Bestar Hong Kong Reply Shelf Company Inquiry
- a22162
- Jul 18
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 20
Hong Kong Shelf Company Services Explained
Bestar Hong Kong Reply Shelf Company Inquiry
Hello Client,
Bestar offers Hong Kong shelf companies (also known as ready-made companies), which are pre-registered entities available for immediate purchase.
Here's what you can expect when acquiring a shelf company through Bestar:
Speedy Transfer: The transfer of ownership and directorship can often be completed within 1 to 2 working days.
Clean Record: Bestar's shelf companies are dormant and have no prior business activities or liabilities, ensuring a clean slate for your operations.
Full Company Kit: You'll receive all necessary statutory documents, including the Certificate of Incorporation, Business Registration Certificate, Articles of Association, statutory registers, and company stamps (common seal, company chop, signature chop).
Due Diligence: Bestar performs thorough due diligence on all shelf companies to ensure they are compliant and free from any hidden issues.
Your next step would be to discuss your requirements and get a list of available shelf companies.
To acquire a shelf company from Bestar, you would need to:
Choose a company from Bestar's list of available shelf companies.
Provide necessary details for the new shareholder(s) and director(s).
Submit KYC (Know Your Customer) documents and make payment.
Execute documents to transfer ownership.
Here's a breakdown of the process and what Bestar will guide you through:
1. Shelf Company Selection:
Review Available List: Bestar will provide you with a list of their available shelf companies. This list typically includes the company's incorporation date and its name.
2. Due Diligence and Application:
Information Gathering: Bestar will require information about the new shareholder(s) and director(s) (which will be you or your appointed individuals/entities). This includes:
Full legal names
Residential addresses
Contact details
Nationality
KYC (Know Your Customer) Documents: To comply with Hong Kong's anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, you will need to provide the following for each individual involved (shareholders, directors, ultimate beneficial owners):
Copy of Passport or Hong Kong ID: Certified true copy.
Proof of Residential Address: A recent utility bill, bank statement, or government-issued document (dated within the last 3 months) showing the individual's name and residential address.
Business Profile/Description: A brief outline of the proposed business activities of the company.
Application Form: Bestar will provide an application form for you to complete, formalizing your request to acquire the chosen shelf company.
3. Payment:
Once the shelf company is selected and your initial documents are submitted, Bestar will issue a proforma invoice. This includes the cost of the shelf company, government fees, and Bestar's service fees for the transfer and initial corporate secretarial services.
You will need to make the payment as per our terms.
4. Ownership Transfer and Document Handover:
Preparation of Transfer Documents: Upon receiving payment and completing our internal due diligence, Bestar's corporate secretarial team will prepare the necessary legal documents for the transfer of ownership, including:
Share Transfer Forms (Instrument of Transfer and Bought and Sold Notes): These formally transfer the shares from the original subscribers (often Bestar's nominees) to your chosen shareholder(s). These documents will be stamped.
Change of Director Form (Form ND2A): This form is filed with the Companies Registry to change the initial directors to your appointed directors.
Updated Articles of Association (if applicable): If you wish to make changes to the company's constitution, Bestar will assist with this.
Signing of Documents: You will need to sign these official documents. Bestar will guide you on the signing process, which may involve signing in our office, or you may courier the signed documents to our office.
Filing with Companies Registry: Bestar will then file the necessary documents with the Hong Kong Companies Registry to officially record the changes in directorship and shareholding.
Receive Company Kit: Once the transfer is complete (typically within 1-2 working days after all signed documents are received), Bestar will provide you with the full company kit, which usually includes:
Original Certificate of Incorporation
Original Business Registration Certificate
Articles of Association (updated, if applicable)
Statutory registers (Directors, Shareholders, Significant Controllers)
Share Certificates (issued to the new shareholders)
Company Common Seal
Company Chops (rectangular and round)
Certified True Copies of key documents (often useful for bank account opening)
5. Post-Acquisition Steps (Bestar Can Assist):
Bank Account Opening: This is a crucial step. Bestar can guide you through the process of opening a corporate bank account in Hong Kong. We can provide introductions to banks and assist with preparing the required documentation.
