Company registration in Hong Kong can be very fast. Getting a business registration certificate from the Hong Kong Companies Registry can be done within a few days and with very low bureaucracy if all is done well in advance. To set up your new Hong Kong company, and before going to the Hong Kong Companies Registry, you must prepare a few items, including some of the future company documents that will come in handy along the way.

Company name

Before starting a business registration process, every business entity must have a name. So first, select the company name you wish to register as your new Hong Kong Company. To save time during the incorporation process, it is always a good idea to have a backup name in case the one you want is already registered. You can check if your business name is available by doing a company name search on the Hong Kong Company Registry’s website.

Appoint a company secretary

A company secretary is an incorporation agent trained and licensed to help you carry on the registration with the Business Registration Office (the government office in charge of registering companies in Hong Kong). They offer professional company formation services and ensure the company complies with Hong Kong law.

Though it is not a requirement for Hong Kong citizens, it is for foreign-owned companies to have a company secretary appointed. This is done with a binding document called NNC1.

A Company secretary is much more than just incorporation, though. They not only take care of the business registration with the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance. Their tasks include: keeping track of the company records and legal documents, doing accounting and tax filings, having the company audited accounts by Certified Public Accountants, and ensuring that the company has a valid business registration certificate and that in general follows ongoing compliance with the local legislation and with the inland revenue department.

When you register your company with seekadvisory, we will be your company secretary for the company registration process. Afterward, and for the other services mentioned above, we can recommend other companies offering company secretary services and their ratings by seekadvisory customers.

Choose the legal vehicle of your Company

Before registering your company in Hong Kong, you need to decide on the structure of your business. Limited liability company, sole proprietorship, different partnerships, or other business structures. We usually see limited liability companies are easier to manage and cover most business owners’ needs. No matter what legal vehicle, the requirements are at least one shareholder and one director.

A local Hong Kong address

One of the requirements for Hong Kong companies is that every registered business must have a company’s registered address. The Company Secretary usually provides this service. When you choose to have your company registered with seekadvisory, we include in our package a business address that will be used during the process. This service has to be renewed every year.

IDs or passport copies of the company owners and directors

A Hong Kong company must have at least one shareholder. This can be you or anybody you appoint as an owner. In any case, prepare a copy of the passport of each one of the corporate shareholders. A Hong Kong company can have a foreigner as an individual director or corporate shareholder without restrictions.

You will also need a residential address and proof of foreign business professionals. Overseas residential address proof is perfectly valid.

If you prefer, you can also have a designated representative to act as an individual director of the company while you oversee business operations as an owner. This is helpful especially for Hong Kong companies when managing requests with the Hong Kong authorities, approving audited accounts, and other business activities that need a person.

We will help you to prepare all the documents necessary for registering your business in Hong Kong. An application for a Hong Kong company is usually fast, with companies registered in only a few days.