How to Register a Hong Kong Company (for Overseas Founders)
Duration: 5:47The remote incorporation process, required documents and realistic timelines for non-resident founders.
Launch and grow your business in Hong Kong with expert company registration, company secretary, accounting, tax, and compliance services.
Captime completes Hong Kong company incorporation in under 24 hours, including TCSP-compliant secretarial services and registered address setup. We provide end-to-end corporate support for entrepreneurs, startups, and international businesses to establish and manage their Hong Kong company with confidence.
Whether you're registering a new Hong Kong company or already run one, Captime provides incorporation, company secretary, accounting, audit, tax and compliance services for every stage of your business.
New Incorporation
Start your Hong Kong business from anywhere with our fully managed registration service. We handle incorporation, government filings, company secretary setup and registered office support.
Switch Provider
Transfer your company secretary, accounting, bookkeeping, audit, tax and compliance services to Captime for reliable support from experienced Hong Kong corporate professionals.
Whether you're launching a new venture or managing an established company, Captime provides end-to-end support with company incorporation, company secretary, accounting, tax compliance, and ongoing business advisory services — helping you establish, manage, and grow your Hong Kong company with confidence.
Register your Hong Kong company in as little as 24 hours after ID verification — 100% remote, no visit to Hong Kong required, government fees at cost. Making your launch simple, compliant, and hassle-free.
Register a Hong Kong companyThe statutory company secretary every Hong Kong company must appoint — annual return filing, Business Registration Certificate (BR) renewal, registered office address, statutory registers and deadline monitoring, all handled for you.
Explore Company Secretary ServicesOpen a Hong Kong business bank account with expert guidance across traditional banks and licensed digital providers — document preparation, KYC readiness and application support. Captime-prepared applications that reach formal submission have achieved approval rates in the region of 85%.
Get Bank Account GuidanceHong Kong law requires every company to keep proper accounting records for seven years — we handle your monthly bookkeeping and financial statements, kept clean, current, and always audit- and investor-ready.
Go to AccountingEvery Hong Kong company must file audited accounts. We coordinate your statutory audit with Hong Kong-licensed CPAs and handle your profits tax return with the Inland Revenue Department, end to end.
Go to AuditClaim Hong Kong's 0% profits tax rate on offshore-sourced income — we prepare the offshore claim and the supporting documentation the Inland Revenue Department expects.
Assess Your EligibilityManaging a Hong Kong company shouldn't mean chasing paperwork or worrying about compliance deadlines. Here's how Captime's digital-first approach compares with traditional corporate service firms.
| Feature / Service | Traditional Firms | Captime |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporation Turnaround | Typically 5–7 working days with paper forms and courier rounds. | Completed in as little as 24 hours after ID verification, 100% online. |
| Compliance Management | Manual reminders and last-minute filing pressure. | Proactive compliance reminders and expert guidance throughout the year. |
| Document management | Couriered documents, manual paperwork and multiple follow-ups. | Secure digital document management with instant online access and e-signature workflows. |
| Communication & Progress | Limited visibility and slow communication throughout the process. | Dedicated account support with proactive updates and clear progress tracking. |
| Pricing | Unexpected fees and unclear service scope. | Transparent pricing with clearly defined service packages and no hidden surprises. |
| Dedicated Support | Different contacts and inconsistent communication. | A dedicated team that understands your business and provides consistent, reliable support. |
Entrepreneurs, startups and international businesses trust Captime to simplify Hong Kong company registration, compliance, accounting and ongoing corporate management — combining licensed local expertise with transparent, digital-first processes.
Captime holds TCSP Licence No. TC010212, issued by the Hong Kong Companies Registry under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615) — verifiable on the official public register.
Incorporate and manage your Hong Kong company from anywhere — secure digital workflows, online document access and e-filings, with no courier packs or office visits required.
Prices are published online, government fees are passed through at cost, and every engagement has a defined scope.
Practical guidance across traditional banks and licensed digital providers — document preparation, KYC readiness and application support. Captime-prepared applications that reach formal submission have achieved approval rates in the region of 85%.
