The company secretary plays a central role in ensuring that Hong Kong firms comply with the stringent laws in the city, as stipulated by the Companies Ordinance. A secretary is a compliance partner in the making of long-term success by far more than simply filing annual returns and keeping company records. A secretary also provides administrative support to the strategic decisions made by the company.
Hong Kong has numerous service providers, both start-up-oriented and international accounting firms that are larger in scale, which makes it daunting to select the right one. In this article, we provide an overview of the 5 top company secretary service providers in Hong Kong.
A Detailed Comparison of the 5 Hong Kong Company Secretarial Providers
Selecting the right company secretary in Hong Kong is crucial for ensuring compliance and achieving long-term success. Each provider offers different strengths—from startup-friendly packages to global corporate expertise. The comparison below outlines the key players to help you identify the best fit for your business.
1. Startupr: All-in-One and Tech-Focused for Startups
Recognized as a top business service provider in Hong Kong, Startupr excels at helping startups and small businesses get established. It provides efficiency and transparency, simplifying information management and compliance within the company.
The packages offered to entrepreneurs include cost-effective service packages for matters related to company secretarial services, registered office, and accounting services. The solutions are meant to cater to the local companies and overseas customers. Startupr makes entering and operating in the Hong Kong market easy for business owners worldwide.
A wide variety of complementary services for your Hong Kong business
Startupr offers its customers cost-effective service packages that include company formation, company secretarial and registered office services, as well as accounting and auditing services. It provides support for international clients and caters to entrepreneurs from all over the world.
Startupr also offers a wide variety of complementary services that support the main offerings and help clients fulfil all legal and administrative obligations. In addition to its all-in-one incorporation, accounting, and auditing services, Startupr offers complimentary services, including a registered office plan, free bank account guidance, business documents, compliance alerts for your company, equity management guidelines, and more.
The primary objective of Startupr is to enable entrepreneurs to focus on growing their businesses while it handles all administrative matters in Hong Kong. You can start your company in Hong Kong at just $699 USD with Startupr.
2. PKF Hong Kong: The Global Network for Established Businesses
PKF Hong Kong is a member of the global PKF network, providing a comprehensive range of corporate secretarial services. It is devoted to delivering individual and customer-centred solutions. It boasts a team of highly experienced and qualified professionals that can provide practical and specialized consultation to its customers. PKF Hong Kong company secretary services cover everything from forming local and overseas companies to maintaining statutory records, filing forms, and acting as the official company secretary.
All for your corporate needs
They are also specialized in corporate restructuring, liquidation, and advising on governance practices. This highlights their focus on complex corporate needs beyond routine administration. PFK also provides other corporate services, including assistance with bank account openings, regulatory compliance, and non-routine corporate transactions. The advantage of PKF Hong Kong is that it is highly beneficial to large companies, thanks to its global network and diverse range of services.
PKF Hong Kong is primarily oriented towards serving large companies and corporate customers due to its extensive global network and diverse range of services. Nevertheless, this specialization usually leads to a higher cost and a decrease in pricing transparency, as it becomes less affordable to startups. However, a crucial drawback for startups is that their services are costly, and they do not offer a transparent price list.
3. Citylinkers: The One-Stop-Shop for Convenience
Citylinkers is a well-accepted provider of services within Hong Kong and presents itself as a one-stop shop for businesses. It provides extensive company secretarial services to assist firms in complying with all statutory requirements under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance. The company supports clients in company registration, as well as the day-to-day administration of their companies. It emphasizes regulatory compliance and good corporate governance in Hong Kong. Citylinkers’ services range from company formation to filing annual and tax returns. Its expert team ensures that the statutory records are kept up to date and assists with document amendments.
The additional services Citylinkers offers are assistance in annual general meetings, management of changes to company information, and supporting facilities such as a registered office address. Citylinkers operates as a one-stop shop, making it easily accessible to clients who require services beyond just having a company secretary.
But their pricing is often less transparent, and their services are typically more expensive than those of other technologically oriented providers. Nevertheless, the prices of Citylinkers tend to be less transparent, hence the client may not clearly appreciate the cost structure. They are also usually more costly than some of their technologically oriented providers, which may make them less accessible to cost-conscious businesses.
4. Athenasia: Niche Expertise in Legal Maintenance
Athenasia is another alternative for businesses seeking company secretarial services. It has expertise in legal maintenance and company secretarial services. It can help enterprises to meet all the statutory requirements in Hong Kong. The service package offered by Athenasia ensures compliance with current regulations and best practices in the city.
The comprehensive yearly package covers essential services, including company secretarial duties, managing director and shareholder changes, providing a registered address, and ensuring all annual returns are submitted on time. Athenasia’s legal maintenance ensures that the firm remains legally and financially sound. The services are designed to allow entrepreneurs to focus on growth without administrative worries. Although its strong focus on legal expertise makes it suitable for clients, its model is unnecessarily complex and expensive for the typical needs of startups.
5. KPMG: The Big Four Experience for Large Corporations
KPMG is among the “Big Four” companies and a global leader in audit, tax, and advisory services. It offers extensive services to multinational corporations, public institutions, established businesses, and startups in China and Hong Kong. KPMG’s company secretarial services support clients in a complex corporate environment, including areas such as financial advisory, restructuring, risk management, and various transactions.
The primary services offered by KPMG include audit and assurance, tax advisory, deal advisory, and advisory in risk management and technology consulting. KPMG Private Enterprise specifically targets private companies, family businesses, and startups seeking advice at all stages of their lifecycle. While KPMG is a highly professional and credible service provider, working with such a large corporation has its drawbacks for smaller clients. High costs, inflexibility, bureaucracy, and a focus on large clients are some of the key challenges faced by smaller businesses working with KPMG.
Make a Well-Informed Decision for Long-Term Success
Compliance is not the only role that company secretaries in Hong Kong play in ensuring the credibility and future prosperity of the business. As mentioned above, Hong Kong is home to some of the best company secretarial service providers. Although they offer similar services, they differ in terms of price, customer service, transparency, and other aspects.
Making an informed decision when choosing a company secretary is crucial for establishing a solid foundation. The right partner will support your business’s compliance and growth in Hong Kong.
Looking for a trusted partner to simplify your business journey? At Startupr, we combine expertise, transparency, and responsive support to help you succeed. Contact us today to explore your options and discover the ideal solution for your business.
