- A company secretary in Hong Kong typically costs about HK$1,300 to HK$8,000 a year, depending on the provider, your shareholder count, and what’s in the package.
- The base rate is rarely the full cost. Cheap plans often cover the annual return only and bill ad-hoc changes (director or share changes) separately, at roughly HK$300 to HK$2,500 per event.
- Price scales with shareholder count. More shareholders means more register upkeep, so most providers charge in bands.
- A company secretary is mandatory under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622, s.474), so this cost is unavoidable. But skipping a compliant one is far more expensive: late annual returns escalate to HK$3,480, and a Significant Controllers Register breach can mean HK$25,000 plus HK$700 a day.
- Sleek’s company secretary service starts at HK$1,300/year for a single-shareholder company, with transparent shareholder-based pricing and no surprise ad-hoc fees on the Premium tier.
- Typical range: HK$1,300 to HK$8,000 a year for outsourced company secretary services
- Main price driver: Shareholder count (most providers charge in bands as the register grows)
- Hidden costs: Ad-hoc director or share changes, often HK$300 to HK$2,500 per event on basic tiers
- Mandatory: Every Hong Kong company must appoint one under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622, s.474)
In Hong Kong, a company secretary typically costs between about HK$1,300 and HK$8,000 per year, depending on the provider, the number of shareholders, and what the package includes. Digital-first providers start lower, from HK$1,300 a year for a single-shareholder company, while traditional firms and complex structures cost more.
The catch most price comparisons miss: the base rate often excludes ad-hoc changes like adding a shareholder or swapping a director.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The typical annual price range and where Sleek sits in it
- The four things that actually move the price
- What a standard annual fee should include
- The ad-hoc and hidden fees that catch people out
- What non-compliance costs, and the figures that dwarf the fee itself
How much does a company secretary cost in Hong Kong?
Most Hong Kong companies pay between about HK$1,300 and HK$8,000 a year for an outsourced company secretary. Where you land in that range comes down to scope and your shareholder count.
Here’s how the market breaks down:
| Provider type | Estimated annual cost | What you get |
| Budget freelancers | From around HK$1,500 / year | Files the annual return (Form NAR1) only; all other services incur extra charges. |
| Small to mid-range firms | Roughly HK$3,000 to HK$8,000 / year | Includes statutory register maintenance, change notifications, and filing deadline reminders. |
| Full-service firms | HK$8,000 and up; can scale up to HK$20,000 for complex structures | Bundles a corporate registered office, a designated representative, and broader operational compliance support. |
| In-house hire | HK$180,000 to HK$360,000 / year (Salary) | Full-time internal employee; typically only suitable for large enterprise groups rather than SMEs. |
For a standard private company with one or two shareholders, you should expect to pay a low four-figure annual fee. If a quote is far above that, you’re paying for either a premium address or services you may not need.
What makes the price go up or down?
Four factors drive nearly all the variation. Understanding them is how you read a quote properly.
|
Cost factor |
Typical impact |
Why it moves the price |
|
Shareholder count |
Base fee rises in bands |
More shareholders means more register entries and filings to maintain |
|
Scope |
HK$1,500 (NAR1 only) → HK$8,000+ (full service) |
Cheap plans exclude register upkeep, change filings, and reminders |
|
Standalone vs bundled |
Bundling often lowers the total |
Providers discount the secretary line inside an incorporation or accounting package |
|
Firm type |
Digital-first lower; traditional higher |
You’re paying for overhead, office location, and advisory depth |
The single biggest surprise for most founders is shareholder count. A one-shareholder company sits at the bottom of every provider’s pricing table. Add a few co-founders or an investor, and you move up a band, sometimes by several hundred dollars a year.
What’s included in the annual fee?
A standard annual company secretary fee should cover the statutory basics that keep your company compliant.
At minimum, expect:
- A named, qualified company secretary: a Hong Kong-resident individual or a licensed TCSP firm.
- Statutory register upkeep, including your Significant Controllers Register.
- Annual return (Form NAR1) preparation and filing with the Companies Registry.
- A designated representative for your Significant Controllers Register.
- Deadline reminders so you don’t miss the annual return or BR renewal.
What’s often not included: a registered office address (frequently a separate line item), and any ad-hoc corporate changes. Always check whether the address is in the price; it’s a common reason a “cheap” quote isn’t actually cheaper.
A company secretary fee is a tax-deductible business expense in Hong Kong. It's incurred in producing your assessable profits, so it reduces your profits tax bill at 8.25% or 16.5%. Keep the annual invoice with your records, because many first-time founders forget to claim routine compliance fees at tax time.