One local Hong Kong team for company secretary, accounting, audit, tax filing and annual obligations — the same people, before and after incorporation.
Trusted by 3,300+ entrepreneurs and businesses worldwide to register, manage and grow their Hong Kong companies since 2018.
From choosing your incorporation package to receiving your Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate digitally — in as little as 24 hours after ID verification.
Select the Hong Kong company registration package that fits your needs. Optional add-ons include company secretary, registered office, accounting and compliance support. All-in pricing from HK$4,315.
Submit your company name, director and shareholder details through our secure form, then complete online identity verification (KYC). The process usually takes about 10 minutes.
Our licensed Hong Kong team prepares the statutory documents and e-files your incorporation and business registration with the Companies Registry on your behalf.
Get your Certificate of Incorporation, Business Registration Certificate and company documents delivered digitally — in as little as 24 hours after ID verification — ready for bank account opening and operations.
Manage compliance status, official documents, incoming mail and statutory deadlines from a single secure platform built for Hong Kong companies.
Your standing with the Companies Registry and filing progress, in real time — no chasing.
Automatic reminders for NAR1, BR renewal, profits tax (PTR) and audit deadlines — weeks ahead.
Mail to your registered office is scanned to your dashboard — action it from anywhere.
Certificate of Incorporation, BR, Articles of Association and statutory records — secure, instant access.
Within 42 days of incorporation anniversary
2026 · AGM due date on record
Inland Revenue Department · reply due in 30 days
"Starting a business should be exciting — not overwhelming."
Before founding Captime in 2018, I worked across Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing on both the legal and operational sides with founders — and saw first-hand how traditional corporate services created unnecessary complexity, opaque fees and paperwork.
So we built the opposite. Captime is fully digital and transparently priced: you always see exactly which fees are government charges and which are ours. Every client's work is handled by our local Hong Kong team — professionals who live and work in this city and know its regulatory environment — never an offshore queue. We don't do fifteen jurisdictions averagely; we do one exceptionally: Hong Kong companies.
Whether you're launching your first venture or switching an established company to us, our job is to remove the administrative weight so you can focus on building. If you'd like to discuss your plans, write to me directly at [email protected] — I read every message.
Instantly check your proposed company name against Hong Kong Companies Registry records before you apply — free, no sign-up required.
Practical, founder-focused guides on Hong Kong company registration, company secretary duties, accounting, audit, profits tax and business banking — written by Captime's licensed team and updated for 2026.
18 March 2026
Company Secretary8 July 2026
Banking25 March 2026
Accounting & Tax3 April 2026
Offshore Tax Exemption10 Aug 2026
Comparison9 July 2026
Short, practical videos on Hong Kong company registration, annual compliance, business banking and profits tax — produced by Captime's licensed team to help founders make clear, informed decisions.
The remote incorporation process, required documents and realistic timelines for non-resident founders.
Annual return, business registration renewal, audit and profits tax — what's due and when.
Traditional banks vs. digital providers — which route fits your company profile.
Clear answers to the most common questions about starting, managing and complying with a Hong Kong company — from incorporation and company secretary duties to banking, audit and profits tax.
Yes. Non-residents can register a Hong Kong private limited company 100% remotely. Under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), there is no residency or nationality requirement for directors or shareholders, and no need to visit Hong Kong. Identity verification (KYC), company details and supporting documents are submitted online. Captime, as a TCSP-licensed provider (Licence No. TC010212), handles the statutory filings with the Hong Kong Companies Registry on your behalf.
With Captime, a Hong Kong company can be incorporated in as little as 24 hours after ID verification. The Companies Registry processes electronic incorporations quickly once complete documents are e-filed. The overall timeline depends mainly on how fast identity verification and document preparation are completed.
Registering a Hong Kong private limited company with Captime costs from HK$4,315 all-in. That total includes HK$3,895 of Hong Kong government fees (Companies Registry incorporation fee and Business Registration levy, passed through at cost) plus Captime's service fee. Optional annual services — registered office address and company secretary — are available separately. There are no hidden charges.
