For a long time, the answer to "where should the holding company sit" had a fairly standard shape for businesses with Hong Kong operations: BVI or Cayman at the top, a Hong Kong operating company underneath. That structure made sense under one set of conditions — light-touch offshore registries, minimal ongoing obligations, and a banking environment that didn't look too closely at pure holding entities. Those conditions have moved. And since 23 May 2025, there's been a new op

Incorporating a Hong Kong company takes about five to seven working days. Opening the bank account is what founders don't budget for — in time, in preparation, or in patience. In 2021 and 2022, it wasn't unusual for a straightforward application to sit with a major bank for three to five months. In 2026, a well-prepared application from a clean, simple business typically takes 4 to 10 weeks at a traditional bank. That improvement is real. But the gap between a prepared appli

Every week, founders ask us the same question: Hong Kong or Singapore? Both are common law jurisdictions. Both have English as a primary business language. Both have deep professional services ecosystems and no shortage of corporate service firms happy to incorporate you by Tuesday. The question is which one is actually right for your business. The answer isn't "it depends" and leave it there. The answer depends on specific things: where your revenue comes from, who your inv

Hong Kong levies a profits tax. There's no VAT, no GST, no capital gains tax, and no withholding tax on dividends paid to shareholders — resident or non-resident. What you're left with is one corporate tax, applied at two rates: 8.25% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits, and 16.5% on everything above that. One clarification worth flagging upfront: Hong Kong does levy a withholding tax on royalties paid to non-resident persons. The effective rate is typically 4.95

Most of these errors aren't made by careless founders. They're made by organised, thoughtful people who moved quickly and assumed that setting up a company in Hong Kong was mostly a paperwork exercise. It is, mostly. But a few decisions at incorporation have consequences that compound for years, and they're not the ones you'd naturally flag as risky. Here are the ones we see most often. Using your home address as the registered office Your company's registered office addre

Hong Kong's real GDP grew 5.9% year-on-year in Q1 2026. That's the strongest quarterly print in nearly five years, and it arrived in a quarter when most of the commentary on the city was still stuck in 2022. The narrative around Hong Kong has been slow to update. Founders looking at the city today are often working off a mental model that's three or four years out of date — one shaped by pandemic restrictions, political noise, and a property market that stalled. That model i

If you are setting up your next fund, Hong Kong has quietly become the most interesting onshore jurisdiction in Asia. Limited Partnership Fund or Open-ended Fund Company. 0% tax on eligible carried interest. A new legal route to re-domicile existing offshore vehicles. And a team built to run all of it under one engagement. Book a 30-minute structure call with our senior team → If this sounds familiar, keep reading Your current jurisdiction is getting harder to defend to your

Hong Kong is one of the easiest places in the world for foreigners to set up a company. There is no requirement to be a Hong Kong resident, no requirement to hold a local passport, and no restriction on foreign ownership. You can own 100% of a Hong Kong company as a non-resident, and the entire incorporation process can be completed remotely without ever setting foot in the city. That said, there are a few things you need to know before you start. This guide covers the full p

If you run a Hong Kong company, filing your annual return is one of your most important compliance obligations. Despite being a straightforward process, many companies miss the deadline or confuse it with other filings, leading to unnecessary penalties. This guide explains what the annual return is, when it is due, what it contains, and how to file it correctly. What Is an Annual Return? The annual return is a statutory filing required under Section 662 of the Companies Or

One of the most common questions we hear from founders and business owners is: how much does it actually cost to set up a company in Hong Kong? The answer depends on whether you handle the process yourself or use a professional service provider, and which options you choose along the way. This guide breaks down every cost you should expect in 2026, from government fees to professional services. Government Fees: The Non-Negotiable Costs Regardless of whether you incorporate

A practical guide to building bank-ready Hong Kong structures: onboarding packs, governance and signatories, bank review support, and ongoing compliance/accounting cadence.

A practical guide to building operational substance in Hong Kong: hiring, payroll, MPF, employer filings, and the admin cadence that supports credible fund operations.

A practical checklist to keep fund structures tax-ready: bookkeeping hygiene, transaction documentation, audit trail, tax filing cadence, and what to prepare before relying on “fund exemption” assumptions.

A practical operations guide for private OFCs: custodian coordination, governance calendar, bank readiness, accounting/audit/tax cadence, and common operational pitfalls.

A practical LPF operations guide for GPs: governance setup, record-keeping, bank readiness, accounting/audit/tax cadence, and what to prepare before launch.

A practical operations guide for running a Hong Kong private investment vehicle: entity setup, corporate governance, bank readiness, accounting/audit/tax cadence, and ongoing maintenance.

Learn how to cut your Hong Kong salaries tax legally using rental reimbursement. A clear guide for high-income professionals. Book a consultation with IMSG.

Start your Hong Kong company the smart way with IMSG. Our all-in Startup Essentials Package (HK$15,000) includes free incorporation, company secretary, accounting, profit-tax reporting, and government fees — backed by TITUS Solicitors’ legal expertise.

Introduction Ever wondered what it takes to be a company director? These individuals play a crucial role in guiding a company's direction...

If you’re both a director and shareholder of your own Hong Kong company, deciding how to pay yourself—salary or dividends—isn’t just about preference; it’s a strategic financial decision. Each method carries different tax treatments, legal considerations, and long-term implications. In this guide, we break down the pros, cons, and compliance requirements of both options to help you structure your compensation smartly, efficiently, and in line with Hong Kong’s regulatory frame