What hidden or ad-hoc fees should I watch for?
The headline rate is the start of the cost, not the end of it. Ad-hoc fees are where two “similar” quotes diverge by thousands a year.
Watch for these:
- Director or share changes: often HK$300 to HK$2,500 per event on standalone or basic tiers. As a reference, Sleek’s Standard tier charges HK$2,500 per share or director change; its Premium tier includes unlimited changes.
- Company name change: the Companies Registry charges a HK$295 government fee (Form NNC2), and most providers add a service fee on top.
- Extra shareholders mid-year: can bump you into a higher pricing band.
- Registered office address: billed separately if not in the base package.
If your company is stable and rarely changes its directors or shares, a low base rate works well. If you expect to restructure, raise a round, or add partners, an all-inclusive plan often costs less over the year than a “cheap” one with per-event fees.
Is it cheaper bundled with incorporation or accounting?
Usually, yes. Bundling the secretary with incorporation or accounting lowers your total cost, because providers discount the secretary line inside a package. A standalone secretary makes more sense if you already have an accountant you’re happy with.
The trap is comparing year one against year one. A bundled deal can discount the first year, then charge a higher secretary fee at renewal. Compare the standard renewal price, not the first-year promo, before you commit.
Ask every provider for their renewal price in writing, not just the sign-up price. First-year discounts are common when the secretary is bundled with incorporation, so the real annual cost is whatever you pay in year two and beyond. A quote that won't state a fixed renewal figure is a quote to be wary of.
What does it cost to NOT have a compliant secretary?
Far more than the fee. A company secretary is mandatory under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622, Section 474): every Hong Kong company must have one at all times.
The point here is purely financial. A missing or negligent secretary leads to missed filings, and those penalties run well above any annual fee.
Late annual returns escalate fast
File your annual return on time, within 42 days of your incorporation anniversary, and the fee is just HK$105. Miss that window and the registration fee climbs the longer you leave it:
| How late the annual return is | Registration fee |
|---|---|
| On time (within 42 days) | HK$105 |
| Up to 3 months late | HK$870 |
| 3 to 6 months late | HK$1,740 |
| 6 to 9 months late | HK$2,610 |
| More than 9 months late | HK$3,480 |
Continued default risks prosecution on top, with a maximum penalty of HK$50,000 per breach plus a HK$1,000 daily fine.
A Significant Controllers Register breach is a criminal offence
Failing to keep a proper Significant Controllers Register is a criminal offence. The company and every responsible person are liable to a fine of HK$25,000, plus a further HK$700 a day while the breach continues.
Set those numbers against a HK$1,300–HK$8,000 annual fee and the maths is obvious. The fee is cheap; non-compliance isn’t.
How do I compare company secretary quotes fairly?
Compare on scope and total annual cost, not the headline rate. Before you sign anything, ask each provider five questions:
- What’s included in the base fee: register maintenance, SCR, annual return, reminders?
- What’s the ad-hoc fee schedule: director changes, share changes, name changes?
- How does pricing scale with shareholders?
- Is the registered office address included or extra?
- Are you a licensed TCSP? A company secretary firm must hold a Trust or Company Service Provider licence.
Line up two quotes on those five points and the genuinely cheaper option is usually clear, and it’s rarely the one with the lowest sticker price. If you’re switching from an existing provider, switching your company secretary is a straightforward filing and doesn’t disrupt your company.
Sleek’s company secretary pricing
Sleek’s company secretary pricing starts at HK$1,300/year for a single-shareholder company on the Standard tier, the lowest published base price among the main comparison sets.
| Shareholders | Standard (per year) | Premium (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 shareholder | HK$1,300 | HK$3,800 |
| 2 shareholders | HK$1,900 | HK$4,400 |
| 3–5 shareholders | HK$2,300 | HK$4,800 |
| 6–9 shareholders | HK$2,900 | HK$5,400 |
| 10–20 shareholders | HK$3,699 | HK$6,500 |
| 21–30 shareholders | HK$5,300 | HK$7,800 |
| 30+ shareholders | HK$6,500 | HK$9,000 |
The difference between the two tiers comes down to how they handle ad-hoc changes:
- Standard: share and director changes cost HK$2,500 per event, typically completed in five to seven working days.
- Premium: those changes are included, so an active company with frequent restructuring gets predictable costs.
Every plan includes:
- A dedicated company secretary
- Full statutory register maintenance (including the SCR),
- A designated representative
- Annual return filing
450,000
businesses worldwide.
from 4,100+ reviews.
satisfaction rate from
16,000 surveyed clients.
