Do I need a business registration certificate in Hong Kong, and who is exempt?
Almost every person or company carrying on business in Hong Kong must register with the IRD's Business Registration Office within one month of starting. Every Hong Kong company is deemed to carry on business, so it must register even if it has no trade yet. A few activities are exempt.
Who must register
- Anyone carrying on business, meaning trade, commerce, a profession or any activity for gain, and clubs.
- Every local company, re-domiciled company and registered non-Hong Kong company.
- A non-Hong Kong corporation with a representative or liaison office in Hong Kong, or one that lets out Hong Kong property.
Exemptions from registration include approved charities, agriculture, fishing, bootblacks, licensed hawkers (with exceptions), and qualifying feed-in tariff businesses. Companies cannot use the agriculture exemption.
Timing and display
- Apply within one month of starting business.
- Companies get the application filed automatically with incorporation through the Companies Registry.
- Display the certificate (a printed copy if issued electronically) at the business address and show it on request.
Exemption from paying the fee Unincorporated businesses with very small turnover can apply for an exemption from the fee and levy (average monthly receipts of no more than HK$10,000 for service businesses or HK$30,000 for others). Companies are excluded.
A certificate does not authorise you to trade where a separate licence or professional qualification is required.
Legal basis
- Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310), s.5
- Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310), s.16
Sources
Applies to 2026 · Last reviewed 29 October 2026
General information for business owners, not legal, tax or professional advice. Rules change, so check the sources or ask a licensed professional before you act.
Related questions
- Which business structure should I choose in Hong Kong: sole proprietorship, partnership or limited company?Hong Kong offers sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited companies and, for overseas firms, branch or representative offices. The main trade-off is liability: a sole proprietor or general partner is personally liable without limit, while a limited company's members are liable only up to unpaid share capital.
- How do I set up a sole proprietorship in Hong Kong and what is my liability?Register the business with the Inland Revenue Department's Business Registration Office within one month of starting trading. There is no separate legal entity, so you are personally liable without limit for the business's debts.
- How does a partnership work in Hong Kong, and what is a limited partnership?A partnership is two or more people carrying on business together for profit. In a general partnership each partner can bind the others and all are jointly liable for debts. A limited partnership has at least one general partner with full liability and limited partners liable only up to their contribution.
- What is a private company limited by shares in Hong Kong and why do most businesses choose it?It is a separate legal entity whose shareholders are liable only for any unpaid amount on their shares. It is the most common vehicle in Hong Kong because it protects personal assets and makes ownership easy to transfer, in exchange for statutory filing and record-keeping duties.
- Should an overseas company set up a branch, a representative office or a Hong Kong subsidiary?A branch is the overseas company itself trading in Hong Kong and must register as a non-Hong Kong company within one month. A representative office can only liaise or research, not trade for profit. A subsidiary is a separate Hong Kong company that ring-fences liability.