[2026 New Policy Must Read] Hong Kong Business Registration Fee Increased by HK$150! A detailed explanation of the full process of Hong Kong company registration, fees and account opening guidelines
Published: 2026-04-13

Recently, the Hong Kong government's 2026/2027 budget has officially landed, and one of the important adjustments will directly affect all business owners operating and planning to register their companies in Hong Kong:From April 1, 2026, the business registration fee for Hong Kong companies will be officially increased.

This means that the two-year HK$150 Business Registration Levy (BRL) relief period has officially come to an end. The total fee for new applications and renewals of one-year business registration certificates will be adjusted from the original HK$2,200 to HK$2,500. HK$2,350. This adjustment follows another change after 2024, and both newly incorporated companies and existing businesses renewing their licenses will need to plan ahead for costs to ensure compliant operations.

💡 Key notes: The amount payable is based on the effective date of commencement of the registration certificate. The first certificate for a local company is authorized on the date of registration, for a non-local company on the date of commencement of business, and for a renewal certificate on the effective date of renewal.

If you have the intention to register a Hong Kong company in the near future, don't worry, this article will provide you with a comprehensive compendium of the latest types of registration, materials, processes, account opening and cost details, to help you get to the point in one step, less detour. If you have any questions during the reading process, you are also welcome to contact me at any time (📞)Phone/WeChat: Qicaiyingjituan), Enterprise Finance will provide you with professional and free consulting services.

I. What types of businesses are most suitable for Hong Kong company registration?

As an international financial center, Hong Kong remains the preferred springboard for mainland entrepreneurs to expand into overseas markets, thanks to its free economic system, simple tax regime and excellent geographical location. The following categories of enterprises are particularly suitable for landing in Hong Kong:

  1. International trade and cross-border e-commerce enterprises: Hong Kong has free access to capital and no foreign exchange control, which is very suitable for high-frequency and multi-currency cross-border trade settlement. Owning a Hong Kong company can greatly enhance the trust of international buyers, facilitate the opening of multi-currency accounts and improve the efficiency of capital turnover.
  2. Branding & Architecture BuildersFor enterprises planning to build international brands, carry out overseas investment and financing, or make structural layouts in advance for future listings, a Hong Kong company is an extremely important intermediate holding platform for tax optimization and risk segregation.
  3. SOHO and knowledge-intensive service providers: For individual or small team entrepreneurs such as designers, consultants, IT outsourcing, etc., a Hong Kong company helps to enhance the professional image and reasonably charge foreign exchange service fees.

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Second, the whole process of registration of Hong Kong companies for mainlanders (no need to go to Hong Kong)

Many mainland entrepreneurs think that the registration of Hong Kong companies is very complicated, in fact, as long as the information is complete, through a professional secretarial company can be completed remotely, the whole process does not need to go to Hong Kong in person. The specific process is as follows:

  1. Company Name Search and Verification: Prepare 2-3 names in English and Chinese. In Chinese, end with “Limited” and in English, end with “Limited”. System check in the registry, no duplicate names can be used.
  2. Identify core information for registration: Identify the director/shareholder's identity document, proof of address (utility bill or bank statement for the last 3 months), registered capital (usually defaulted to HK$10,000) and nature of business (scope of business).
  3. Submit an application for registration: Once all the information is organized, the secretarial company will submit it to the Hong Kong Companies Registry.It is important to ensure that the information in this section is accurate and standardized, otherwise it will be returned delayedThe
  4. Verification of issuance and collection of certificates: Audit usually takes 3-5 business days. Expedited processing can take as little as 1 working day to issue the certificate. Upon approval, you can receive the Business Registration Certificate and Certificate of Incorporation.
  5. Production Company Green Box: A full set of seal documents including: Articles of Incorporation, share books, minute books, steel seals, signature seals, round seals, etc.

📞 Seeking assistance? If you have questions about director-shareholder arrangements, filling in registered capital or proof of address, feel free to add my WeChat consultation:QicaiyingjituanThe company can help you sort out the full set of information to ensure that the audit is passed in one go. Enterprise Caiying can help you sort out the full set of information to ensure that the audit is passed once.

