s
starttheapp
Launch Blueprint
asia pacific

Incorporate a Startup in Hong KongLimited Company (Ltd)

Asia’s financial hub. Tiered profits tax (8.25% / 16.5%) and unrestricted capital flows.

Key incorporation facts for Hong Kong

Time to incorporate
4 - 7 days
Estimated setup cost
HK$3,000 - HK$10,000
Corporate tax rate
8.25% / 16.5%
Ease of remote setup
Yes
Annual compliance: IRD Profits Tax + Annual Return + audited accounts \u00b7 Currency: HKD \u00b7 7 required materials / 13 total

10-step launch checklist

From pre-launch name reservation through first annual filing.

  1. 01
    Choose company name and check Cyber Search
    Pre-Launch
  2. 02
    Appoint a HK-resident company secretary
    Pre-Launch
  3. 03
    Submit NNC1 and Articles via e-Registry
    Incorporation
  4. 04
    Receive Certificate of Incorporation + Business Registration Certificate
    Incorporation
  5. 05
    Maintain Significant Controllers Register at registered office
    Compliance
  6. 06
    Open corporate bank account (HSBC / Statrys / Airwallex)
    Banking
  7. 07
    File first Profits Tax Return with IRD
    Tax
  8. 08
    Renew Business Registration annually
    Compliance
  9. 09
    File Annual Return (NAR1) within 42 days of incorporation anniversary
    Compliance
  10. 10
    Maintain audited financial statements
    Compliance

Legal & Incorporation

HK Companies Registry e-Registry filing with the standard Articles model.

Companies Registry e-Registry

PORTAL

Official portal for online incorporation of a Hong Kong limited company.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Articles of Association (Sample)

PDF

Standard model articles under the Companies Ordinance.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Form NNC1 (Incorporation Form)

PDF

Incorporation form for a company limited by shares.

formREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Significant Controllers Register

PORTAL

Mandatory register of significant controllers - must be kept at registered office.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Tax & Banking

IRD Business Registration, profits tax, and HK corporate banking.

IRD Business Registration

PORTAL

Inland Revenue Department - issued at incorporation, renewed annually.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Profits Tax Two-Tier Regime

PORTAL

8.25% on first HK$2M, 16.5% above - one of the lowest in Asia.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

HSBC / Statrys Business Account

LINK

HK banks tightened KYC; fintech alternatives like Statrys onboard remotely.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Regulatory & Licenses

PDPO, SFC licensing for fintech, and labor ordinance.

PDPO Privacy Compliance

PORTAL

Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance - applies to all data controllers in HK.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

SFC Fintech Sandbox

PORTAL

Securities & Futures Commission sandbox for fintech innovation.

guideOpen resource \u2192

VASP Licensing Regime

PORTAL

Virtual Asset Service Provider licensing - effective from June 2023.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Local Infrastructure

Cyberport, Stripe, and HK accelerators.

Cyberport / HKSTP

PORTAL

Two government-backed tech parks with funding + coworking.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Stripe Hong Kong

PORTAL

Card acquiring + FPS for cross-border SaaS and e-commerce.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Brinc / Betatron Accelerator

PORTAL

HK-based accelerators with APAC investor networks.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to incorporate in Hong Kong?
Setup typically costs HK$3,000 - HK$10,000, with a 8.25% / 16.5% corporate tax rate.
How long does it take to incorporate in Hong Kong?
Incorporation usually completes in 4 - 7 days.
Can I incorporate remotely in Hong Kong?
Yes, Hong Kong supports fully-remote incorporation.
What annual compliance applies to a Limited Company (Ltd)?
IRD Profits Tax + Annual Return + audited accounts

Ready to incorporate?

Open the interactive launch blueprint for Hong Kong: track your progress, compare with other jurisdictions, ask the AI Launch Copilot, and download a personalised PDF plan.

Open Interactive Blueprint