1 October 2026
Types of Companies in Hong-Kong
Learn about the types of companies you can register in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance and how to choose one. Our incorporation experts can help.
By Vlad Cuc, specialist in company formation matters
Several types of companies in Hong Kong can be incorporated as per the Companies Ordinance. Our local company incorporation experts can help you register any business form and meet the ongoing requirements.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Main business forms in Hong Kong | Limited company; Branch; Representative Office; Partnerships; Sole trader. |
| Restrictions for foreign investors for any of the available forms | No |
| Most commonly used business form | The limited company |
| Limited company – main traits | Incorporated in Hong Kong, has legal personality, enjoys certain benefits. |
| Partnership – main traits | Set up by two or more partners; they can have limited or unlimited liability. |
| Sole trader – main traits | Registered (not incorporated) by a single individual who is fully liable. |
| Branch – main traits | An extension of a parent company, it is a non-Hong Kong company. |
| Representative office – main traits | Only used for marketing or promotional purposes, not to engage in economic activities. |
| Founder liability | According to business form – the sole trader has the highest level of liability. |
| Minimum share capital | Not mandatory |
| Bank account | Not required by law; needed in practice |
| Residency requirements | Business owners do not need to be Hong Kong residents. |
| Mandatory presence in Hong Kong | Not in all cases. Our team can act on your behalf during key stages of the incorporation process. |
| Assistance for choosing the business form | Yes |
| Assistance for those who have additional questions after choosing the business form | As needed |
What types of companies can I open in Hong Kong?
Five types of companies in Hong Kong are available under the Companies Ordinance. Our team can help you open a company in Hong Kong and lists them below:
- Private company limited by shares;
- Public company limited by shares;
- Company limited by guarantee without share capital;
- Private unlimited company with a share capital;
- Public unlimited company with a share capital.
Other business forms (that are not corporations) are also available for registration. One such example is the sole trader in Hong Kong.
How do I select one of the available types of companies in Hong Kong?
Choosing a suitable business form is a matter discussed among business partners, or with the Board of the foreign company deciding to expand its activities to the Special Administrative Region.
Some of the matters to take into account when selecting a type of company in Hong Kong include:
- The number of shareholders (initial and/or projected additions);
- The liability of the members;
- The minimum shareholder/director/secretary requirements;
- The annual reporting complexity.
What is the most commonly used business form?
The private company limited by shares is the most commonly used business form. Our team lists its advantages below:
- It can be incorporated by only 1 shareholder;
- The Hong Kong LLC can be fully foreign-owned;
- There are no mandatory conditions for a minimum registered capital.
Are there any restrictions on company formation in Hong Kong?
No. There are no nationality or residency conditions for foreign founders.
Our specialists in company formation in Hong Kong invite you to watch a short video about the types of companies in Hong Kong:
What are the options for a foreign company entering Hong Kong?
Foreign companies interested in expanding their activities to Hong Kong can choose between the following two options:
- The branch, which is an extension of the parent company located abroad. It does not have legal personality, and it can only operate in the same industry as the foreign legal entity;
- The subsidiary, which is essentially a locally registered private or public company in Hong Kong. Investors may select between these two types of companies in Hong Kong when incorporating a subsidiary, and our team can provide the required assistance.
How long does it take to register a company in Hong Kong?
The company formation procedure can take approximately 8 business days if all the documents for registration are in order, and does not include the time required to open the corporate bank account.
Incorporation times may vary according to the chosen business form.
What are some examples of costs associated with setting up a company in Hong Kong?
Examples of company formation costs in Hong Kong when working with our team include:
- 1,000 USD for Hong Kong company creation with a secretary office address;
- 1,800 USD for setting up a company in Hong Kong with an independent office address;
- 1,500 USD for bank account opening services. A local corporate bank account is not a legal requirement but is needed in practice once you choose to incorporate one of the types of companies in Hong Kong.
Our company formation specialists in Hong Kong will be more than happy to provide you with full information regarding all types of companies and business opportunities in this country. Please contact us for further information.
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