Third, 2026 new policy under the Hong Kong company bank account opening guidelines

Once the company registration is completed, opening a bank account is the core of conducting business. The good news is that most Hong Kong banks now supportWitnessed account opening or video face-to-face signing in Mainland ChinaIn addition, there is no need to visit the Hong Kong counter in person. The core points are as follows:

Account Opening Core DimensionsSpecific requests and recommendations
Required documentsFull set of company registration documents (CI, BR, NNC1), ID cards of directors and shareholders and proof of address, proof of business (purchase/sales contracts, invoices, company website, etc.).
Account Opening Process① Pick a matching bank → ② Prepare supporting documents for your business → ③ Submit for initial review → ④ Make an appointment for a video interview → ⑤ Pass the review and activate your account.
Bank RecommendationsTrade/e-commerceRecommend Standard Chartered, Wachovia, and East Asia;Branding/CapitalizationRecommend HSBC and Hang Seng.

⚠️ Pit avoidance tips: In recent years, banks' anti-money laundering regulations have been extremely stringent, so do not submit false business information or you will be blacklisted.

💼 Leave the professional to the professionals: The threshold for opening a bank account changes rapidly, and it is very easy to be rejected if you apply blindly on your own.Enterprise Finance GroupWith Hong Kong HSBC, Standard Chartered, East Asia and many other banks to maintain long-term green channel cooperation, to provide account opening pre-qualification, business plan writing counseling, face-to-face accompanying services. Have account opening problems? Call us now:16620947137The

IV. Transparent List of Hong Kong Company Registration Fees in 2026 (New Deal Version)

Combined with the new policy on April 1, the total cost of registering a Hong Kong company mainly consists ofgovernment feerespond in singingSecretarial servicesComposition. Detailed disassembly is as follows:

  1. Government fixed fees (mandatory)::
    • Companies Registry Registration FeeThe total amount of the fee is HK$1,545.
    • Business registration certificate fees: HK$2,000 for a one-year license (recommended) and HK$5,200 for a three-year license.
    • Business registration levy::HK$150 (levy reinstated under the New Deal)The
    • Subtotal: The total government fee for a one-year license is about HK$3,695.
  2. Licensed Secretarial Company Service Fee (Annual Fee)::
    • Includes provision of registered address, acting as statutory secretary, filing of annual report and SCR preparation services.
    • The average market price is around HK$1,000 - 2,500/year.
  3. Other optional costs::
    • Bank account opening service fees, seal engraving fees, document notarization fees, etc.

💡 Pit avoidance warningsDo not believe in the advertisements of “several hundred dollars all-inclusive” on the Internet, which is often just the first year discount or even the trap of not including government fees and charges.Be sure to choose a secretarial firm licensed with the Hong Kong Trust or Companies Registry (TCSP license).

💰 Enterprise Wealthy Transparent Quotes: We offer clear bite-sized packages with no hidden costs. New customers can even enjoy a discounted package for the first year of registration! Want to get the latest 2026 registration quotation?Add WeChat now: Qicaiyingjituan Request a detailed list.

V. Frequently Asked High Frequency Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Do I still need to file a tax return if I have no business after registration?
A:need. A Hong Kong company must file a tax return every year regardless of whether it is profitable or not. No operation, no bank account can do “zero declaration”; operation but no profit will do “loss audit report”.

Q2: Can I claim tax exemption if my profits come from overseas?
A:Offshore exemptions can be applied for. It is necessary to prove to the Inland Revenue Department that the source of profits is not local (e.g. the place of contract signing and logistics delivery are not in Hong Kong). However, this involves professional auditing and bookkeeping, and it is recommended to appoint a professional organization to handle this.

Q3: Can I just ignore the company if it is temporarily out of business?
A:Absolutely not.Failure to operate or conduct an annual audit can result in high government fines. Failure to operate and annual audits can result in high government fines and a poor record for directors. It is important to go through the proper process to applyderegistermaybeconveyancing (property)The

🤝 Continuous companionship of the Enterprise Finance Profit: Registration is only the first step in starting a business, it is the subsequent annual reviews, audits, and tax returns that are the key to compliance.Enterprise Finance GroupWith a team of experienced Hong Kong licensed accountants, we provide full life cycle services such as bookkeeping and tax preparation, offshore exemption application, Hong Kong identity renewal, ODI/FDI filing and so on. Any corporate compliance issues, feel free to talk to me (📞)16620947137), so you can save your business and have no worries.

Tags:
  • Hong Kong company registration and account opening