Change of Company Name (Optional): If you wish to change the company name, Bestar can handle the application and approval process with the Companies Registry. This usually takes about 7 working days.
Ongoing Compliance: Bestar will continue to act as your company secretary (a mandatory role in Hong Kong) and ensure ongoing compliance with annual filings, tax returns, and other regulatory requirements.
Other Services: Discuss any other services you might need, such as accounting, audit, or visa applications, as Bestar offers a broad range of support.
By following these steps with Bestar's guidance, you can efficiently acquire a Hong Kong shelf company and begin your business operations.
Cost of Shelf Company, Government Fees, and Bestar's Service Fees
The final cost can vary based on several factors:
Age of the Shelf Company: Older shelf companies often command a higher premium.
Any Pre-existing Features: While most shelf companies are dormant, some might have specific features that affect the price.
Complexity of Your Requirements: If you need additional services immediately (e.g., specific changes to Articles of Association), this will impact the initial fee.
Here's a breakdown of the typical cost components you can expect:
1. Cost of the Shelf Company Itself (Bestar's Internal Fee)
This is the premium you pay for the convenience of a ready-made company.
General Range: A Hong Kong shelf company from Bestar can range from HKD 5,000 to HKD 12,000 or more. Older companies typically fall on the higher end of this scale.
This fee covers the initial incorporation costs borne by Bestar, the holding of the company, and the administrative effort to keep it dormant and compliant until transfer.
2. Government Fees (Official Charges)
These are standard fees charged by the Hong Kong government.
Companies Registry Fees for Transfer/Changes:
Change of Director/Secretary (Form ND2A): This is typically a nil government fee when filed electronically, but Bestar will charge for our preparation and filing.
Share Transfer Stamp Duty: This is an insignificant fee. When shares are transferred, a stamp duty is payable to the Inland Revenue Department. It's currently 0.1% of the consideration or the net asset value of the shares (whichever is higher), payable by both the transferor and transferee (so effectively 0.2% total). Bestar will calculate this for you based on the consideration value.
Annual Return Filing Fee (Form NAR1): While this is an annual recurring fee, if the shelf company's anniversary falls shortly after your purchase, you might incur this. The basic fee is HKD 105 if filed on time. Late filing penalties are substantial.
Change of Company Name (Optional): If you wish to change the shelf company's name, there's a Companies Registry fee of HKD 295.
3. Bestar's Service Fees (Professional Charges)
These are the fees for Bestar's professional services in facilitating the acquisition and initial setup.
Shelf Company Transfer Service Fee: This covers the preparation of all legal documents for share and director transfers, filing with the Companies Registry, updating statutory registers, and preparing the company kit.
It can range from HKD 1,000 to HKD 3,000+ depending on the complexity of the transfer (e.g., multiple shareholders).
Change of Director (Form ND2A): Bestar will charge HKD 500 for our preparation and filing of a straightforward change of director (appointment and/or resignation).
Corporate Secretarial Services (Mandatory Annual Fee): Hong Kong law requires every limited company to appoint a company secretary. Bestar will provide this service.
Annual Fee: Basic compliance is HKD 2,100 per year.
Registered Office Address (Mandatory Annual Fee): You need a physical address in Hong Kong for official correspondence. Bestar can provide this.
Annual Fee: Our fee is HKD 1,800 per year.
KYC/Due Diligence Fees: Bestar charges a small administrative fee for conducting the mandatory Know Your Customer checks.
Bank Account Opening Assistance (Optional): While Bestar can facilitate this, there is a separate fee for our assistance, as it can be a complex process. This is HKD 2,400.
Example (for Illustration Only):
Shelf Company Cost: HKD 8,000
Share Transfer Stamp Duty (e.g., based on HKD 8,000 consideration): HKD 16
Bestar's Corporate Secretarial: HKD 2,100
Bestar's Registered Office: HKD 1,800
Total Initial Estimated Cost: Around HKD 11,900 (excluding optional services like bank account opening assistance or name change).
We look forward to assisting you with acquiring a shelf company in Hong Kong.
Yours sincerely,
The Bestar Hong Kong Team
Bestar Hong Kong Reply Shelf Company Inquiry
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