- For Hong Kong SMEs, professional accounting fees typically range from HK$3,000 to HK$6,000 per financial year for basic annual compliance.
- The cost of an accountant in Hong Kong depends mainly on transaction volume, reporting frequency, payroll, tax support and whether your company needs audit preparation.
- Fixed-fee accounting is usually easier for SMEs to budget than hourly billing because the scope and price are agreed upfront.
- Basic annual accounting is suitable for straightforward companies, while active businesses often need monthly reports, payroll support and faster response times.
- Audit, offshore tax claims, complex structures and unusual transactions can add cost, so check what is included before comparing quotes.
- Hong Kong SME accounting is usually charged as a fixed annual or monthly fee.
- Simple companies with low activity pay less; companies with more transactions, payroll or reporting needs pay more.
- Sleek's current accounting plans start from HK$2,975/fy for Basic, HK$5,880/fy for Standard and HK$15,120/fy for Premium.
- Audit, tax advisory, offshore claims, complex assets and extra filing work may cost more, depending on scope.
The cost of an accountant in Hong Kong is one of the first questions founders ask once the company is active. The hard part is that two quotes can look similar at first, then differ sharply once you check what is included.
A cheap annual fee may only cover basic year-end bookkeeping. A higher fixed fee may include monthly reports, payroll, Employer’s Return filing, tax advice, software and a dedicated accountant.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How much accountant fees in Hong Kong usually cost
- What makes accounting fees go up or down
- What is normally included and what costs extra
- How fixed-fee and hourly accounting compare
- When DIY accounting or software is enough
How much does an accountant cost in Hong Kong?
For Hong Kong SMEs, professional accounting fees typically range from HK$3,000 to HK$6,000 per financial year for basic annual compliance. These rates scale upward as a business handles more transactions and requires extra services like monthly bookkeeping, payroll processing, management reports, and tax support.
As of 24 June 2026, Sleek’s accounting packages are priced as follows:
| Plan | Starting price before promotion | Current promotion shown | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Basic | HK$3,500/fy | HK$2,975/fy | Straightforward companies that need annual bookkeeping and reporting |
| Accounting Standard | HK$5,880/fy | HK5,880/fy | Companies that want monthly bookkeeping, payroll and basic tax advice |
| Accounting Premium | HK$15,120/fy | HK$15,120/fy | Companies that want senior accountant reviews, leave management and Xero included |
Accounting fees are calculated based on your average monthly business expenses over the course of the financial year. The profile of your company directly impacts the overall complexity of the work:
| Company profile | Core accounting needs | Why the cost changes |
|---|---|---|
| Dormant or low-activity company | Annual bookkeeping and basic reporting | Fewer transactions and fewer management decisions |
| Small owner-managed company | Annual or monthly bookkeeping, Employer’s Return and unaudited financial statements | Needs compliance plus visibility on expenses |
| Active SME with employees | Monthly bookkeeping, payroll, MPF support and management reports | Payroll and recurring reconciliation add work |
| Growing business with multiple accounts or entities | Monthly or weekly bookkeeping, tax advice and senior review | More transactions, more controls and more review time |
| Preparing for audit or offshore tax claim | Accounting plus audit/tax coordination | Supporting schedules and clean records matter more |
This is why comparing pricing alone is not always helpful. An entry-level annual plan and a premium monthly configuration can both represent fair value; the distinction lies entirely in the depth of work they cover.
For a live view of our current packages and full feature lists, see our Hong Kong accounting services.
Do not compare accounting quotes by price alone. Compare the reporting frequency, payroll support, Employer's Return filing, software, response time and whether year-end audit preparation is included. That is usually where the real difference lies.
What makes accounting fees go up or down?
Accounting fees usually increase when the accountant has more transactions to process, more filings to prepare or more accounting judgement to apply. The size of the company matters less than the complexity of its records.
Transaction volume
More invoices, receipts, bank transfers, card payments and expense claims mean more reconciliation work. A consultant with 20 transactions a month is easier to manage than an e-commerce store with hundreds of payments, refunds and platform fees.
Reporting frequency
Annual accounting is usually cheaper because the work is done once a year. Monthly accounting costs more, but it gives you regular management reports and helps catch missing documents earlier.
Payroll and MPF
If you have employees, accounting often connects with payroll. Monthly payroll, payslips, expense reimbursements, MPF e-submission and Employer’s Return filing all add work.
Tax and compliance support
Basic compliance is different from tax planning. Profits Tax filing, Employer’s Return filing and basic tax advice may be included in some packages, while more complex tax advisory or offshore claim work may be quoted separately.
Audit preparation
Most Hong Kong limited companies need audited financial statements. Accounting fees may not include the audit itself, but clean books make audit support easier. If your records are messy, audit preparation can take longer and cost more.
Business structure and complexity
Multiple bank accounts, foreign-currency transactions, corporate shareholders, loans, inventory, crypto assets or cross-border income can make the accounting file more complex. Complex files usually need more review from a senior accountant or CPA.
What’s included, and what costs extra?
