Hong Kong Company for Cross-Border E-commerce: Steps, Costs and Marketplace Checks
What an online seller needs to sell through a Hong Kong company: incorporation, address, bank account and marketplace identity checks, with government fees and the common sticking points, based on Companies Registry and IRD information.
Short answer: Selling through a Hong Kong company usually takes four steps: incorporate the company, arrange a company address, open a corporate bank account, then use all three to register with the marketplace. For electronic filings the Companies Registry normally issues the certificate of incorporation within 1 hour; government fees for incorporation and the first-year business registration come to HK$3,895. Most of the waiting is for the bank and the marketplace, and both decide independently.
Why sellers use a Hong Kong company
- Receiving payouts: you can open a Hong Kong corporate account and receive marketplace payouts in HKD, USD and other currencies;
- Simple tax: profits tax for corporations is two-tiered, 8.25% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% above that;
- Marketplace acceptance: most international marketplaces accept a Hong Kong company as the seller entity, but rules differ by marketplace and country site, so check the current requirements.
The four steps
| Step | What to do | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Incorporate | Choose the name, director, shareholder and company secretary; file online | Certificate normally within 1 hour for online filing |
| 2. Address | Arrange a Hong Kong registered office; for e-commerce, use a dedicated address rather than one shared by many companies | Usable once signed |
| 3. Bank account | Prepare a business description, ID and address proof for shareholders and directors, and other due-diligence documents | Depends on the bank |
| 4. Marketplace | Complete identity verification with the certificate, business registration, address proof and bank statement | Depends on the marketplace |
The Companies Ordinance requires at least one director (a natural person), at least one shareholder, a company secretary (a Hong Kong resident or a company with a Hong Kong registered office) and a Hong Kong registered office. Directors and shareholders do not need to live in Hong Kong.
Budget
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Incorporation fee (online) | HK$1,545 |
| First-year business registration fee and levy | HK$2,350 |
| Annual return each year after (filed on time) | HK$105 |
On top of government fees, budget for company secretary, registered address, accounting, audit and tax filing each year. HKESC’s basic formation package is HK$5,380, including HK$4,000 government fees and the first year of company secretary; full cost breakdown here.
Where sellers get stuck
- Mismatched addresses: the address on the Companies Registry record, business registration certificate and bank statement differ, and the marketplace asks for more documents. See Amazon address verification for Hong Kong companies.
- Shared addresses: an address used by many companies tends to trigger extra checks. See the risk of shared addresses.
- Opening the store before the bank account: marketplaces usually want a bank statement as address or payout proof, so sort out the account first.
- Inconsistent company name: punctuation and abbreviations in the English name should match across every document.
How we can help
Hong Kong Enterprise Service Centre is a licensed trust or company service provider (licence TC010205). We handle Hong Kong company formation, dedicated e-commerce registration addresses and bank account support together. E-commerce addresses start at RMB 5,599 a year, and mainland clients can contract with our Shenzhen company in RMB. Marketplace and bank approvals are their own decisions; no service provider can guarantee them.
Sources
- Companies Registry: How to register a new company https://www.cr.gov.hk/en/services/register-company.htm
- Inland Revenue Department: Two-tiered profits tax rates https://www.ird.gov.hk/eng/faq/2tr.htm
- Companies Registry: Fees https://www.cr.gov.hk/en/services/fees.htm
General information only, not legal or tax advice.