How much should a company secretary actually cost in Hong Kong?
Quotes run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand a year, often for what looks on the surface like exactly the same service. The difference is almost always in what's included and what gets billed on top.
Every Hong Kong company has to appoint one, so this isn't a cost you can dodge. Here's how the pricing really works.
Why everyone pays this
The Companies Ordinance requires every Hong Kong company to have a company secretary. They have to be either a Hong Kong resident individual or a corporate provider with a TCSP licence and a place of business here. And a sole director can't act as their own company secretary.
Since most founders aren't Hong Kong residents, and most local founders don't want the compliance role themselves, nearly every small company outsources it. That makes the annual fee a standard running cost of having a Hong Kong company at all.
What the basic fee usually covers
A standard annual package normally includes:
- Acting as your named company secretary on the Companies Registry
- Preparing and filing the annual return, Form NAR1
- Keeping the statutory registers up to date, including the Significant Controllers Register
- Basic reminders when filing deadlines are coming
Read the inclusions line by line. Two quotes that look identical often differ on whether the annual return filing and the registry updates sit inside the fee or get billed separately.
What costs extra
The base fee is rarely the whole story. The usual add-ons:
- Director or shareholder changes
- Share transfers, and the stamping that goes with them
- Changing the company name or registered address
- Board minutes and resolutions for specific transactions
- Deregistration when you eventually close the company
None of those are unreasonable charges in themselves. The problem is when they surprise you. I've been through a founder's invoices where a cheap headline fee had more than doubled over the year through routine filings billed one at a time.
What the ranges actually look like
Pricing depends on the provider and the scope.
Roughly speaking, a name-only appointment can start from a few hundred Hong Kong dollars a year. A proper package including the annual return and registry maintenance more commonly runs from around HKD 1,000 to HKD 3,000, sometimes more.
Automated platforms sit at the bottom end by stripping the service back to software. Professional firms charge more and include a person who knows your company. Complex companies with lots of changes pay more wherever they go.
Cheap or professional, what you're really buying
The fee buys you a compliance function either way. What varies is judgement and attention.
An automated provider processes whatever you send them. A professional secretary notices what you *didn't* send, flags the deadline you forgot, and answers the odd question that doesn't fit neatly into a form.
A client came to me after their platform provider had filed everything on time but never mentioned that their registered address had lapsed. Nobody was reading the post. The fine cost considerably more than years of the fee difference would have.
Five questions that make quotes comparable
Ask every provider the same five things:
- Is preparing and filing the annual return included?
- What do routine changes cost, per filing?
- Who exactly answers when I have a question?
- Are government fees included or on top?
- What happens if a deadline gets missed?
Put the answers side by side and the real prices come out. You'll often find the cheapest headline number isn't the cheapest year.
If you're overpaying or being ignored
Changing company secretary in Hong Kong is genuinely straightforward. The new provider gets appointed, the old one resigns, and the change is filed with the Companies Registry. Your new secretary handles the paperwork and the handover of the registers.
If your current provider is expensive, unresponsive or invisible, the switch usually takes days rather than months. The guide to switching walks through the whole process.
The short version
Company secretary fees in Hong Kong aren't large, but they recur every year, and the cheapest option often costs more once real life happens to your company.
Judge providers on what's included, what routine changes cost, and whether a competent person is genuinely watching your company. That's what you're paying for. Jan's fees are published as fixed figures with the inclusions listed, so you can compare properly.
Common questions
How much does a company secretary cost in Hong Kong?
A name-only appointment can start from a few hundred Hong Kong dollars a year. A full package with the annual return and registry maintenance more commonly runs from around HKD 1,000 to HKD 3,000 or more.
Is a company secretary mandatory?
Yes. Every Hong Kong company must appoint one under the Companies Ordinance. They have to be a Hong Kong resident or a TCSP-licensed corporate provider.
Can I be my own company secretary?
Only if you're a Hong Kong resident and the company has more than one director. A sole director can't do it.
What does the annual fee usually include?
Acting as named secretary, filing the annual return, and maintaining the statutory registers. Changes like share transfers or director updates are normally billed separately.
Why are some providers so much cheaper?
Lower fees usually mean automated processing, very little human attention, and more items billed as extras. Compare full-year costs rather than headline prices.
How hard is it to switch?
Not hard at all. The new provider is appointed, the outgoing one resigns, and the change is filed with the Companies Registry. It usually takes days.