Starting and running a small business in Hong Kong
Work through business registration, company formation, premises, food and market licences, employees, address changes and customer-data handling.
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Start with these three stages
Business registration does not establish that every activity is licensed. Describe what you will sell, where you will operate, whether you will employ people and how payments work, then check the relevant registrations and approvals. Use this collection to prepare specific enquiries. Specialist industries and mainland operations still need the responsible local authority's requirements.
Distinguish business registration from limited-company formation before deciding the structure. Identify responsible people, addresses and records. Before leasing premises, check permitted use and industry licensing. Restaurants and market stalls have different requirements; confirm feasibility before committing to fit-out or equipment costs.
When hiring, organise contracts, wage periods, hours, leave and contribution procedures. Check the actual relationship for part-time, casual or self-employed work rather than relying on a title. An address or other change may need separate notification to registration, company, licensing and service bodies.
Maintain traceable records for customer data, advance payments and refund promises. Minimise personal and sensitive business information before using AI for documents. When a service or business closes, review outstanding contracts and balances. For disputes, preserve advertisements, receipts and written terms.
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23 guides found
A Hong Kong company calendar: annual returns, registration and tax
Keep incorporation anniversaries, accounting periods, business registration and tax deadlines separate, with a calendar and responsible person.
Business and licencesA Hong Kong home-based online business: registration and operating checks
For online sales or bookings, check registration, home use, product controls, delivery and after-sales arrangements; operating online does not establish an exemption.
Business and licencesHong Kong food licences: dine-in, takeaway, baking and online sales
Identify licences or permits by preparation, consumption location, product and sales method instead of treating every food business as a restaurant.
Business and licencesInvoices and records for a Hong Kong small business
Connect orders, invoices, receipts, fees and refunds with references, then reconcile the bank instead of treating every deposit as sales.
Business and licencesImporting for a Hong Kong business: controls, declarations and shipping records
Check product controls before ordering and declarations after shipment, distinguishing personal consolidation, clearance and commercial records.
Business and licencesFind Hong Kong SME support: 2026 BUD changes and enquiries
The Export Marketing Fund has been consolidated into BUD. Check current project scope, dates, evidence and payment responsibility through official support channels.
Business and licencesAn AI workflow for a small business: replies, tables and verification
Use fictional examples for replies, tables and checklists, then verify before sending. Check customer details, prices and legal claims separately.
Business and licencesCustomer data in a small business: orders, marketing and cloud access
Order fulfilment and direct marketing are distinct purposes. Set clear collection notices, consent, opt-outs, retention and sharing controls.
Business and licencesPrepare a Hong Kong business bank account application
Use the bank's list for company, ownership, business and transaction evidence, checking channels, charges and follow-up without relying on guaranteed approval.
Business and licencesHong Kong and GBA business: entities, licences, entry status and CEPA
Market access, entity setup, operating licences, permission to work, tax and CEPA eligibility are separate checks, using Hong Kong and Shenzhen official routes.
Business and licencesBusiness registration: what to check when starting out
Sole proprietors, partnerships, and companies differ; registration does not cover every licence.
Business and licencesIncorporating a Hong Kong limited company
Prepare the name, directors, secretary, address, and articles before filing.
Business and licencesOpening a restaurant: licence checks before leasing
Check use, fire safety, ventilation, plans, and licence type before fitting out.
Business and licencesRenting a market stall: auctions, first-come letting and licensing distinctions
Identify the FEHD market, cooked-food stall, special market or private event, and check the current notice's commodity, eligibility and agreement.
Business and licencesChanging company or business addresses: NR1, business registration and one-stop notification
Distinguish registered office from business address, check the fifteen-day and one-month routes, and verify the actual update after an electronic notification.
Work, tax and retirementFreelance and self-employed MPF: enrolment, relevant income and final contributions
Self-employed status, contribution relief and enrolment exemption are different; check the start date, contribution cycle and eMPF notifications.
Rule and policy updatesHong Kong's 2026 continuous-contract rule: checking part-time hours
From 18 January 2026: distinguish 17 weekly hours, 68 hours over four weeks, and the first three weeks of employment.
Rule and policy updatesHong Kong's HK$43.10 minimum wage in 2026: hours and payslip checks
HK$43.10 per hour from 1 May 2026. Check coverage, wage periods crossing the date, and the HK$17,600 hours-recording threshold.
Rule and policy updatesHong Kong's 15 statutory holidays in 2026: Easter Monday and replacement days
Easter Monday joins statutory holidays. Check general holidays, holiday pay, and holidays falling on rest days separately.
Law and rightsWhat to do when your personal information is exposed
Protect yourself, preserve evidence, and choose a platform, privacy, or police complaint route.
AI and digital lifeBefore uploading private documents to AI: minimise, redact, and review
Assess identity documents, bills, contracts, children's records, and work files before uploading, and check redaction and service settings.
Law and rightsHow to complain about a purchase in Hong Kong
Keep purchase evidence, state a realistic remedy, and understand mediation versus legal recovery.
Law and rightsPrepaid services stop: unused balances, transfers and bank disputes
Distinguish a card payment from instalment finance, calculate unused services and check bank deadlines and transfer terms.
Written for the next step
Compiled by HomeHK with context, practical steps, and official sources. Guides distinguish Hong Kong, Macao, and mainland arrangements. Dates describe the content's preparation, not daily official verification.
Check the official page before acting
Fees, eligibility, capacity, and timetables change. Each guide links to official information for a final check. Seek appropriate individual advice for legal, tax, or medical decisions.