For a private company limited by shares incorporated electronically, the Hong Kong Companies Registry fee is HKD 1,545. Paper filing costs HKD 1,720.
For a Business Registration Certificate commencing between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, the official one-year amount is HKD 2,350. The three-year amount is HKD 6,170.
Therefore, the minimum mandatory government charges are:
These figures do not include a company secretary, registered-office service, professional incorporation work, certified documents, courier fees, banking support, accounting, audit, tax filing or licences.
Foreign founders should compare total first-year and recurring costs, not only the advertised registration price.
The government cost has two main components:
An incorporation application is treated as a business-registration application at the same time. The relevant charges are paid together.
For a local company having share capital:
The electronic fee is HKD 175 lower than the hard-copy fee.
If an application is unsuccessful, part of the incorporation fee may be refundable on application. The lodgment portion is not refundable. Founders should use the current Companies Registry refund rules rather than assuming the entire payment will be returned.
For a certificate commencing from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027:
The applicable amount depends on the commencement date of the certificate. A company incorporated before 1 April 2026 may fall under a different fee period.
Government fees can change following budget or levy adjustments. A cost article should state the validity period of every quoted amount.
| Filing method | Business Registration period | Incorporation fee | Business Registration total | Mandatory government total |
| Electronic | One year | HKD 1,545 | HKD 2,350 | HKD 3,895 |
| Hard copy | One year | HKD 1,720 | HKD 2,350 | HKD 4,070 |
| Electronic | Three years | HKD 1,545 | HKD 6,170 | HKD 7,715 |
| Hard copy | Three years | HKD 1,720 | HKD 6,170 | HKD 7,890 |
Fee validity note: The Business Registration amounts above apply to certificates commencing between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. Official charges may be adjusted for later periods.
A Hong Kong company also needs a compliant corporate structure.
A typical private company requires:
An overseas founder may not have an eligible individual secretary or a Hong Kong address. The founder may therefore engage a licensed trust or company service provider or another eligible professional arrangement.
The service price is not fixed by the government. It depends on the provider, scope and ownership complexity.
The company secretary is a statutory requirement.
A service quotation may cover:
The quote may not cover every event. Share allotments, transfers, amendments to articles, restorations and complex restructurings are commonly charged separately.
When comparing secretary fees, ask:
A Hong Kong registered office is also required.
The fee may include:
It may not include:
A cheap address can become expensive if official notices are not forwarded promptly. Service quality matters because missed correspondence may lead to late filing or tax problems.
A formation provider may charge for:
A low headline fee may cover only document submission. It may exclude the government fees, company secretary, registered office or document delivery.
The correct comparison is not “Which provider has the lowest registration fee?” It is “Which quote covers the required first-year scope, and what is excluded?”
Foreign founders may incur additional document costs.
Examples include:
These costs depend on the founder’s country, ownership structure and service provider’s risk procedures.
A simple individual-shareholder structure usually requires fewer documents than a company owned through several overseas entities.
A Certificate of Incorporation does not include a bank account.
Banking-related costs may include:
A provider should not charge a “guaranteed approval” fee or present bank approval as automatic. Banks and payment institutions make independent decisions.
Foreign founders should compare the cost of the account after opening, not only the onboarding fee.
Company formation creates ongoing financial-reporting duties.
A company may need:
These costs depend on:
A dormant or low-activity company should not assume that all accounting and audit costs disappear. A formal dormant status is different from simply having no revenue.
Depending on the business, the first-year budget may also include:
These are not part of the core Companies Registry filing fee.
After incorporation, a private company normally pays:
The company also needs to maintain its secretary, registered office, records, accounting and tax compliance.
The first-year incorporation fee is not repeated every year. However, most other compliance and service costs recur.
Failing to budget for compliance can create avoidable statutory costs.
For a private company’s annual return:
These are registration fees. Continued failure may also expose the company and responsible persons to enforcement action.
Tax and business-registration defaults have separate consequences.
Ask every provider for a written breakdown showing:
A transparent quote should clearly state whether the government fees are included.
The quote may exclude mandatory government charges.
The provider may charge separately for every filing or renewal.
The address may satisfy the form but fail operationally.
Audit cost depends on records and business complexity.
No formation provider controls a bank’s compliance decision.
A low first-year package may lead to high renewal fees.
Use three separate budgets.
For electronic filing with a one-year certificate in the 2026-2027 fee period: HKD 3,895.
Add the company secretary, registered office, due diligence, incorporation preparation and initial statutory records.
Add banking, bookkeeping, audit, tax, licences, payroll and legal documentation according to the business plan.
This method prevents the founder from treating HKD 3,895 as the entire cost of operating a compliant company.
HKD 3,895 for electronic incorporation with a one-year Business Registration Certificate commencing between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027.
The application is made through the one-stop process, but the Business Registration fee and levy are separate cost components paid with the incorporation application.
Yes. The Companies Registry electronic fee is HKD 1,545, compared with HKD 1,720 for hard copy.
No. Company-secretary service is not included in the government fee.
No. A registered-office arrangement is separate.
No. Banking is a separate application.
Business registration, annual-return filing, secretary, registered office, accounting, audit and tax-compliance costs may recur.
No automatic exemption arises merely from having no revenue. Formal dormant status and other legal requirements must be considered.
Tannet Group can provide a written scope covering incorporation, government charges, company-secretary service, registered office, statutory records and ongoing compliance. Optional work may include bank-account preparation, accounting, audit coordination, tax filing, payroll, intellectual property and cross-border structuring support.
A quotation should be based on the ownership structure and expected activity. Government fees should be separated from professional fees, and optional services should be identified clearly.