Business and licences guides
Company formation, business registration, and premises licences each have their own requirements.
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31 guides found
Business 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 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.
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 licencesA 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 licencesSole proprietorship, partnership or company: choose who contracts and carries responsibility
Compare ownership, responsibility, tax administration and exit arrangements before registration.
Business and licencesCompany profits tax BIR51: connect accounts, tax computation and filing evidence
Go from an IRD notice to completed filing, avoiding an attachment upload without submission of the return.
Business and licencesClosing a company through deregistration: settle liabilities, assets and tax matters first
Check eligibility, obtain IRD's no-objection notice, then submit NDR1 and follow through to dissolution.
Business and licencesBefore leasing a shop or studio: check use, licences and fit-out feasibility
Describe the operation, use the licence-information service to find authorities, then assess the actual unit.
Business and licencesBefore launching an online shop: product information, pre-orders, refunds and customer contact
Explain what customers need before payment and preserve terms and fulfilment evidence.
Business and licencesTrade declarations for shops and SMEs: commodity codes, the 14-day period and agent evidence
Distinguish cargo clearance from trade declarations and keep information and submission evidence for each shipment.
Business and licencesA new brand's trade mark: search similarities, then settle owner, classes and filing
A registered company name does not establish trade-mark rights; plan Hong Kong, mainland and Macao protection separately.
Business and licencesBefore applying to BUD: substantive Hong Kong operations, project fit and evidence
Check enterprise and project fit first, then use the current guide to design budgets and implementation records.
Business and licencesEMF has consolidated into BUD: follow up existing cases and plan new promotion separately
In October 2026, check existing EMF acknowledgements and use BUD guidance for new activities.
Business and licencesHiring your first employee: contract, injury insurance, leave and the 2026 continuous-contract rule
Before work starts, confirm employment status, terms and insurance, checking part-time rights against actual hours.
Business and licencesMPF for small employers: enrolment, first contributions and monthly reconciliation
Manage start dates, relevant income and contribution acknowledgements; probation and part-time status are not blanket exemptions.
Business and licencesMerchant payments for a small shop: FPS, online checkout, refunds and daily reconciliation
Check merchant identity, settlement account, payout and dispute terms, then test payment and refund workflows.
Business and licencesCheck a GBA supplier: enterprise disclosures, contracting identity and payment account
Start with the Chinese legal name and unified social credit code, then verify authority, delivery capability and payment.
Business and licencesCEPA goods origin: distinguish a Hong Kong company, manufacture and zero-tariff treatment
Check CO(CEPA) against the product and origin rules, separately handling mainland import requirements and taxes.
Business and licencesStarting a Macao business: company registration, M/1 business tax and administrative licences
Prepare names, personnel, company documents and commencement reporting under Macao's own procedures.
Business and licencesSelling food online: supplier delivery, own handling and composite restricted-food permits
Check permission by food type and where preparation, packing and storage occur; an online shop is not a blanket exemption.
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.