Before you compare accountant fees in Hong Kong, ask what the package includes. A lower fee may be fine if your company is simple, but it can become expensive if every practical task is treated as an add-on.
Accounting item | Usually included in basic annual accounting? | More likely in monthly or premium accounting? |
|---|---|---|
Annual bookkeeping | Yes | Yes |
Unaudited financial statements | Yes | Yes |
Annual management report | Often | Yes |
Monthly bookkeeping | No | Yes |
Monthly management reports | No | Yes |
Employer’s Return | Often | Yes |
Monthly payroll | No | Often |
MPF e-submission | No | Often |
Basic tax advice | No or limited | Often |
Quarterly review with senior accountant | No | Premium tier |
Leave management | No | Premium tier |
Xero subscription | Usually extra | Included in some premium plans |
Audit and Profits Tax filing | Usually separate | Usually separate or bundled in a wider compliance plan |
Offshore tax exemption support | Usually separate | Usually premium or quoted separately |
The common mistake is mixing up accounting, bookkeeping, tax and audit. They are connected, but they are not always priced together.
For example:
- Bookkeeping keeps your records and transactions organised.
- Accounting turns those records into reports, unaudited financial statements and filing support.
- Payroll handles salary, payslips, MPF and employer reporting.
- Audit is the independent CPA review required for most Hong Kong limited companies.
- Tax advisory covers more judgement-based issues such as offshore claims, complex deductions or cross-border income.
If a provider quotes one low annual fee, ask whether payroll, Employer’s Return, management reports, accounting software and audit preparation are included.
Fixed-fee vs hourly billing: Which is better for SMEs?
Fixed-fee accounting usually suits Hong Kong SMEs better than hourly billing because it gives the founder a predictable annual or monthly cost. Hourly billing can work for one-off projects, but it is harder to budget when the work repeats every month.
Billing model | How it works | Suitable for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
Fixed annual fee | One agreed fee for a defined scope | SMEs that want predictable compliance cost | Check what is excluded |
Fixed monthly fee | Recurring fee for monthly bookkeeping and reporting | Active businesses that want ongoing visibility | Check transaction limits and payroll scope |
Hourly billing | You pay for time spent | One-off advisory or cleanup work | Total cost can be uncertain |
Project fee | One fee for a specific task | System setup, cleanup, migration or special review | Make sure deliverables are clear |
For a local SME owner, fixed-fee accounting is usually easier to compare. You can check whether the provider includes monthly bookkeeping, payroll, management reports and response times, rather than trying to estimate hours.
Hourly billing is not wrong. It can be useful when the work is unpredictable, such as cleaning up old books or reviewing a specific tax issue. For routine accounting, though, a fixed-fee package usually makes budgeting easier.
Is DIY accounting or software enough?
DIY accounting can work for a very simple business with few transactions and no employees. Accounting software can also help you issue invoices, collect receipts and keep records organised.
But software is not the same as an accountant. Software stores and organises data. An accountant checks the records, prepares reports, flags compliance gaps and helps you understand what the numbers mean.
DIY may be enough if:
- You have very few transactions
- You have no employees or payroll
- Your income and expenses are straightforward
- You are comfortable keeping records consistently
- You know what needs to be filed and when
An accountant may be worth it if:
- You are too busy to keep books up to date
- You need monthly reports for decisions
- You have employees, MPF or payroll
- You need Employer’s Return support
- Your first Profits Tax Return or audit is approaching
- Your records are messy or spread across bank accounts, cards and payment platforms
How Sleek prices accounting services in Hong Kong
We use fixed annual accounting plans, with pricing based on your average monthly business expenses. This gives founders a clearer way to compare plans than open-ended hourly billing.
As of 24 June 2026, our standard packages are priced as follows:
Our plan | Starting price | What it covers at entry level |
|---|---|---|
Accounting Basic | HK$2,975/fy | Annual bookkeeping, annual unaudited financial statements, Employer’s Return, annual management reports and 5-day support response time |
Accounting Standard | From HK$5,880/fy | Everything in Basic, plus monthly bookkeeping, monthly unaudited financial statements, monthly management reports, monthly payroll, basic tax advice and 48-hour support response time |
Accounting Premium | From HK$15,120/fy | Everything in Standard, plus quarterly review with senior accountant, leave management, Xero subscription and 24-hour support response time |
The right tier depends on how often you need financial visibility.
- Basic: Suitable if you mainly need annual compliance and have straightforward activity.
- Standard: Suitable if you want monthly records, payroll and regular management reports.
- Premium: Suitable if you want senior accountant reviews, faster support, leave management and Xero included.
With us, you can:
- Choose the right reporting cadence: Pick annual, monthly or higher-touch support based on how active your company is.
- Know the core fee upfront: Review the plan inclusions before you commit.
- Keep payroll and accounting aligned: Standard and Premium include monthly payroll support.
- Add audit or tax support where needed: Audit, offshore tax and complex tax matters can be scoped separately.
- Switch with less chasing: We can coordinate handover from your current accountant where relevant.
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