You typically need a valid passport or government-issued photo ID, proof of residential address, your proposed company name, details of directors and shareholders, and a brief description of business activities. Additional documents may be requested to satisfy AML/KYC requirements or to support a later bank account application.
Yes. Under section 474 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), every private limited company must appoint a company secretary — either an individual who ordinarily resides in Hong Kong or a Hong Kong body corporate. Under section 475, if the company has only one director, that person cannot also act as company secretary. Captime provides licensed company secretary services, including annual return (NAR1) filing, statutory registers and deadline monitoring.
Yes. Under section 658 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), every Hong Kong company must maintain a registered office address in Hong Kong (a physical address, not a P.O. box) to receive official correspondence from the Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department. Captime offers a registered office service with mail scanning and digital forwarding.
Every year a Hong Kong private limited company must file an annual return (NAR1), renew its Business Registration Certificate, keep proper accounting records, prepare audited financial statements, file its profits tax return (PTR), and submit an employer's return if it has employees. Captime manages this full compliance calendar.
A private company's annual return (NAR1) is due within 42 days of each anniversary of incorporation. Business registration is renewed annually (or every three years). A newly incorporated company usually receives its first profits tax return about 18 months after incorporation; later filing dates depend on the financial year-end. Captime tracks all of these deadlines for you.
| Filing | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Annual Return (NAR1) | Within 42 days of incorporation anniversary |
| Business Registration Renewal | Annually or every 3 years |
| Profits Tax Return (PTR) | Usually within 1–3 months of the issue date (depends on financial year-end) |
Yes. You can transfer your company secretary, registered office, accounting, audit or tax services to Captime at any time. We review your current records, handle the statutory change filings and manage the handover with your outgoing provider — with no disruption to operations.
Yes. Captime supports clients through the business account opening process across both traditional banks (such as Hang Seng Bank, DBS, China Citic Bank International, or OCBC) and digital providers (such as Airwallex, Aspire, Rapyd, or Wise Business). We assist with document preparation, business profile reviews, KYC readiness, and application guidance. Captime-prepared applications that reach formal submission have achieved approval rates in the region of 85% (mix of traditional banks and digital providers). Final approval remains strictly at the discretion of the respective bank or institution and is never guaranteed. Our role is to match your business model with the right banking pathway, strengthening your application through a fully compliant, risk-assessed submission.
No. Approval is strictly at the discretion of the respective bank or digital provider, based on your business activities, ownership structure, target markets, and KYC risk profile. No honest service provider can guarantee approval. Captime's role is to evaluate your profile, match you with suitable traditional banks or digital platforms, and maximize your readiness. Captime-prepared applications that reach formal submission have achieved approval rates in the region of 85%.
Most Hong Kong private limited companies must prepare financial statements audited by a Hong Kong-registered CPA (Practising) each year under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). There is no general small-company audit exemption (though dormant companies can be exempt under section 447). Captime coordinates bookkeeping, audit and tax filing as one workflow.
No. Hong Kong imposes no VAT, GST or general sales tax. Companies pay profits tax under the two-tiered regime: 8.25% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% above that.
No. Hong Kong does not levy a capital gains tax. Whether a gain is treated as capital (not taxable) or trading income (taxable as profits) depends on the facts of each case. Professional advice is recommended for complex situations.
Hong Kong taxes only profits sourced in Hong Kong. Income that is genuinely offshore-sourced may qualify for a 0% profits tax rate, subject to the Inland Revenue Department's rules and supporting documentation (see DIPN 21 — Locality of Profits). Captime prepares offshore claims and the supporting evidence the IRD expects.
Yes. Captime provides the complete post-incorporation stack: bookkeeping, payroll, statutory audit coordination, profits tax filing, offshore exemption claims and annual renewals — with deadline tracking in the Captime Client Portal. One licensed local team covers the full compliance lifecycle.
Sources: Hong Kong Companies Registry, Inland Revenue Department and the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) (Hong Kong e-Legislation).
Start online in minutes. Most companies are incorporated in as little as 24 hours after ID verification.