Business Name Registration (Hong Kong)

Hong Kong Business Name Registration is the mandatory process by which a sole proprietorship or partnership carrying on business in Hong Kong registers with the Business Registration Office (BRO) of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310). Every person or entity that carries on any trade, profession, or business in Hong Kong must register with the BRO within one month of commencing that business, regardless of whether the business operates under the owner's own name or a separate trade name.

The Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) was enacted to provide a public record of persons carrying on business in Hong Kong and to give the IRD visibility over the business population for taxation purposes under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112). Cap. 310 applies to sole proprietors, partnerships, and corporations carrying on business in Hong Kong under any name. A sole proprietor carrying on business under their own personal name — for example, a freelance professional using their own name — must still register under Cap. 310. A partnership formed under the Partnership Ordinance (Cap. 38) must register the firm name with the BRO. A company incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) that trades under a name different from its registered company name must also obtain a business registration for the trading name.

Upon registration, the BRO issues a Business Registration Certificate (BRC) — a certificate that must be displayed prominently at the principal place of business and at every branch at all times. The BRC identifies the registered business name, the nature of the business, the registered address, and the expiry date. A one-year BRC and a three-year BRC are available, with different fee structures set by the IRD. The current registration fees are reviewed annually by the Financial Secretary in the Budget and published in the Government Gazette.

Business Name Registration under Cap. 310 does not create a separate legal entity. A sole proprietor remains personally liable for all debts and obligations of the registered business — creditors of the business can pursue the sole proprietor's personal assets. A partnership's individual partners are jointly and severally liable for the partnership's debts under the Partnership Ordinance (Cap. 38). Entrepreneurs who wish to limit their personal liability must incorporate a private limited company under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) rather than relying on business name registration alone.

Business name registration is separate from trade mark protection. Registering a business name with the BRO under Cap. 310 gives the registrant no exclusive right to use the name — another person may register the same name as a company name or trade mark. For name protection, separate trade mark registration with the Trade Marks Registry of the Intellectual Property Department under the Trade Marks Ordinance (Cap. 559) is required. A registered trade mark gives the owner the exclusive right to use the mark in Hong Kong for the goods and services covered by the registration.

Forms-legal.com provides a Hong Kong Business Name Registration application template that captures all information required by the IRD Business Registration Office, covering sole proprietorships and partnerships, in PDF and Word format.

Hong Kong Business Name Registration under Cap. 310 is a legal requirement — not an option — for every person carrying on business in Hong Kong. Registration must be completed within one month of commencing business under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310). Failure to register is a criminal offence under Section 8 of Cap. 310, carrying a fine of HK$5,000 and up to one year's imprisonment.

Sole proprietors starting a new business in Hong Kong under a trade name — a shopkeeper, a food stall operator, a freelance designer, a tuition teacher, a beauty salon owner — must register the trade name and obtain a BRC before or within one month of commencing operations. Even a sole proprietor operating under their own personal name must register if they are carrying on a business as opposed to being employed.

Partnerships formed in Hong Kong under the Partnership Ordinance (Cap. 38) — between family members, friends, or professional associates — must register the partnership firm name with the BRO. Registration is required whether the partnership is general (all partners liable) or limited (with one or more limited partners under a limited partnership structure). The registration application for a partnership must list all partners and include the partnership deed.

Corporations incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) that trade under a name other than their registered company name must register the trading name under Cap. 310. For example, a company incorporated as "ABC Investments Limited" operating a restaurant called "The Golden Dragon" must separately register "The Golden Dragon" as a business name.

Existing businesses that have been operating informally without BRC registration must register immediately to regularise their position. The IRD may discover unregistered businesses through profits tax investigations, bank account checks, or referrals from other government departments. Backdated registration may be available in some cases, but the relevant penalty provisions of Cap. 310 remain applicable.

Businesses opening a corporate bank account with any Hong Kong bank — HSBC, Bank of China, Hang Seng, Standard Chartered, DBS, or others — must provide a valid BRC as part of the account opening documentation. Banks are required to verify the business registration as part of their Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance (Cap. 615) customer due diligence procedures.

Government contractors, licensed food businesses, import/export licensees, and operators of regulated activities in Hong Kong are typically required to hold a valid BRC as a condition of their licence or contract. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) requires a valid BRC as part of the food business licence application process.

A Hong Kong Business Name Registration application under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) must include the following key elements to constitute a complete and valid application to the IRD Business Registration Office.

Proposed Business Name: The name under which the business will be carried on in Hong Kong. The name must not be one that the BRO considers undesirable, misleading, or contrary to public interest. Names implying a connection with the Hong Kong Government, the Central People's Government, or a statutory body require prior approval. Names incorporating regulated terms — "bank", "insurance", "trust", "fund", "building society" — require prior approval from the relevant regulator (HKMA for banking-related names, IA for insurance-related names). The BRO has discretion to refuse names considered offensive or deceptive.

Nature of Business: A description of the main business activity to be carried on — retail trade, food and beverage, professional services, import/export, construction, financial advisory, and so on. The nature of business should correspond to the HSBC or IRD business activity code if applicable.

Principal Place of Business: The physical address in Hong Kong where the business is to be carried on. A P.O. Box address is not accepted — a registered Hong Kong address is required. For businesses operating from a registered business address service (commonly used in Hong Kong's Sheung Wan and Central districts), the address of the registered office service provider is acceptable.

Commencement Date: The date on which the business commenced or will commence in Hong Kong. Registration must be completed within one month of this date under Cap. 310.

Registrant Details: For an individual sole proprietor: full legal name in English and Chinese, Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) number, and residential address. For a corporate registrant: full registered company name, Companies Registry registration number, and registered office address. For a foreign company: country of incorporation, company registration number in that country, and Hong Kong representative's details.

Partner Details (for partnerships): Full legal names, HKID numbers, and addresses of all partners. A copy of the partnership agreement showing the profit and loss sharing ratio should be submitted with the application. For limited partnerships under the Limited Partnerships Ordinance (Cap. 37), the names and contributions of all limited partners must be specified.

Declaration: The applicant's declaration that the information provided is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief. Making a false statement in a business registration application is an offence under Cap. 310.

Registration Fee: The applicable annual fee — currently HK$2,150 for a one-year BRC or HK$5,950 for a three-year BRC — payable to the IRD at the time of application. Fee waivers or concessions may be available for specific categories of non-profit organisations.

BRC Display Obligation: Upon issuance, the BRC must be displayed at the principal place of business and at every branch or place where the business is carried on. Failure to display the BRC is an offence under Cap. 310. The BRC must be renewed before expiry — the BRO sends renewal notices to the registered address, but it is the registrant's responsibility to renew on time.

Cessation and Change Notifications: Under Section 9 of the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310), any change in registered particulars — including a change of business name, address, nature of business, or partners — must be notified to the BRO within one month of the change. On cessation of business, the registrant must notify the BRO within one month and return the BRC. Failure to notify changes or cessation is an offence under Section 9 of Cap. 310. Businesses that relocate to a new address must update the BRO before the change becomes effective; relying on postal redirection is not sufficient for Cap. 310 compliance purposes. Forms-legal.com provides this Business Name Registration application in PDF and Word format for download.