Hong Kong company registration fees 2026

To form a limited company in Hong Kong, the minimum government fees are HK$3,895 (e-filing, from April 2026). Including necessary expenses such as the company chop, address and first-year secretary, we suggest budgeting HK$8,000–$15,000 in practice.

Minimum government fees for a limited company: HK$3,895 (e-filing, from April 2026)
The cost has two parts: company registration fee (HK$1,545) + business registration fee (HK$2,350)
We recommend setting share capital at HK$10,000, balancing how the company looks to banks when opening an account with control over shareholder liability
Confirm whether an agency package includes government fees, to avoid extra charges later

A limited company must register with both the Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department and must appoint a company secretary, so start-up costs are higher. An unlimited company only needs to apply for business registration, so there are fewer layers of cost.

This article focuses on the cost breakdown for limited companies. For details of unlimited company costs, see: Hong Kong unlimited company registration: process and costs quick guide

Cost of forming a limited company: each item explained

The government registration fee

Forming a limited company involves two government fees, based on the latest official fee schedule:

Company registration fee (CR Fee): for submitting Form NNC1 to the Companies Registry, Electronic application is HK$1,545, or HK$1,720 for a paper application. If an application is refused, HK$1,280 is refundable for an electronic application and HK$1,425 for a paper application.
Business registration fee (BR Fee): according to the Inland Revenue Department's schedule of business registration fees and levies, the current and upcoming rates are as follows:

Registration period	From 1 April 2026
One year	HK$2,350 (levy of HK$150 reinstated)
Three years	HK$6,170

Source: Inland Revenue Department, schedule of business registration fees and levy, effective from 1 April 2026.

Combined, the minimum government fees for an electronic application are HK$3,895.

Choosing the three-year option costs more up front, but saves about HK$150–$300 a year on average, and the administration is simpler too.

Company seal and company kit costs

The physical document set needed to open a limited company is commonly known as the “Company kit (green box)”, which usually contains the articles of association, share certificate book, statutory registers and company chop. Under the new Companies Ordinance, most banks now only require a signature chop for account opening, and an embossed seal is no longer mandatory. The production cost is about HK$200–$800, which some agency packages include in the quotation.

Recommended share capital

A Hong Kong limited company has no legal minimum share capital requirement, and HK$1 is enough to form one. But share capital that is too low affects the success rate of bank account opening and how the company is perceived in business dealings. Market practice recommends setting it at HK$10,000 (10,000 shares at HK$1 each), which keeps share allocation flexible while keeping shareholders' potential liability on a winding-up within a bearable range.

Company address registration fee

Under the Companies Ordinance, every limited company must provide a physical address in Hong Kong. A cost comparison of the three common options:

Address option	Fee	Best suited to
Own residence	Free	Those on a very tight budget who have no concerns about their home address being public
Virtual office	HK$500–$2,500 a year	Most start-ups
Physical office	Depends on the district	Companies with a genuine need for office space

Further reading: “[Registered address] Can a virtual office be used as a business registration address? Requirements and how to change the address explained”

Statutory company secretary fee

Every limited company must appoint one statutory company secretary; the appointment fee is about HK$1,000–$3,000 a year, and some agency packages include the first year's secretary fee in the quotation.

Further reading: [What is a company secretary? Definition, duties and eligibility to act explained】

Agency fees

For limited company agency packages on the market, all-inclusive plans usually cover government fees, the first year's secretary fee, the address fee and company kit production, with quotations in the range of about HK$4,000–$15,000.

Comparison item	DIY (do it yourself)	Engage an agent
Financial cost	About HK$3,895 + incidental costs	About HK$4,000–$15,000
Time cost	High; you must research the forms and procedures yourself	Low; everything is handled for you
Risk of rejection	Forms filled in wrongly or incomplete information are easily rejected	Pre-checked by a dedicated person, lowering the risk of rejection
Best suited to	Those who know the regulations, have a limited budget and have plenty of time	Founders who want to focus on the business and avoid administrative hassle

The most important step before choosing an agency is to confirm whether the quotation includes government fees. Some low-priced packages charge government fees separately and add them only after you sign, which easily leads to disputes.

SetupHK tips: practical ways to save on company formation costs

The key to saving costs lies in early decisions, not remedies afterwards. The following four directions are worth planning early, before forming the company:

Method	What to do	Estimated saving
Choose a three-year Business Registration Certificate	Pay for three years at once, reducing the annual renewal procedures	Saves HK$150–$300 a year on average
Set a sensible issued share capital	HK$10,000 is enough for a start-up, and capital can be increased later using Form NSC1	Lower stamp duty on later share transfers
Compare agency quotations carefully	Besides the first-year price, watch the second-year renewal rates and hidden terms	Potential saving of several thousand Hong Kong dollars

FAQ

What is the minimum you need to budget to form a company?

If you file yourself by e-filing, the minimum government fees for a limited company are HK$3,895 (from April 2026). Allowing for necessary expenses such as the company chop, address and first-year secretary, we suggest budgeting at least HK$8,000–$10,000 in practice.

Are government fees refundable?

Part of the company registration fee is refundable if the application is not approved: HK$1,280 for an electronic application and HK$1,425 for a paper application. The business registration fee is generally not refundable.

What do agency fees include?

It depends on the package. Before signing, be sure to check the quotation item by item, in particular whether government fees are included and the renewal terms for the second year.

Why are some agency packages cheaper than registering the company yourself?

Some agencies lower their costs through high-volume operations, or lock in their profit on second-year renewal fees (secretary fee, annual return fee, audit fee). So when choosing an agency, besides the first-year price, also ask about second-year renewal rates and whether there are hidden terms such as a resignation fee.

Can I set the share capital at HK$1?

Legally it is possible, but share capital that is too low affects the success rate of bank account opening and credibility in business dealings. We recommend HK$10,000 as the market-practice standard.

What costs are there after the company is formed?

After the company is formed there are still annual upkeep costs such as business registration renewal, the annual return and secretarial services. These belong to a separate level of planning and we recommend assessing them separately.

Can I pay company formation fees by credit card?

The Companies Registry's e-filing supports credit card, FPS and PPS. For in-person submission you can pay by cash or cheque. Business registration fees are paid the same way. For details, see the Companies Registry website.

Questions about costs? Feel free to consult SetupHK

If you are still unsure about the specific components of company formation costs, feel free to consult SetupHK. We offer transparent, all-inclusive pricing, with quotes covering a company secretary and a Hong Kong registered address, and no hidden fees.