It must be displayed and renewed.
Will I be able to open a bank account?
This is the hardest part of a Hong Kong setup for non-residents, and we will not pretend otherwise. We set out the realistic options rather than promising an account.
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.
© 2026 Black Swan Business Setup Services. All rights reserved.