Setting up a private limited company in Hong Kong costs HK$3,870 in mandatory government fees in 2026, before you add a company secretary, registered office, or accounting service most founders forget to budget for. The government portion is fixed and identical for every applicant — what swings the total is the professional service layer wrapped around it.
- The cost to register a company in Hong Kong is HK$3,870 in fixed 2026 government fees: HK$1,720 incorporation plus a HK$2,150 Business Registration Certificate.
- Total first-year cost with an incorporation agent typically runs HK$5,000 to HK$12,000, government fees included.
- A company secretary is legally required for every Hong Kong limited company, not an optional add-on.
- Deregistering a Hong Kong company carries a separate HK$420 government fee.
- Corp Plus bundles incorporation, company secretary and registered address into one service for founders who don't want three separate vendors.
Why this matters
Most people search for the cost to register a company in Hong Kong expecting one number and get a government fee schedule instead. That schedule is only half the bill. Corp Plus handles the incorporation filing, company secretary appointment, and registered address for founders who'd rather not track four separate government deadlines in their first year of trading.
How much does it cost to register a company in Hong Kong?
Two fees are fixed by the Companies Registry and Inland Revenue Department. Everything else — company secretary, registered office, accounting — is a market rate that depends on who you hire.
| Cost item | Amount | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
| Companies Registry incorporation fee | HK$1,720 | Yes, one-time |
| Business Registration Certificate (1 year) | HK$2,150 | Yes, annual |
| Company secretary | Market rate | Yes, by law |
| Registered office address | Market rate | Yes, must be a Hong Kong address |
| Accounting and tax filing | Market rate | Yes, annual return + profits tax |
The HK$1,720 and HK$2,150 figures are the only two amounts every company pays regardless of size or industry. A one-person consultancy and a 50-employee trading firm pay the same government fees to register a company in Hong Kong.
DIY incorporation: HK$3,870 in year one
File the incorporation form yourself, act as your own company secretary if you're a Hong Kong resident director, and use a home or office address, and your year-one cost stops at HK$3,870 in government fees. Verdict: workable for a solo founder comfortable with compliance paperwork, but risky if you miss the annual renewal date.
Using an incorporation agent: HK$5,000 to HK$12,000 in year one
Most founders who aren't Hong Kong residents, or who don't want to be their own company secretary, pay an agent to bundle incorporation, company secretary, and a registered address into a single package. Total first-year spend, government fees included, typically lands between HK$5,000 and HK$12,000 depending on what's bundled in. Verdict: the default choice for overseas founders and anyone without a Hong Kong-resident director available to act as secretary.
Annual renewal from year two: HK$2,150 minimum
From year two onward, the Companies Registry incorporation fee disappears but the Business Registration Certificate renewal doesn't — it's due every year the company exists, trading or dormant. Add company secretary and registered address renewal on top and a dormant shell company still costs more than HK$2,150 a year to keep alive. Verdict: budget for renewal even in years with zero revenue, or deregister instead of letting fees pile up.
Why the cost to register a company in Hong Kong varies
- Business Registration Certificate term — a 3-year certificate costs more upfront but avoids two separate renewal cycles.
- Company secretary arrangement — a Hong Kong-resident director acting as secretary pays only the government fees; hiring one is a market-rate annual cost.
- Registered office choice — a paid virtual office costs more than using a director's home address, but keeps that address off public filings.
- Accounting complexity — a dormant company files a simpler return than a trading company with audited accounts.
- Government levy changes — the Business Registration levy has been waived in past Hong Kong Budgets, which shifts the fixed-fee total year to year.
- Number of Companies Registry filings — share allotments, director changes, and address updates each carry their own filing fee beyond the base HK$3,870.
Get a Hong Kong incorporation quote
Corp Plus handles incorporation, secretary and registered address in one package.
How much does it cost to maintain a Hong Kong company each year?
Maintaining a Hong Kong company costs at least HK$2,150 a year in the Business Registration Certificate renewal alone, with company secretary and accounting fees added on top depending on the provider. A dormant company with no transactions still owes the certificate renewal every year until it's formally deregistered.
Is a company secretary mandatory in Hong Kong?
Yes, every Hong Kong private limited company must appoint a company secretary under the Companies Ordinance, and the role can't sit vacant. A Hong Kong-resident individual director can act as secretary at no extra government cost; non-resident founders typically hire a company secretary service instead.
How much does it cost to deregister a Hong Kong company?
Deregistering a Hong Kong company costs a HK$420 Companies Registry fee, separate from the HK$3,870 it cost to set the company up. Outstanding tax filings, unpaid Business Registration renewals, or unresolved liabilities have to be cleared before the Registrar will approve deregistration.
FAQ
How much does it cost to register a company in Hong Kong in 2026?
The cost to register a company in Hong Kong is HK$3,870 in fixed government fees in 2026: HK$1,720 for Companies Registry incorporation and HK$2,150 for a 1-year Business Registration Certificate. Company secretary, registered address and accounting fees sit on top of that base figure.
Is HK$1,720 a one-time fee or does it renew every year?
The HK$1,720 Companies Registry incorporation fee is a one-time charge paid once at setup. The HK$2,150 Business Registration Certificate is the fee that renews every year the company stays registered.
Do I need a Hong Kong address to register a company?
Yes, every Hong Kong company needs a registered office address inside Hong Kong on file with the Companies Registry. Founders without a local address typically pay a registered address service to satisfy this requirement.
Can I be my own company secretary in Hong Kong?
Yes, if you're a Hong Kong resident director you can act as your own company secretary and skip that service fee. Non-resident directors generally can't fill the role themselves and need to hire a company secretary service.
How much does it cost to deregister a Hong Kong company?
Deregistering a Hong Kong company costs a HK$420 Companies Registry fee in 2026, on top of clearing any outstanding tax filings or Business Registration renewals. The Registrar won't approve deregistration until those are settled.
What happens if I don't renew the Business Registration Certificate?
Missing the Business Registration Certificate renewal triggers late fees on top of the HK$2,150 base amount, and the company falls out of compliance regardless of whether it traded that year. Renewal is due annually until the company is formally deregistered.
Is it cheaper to use an incorporation agent or file myself in Hong Kong?
Filing yourself keeps year-one cost to the HK$3,870 government minimum, while an incorporation agent typically charges HK$5,000 to HK$12,000 for a bundled package. The agent route usually costs more but removes the need to act as your own company secretary or source a registered address.
One last thing
The number founders forget isn't the HK$1,720 incorporation fee — it's the HK$2,150 Business Registration Certificate renewal that comes due every single year, whether the company made a dollar or not. A dormant shell left unrenewed doesn't just sit quietly; it racks up late fees and complicates deregistration later, which is why the HK$420 deregistration fee is often cheaper than another year of neglected renewals. Corp Plus tracks these dates as part of its company secretary and accounting services so the renewal doesn't slip past a founder juggling ten other deadlines.
