Dipo Olowookere
Hong Kong is one of the world’s business hubs. The former British colony has a thriving tech and business sector, that attracts professionals from all over the world. In addition, due to the city’s rising population, it is a great place for business start-ups– there is a massive market there. If you want to start a business in Hong Kong, then you do need to do your research and prepare first. With so much competition, it’s fair to say that starting up there isn’t easy.
This article will tell you six things you need to know and prepare before starting a business in Hong Kong:
Registration
The first step when starting a business in Hong Kong is no different from starting a business anywhere else in the world: Registration. If you don’t register your business, then you won’t be able to pay your taxes. Tax evasion is a serious crime. In the words of the business specialists from sleek.com/hk/resources/hong-kong-business-registration-number-vs-company-registration-number/, the first thing that you need to do is to register with the Companies Registry to get limited company status. Then, you have to register with Hong Kong’s Business Registration Office. Once you have done both of these things, you are able to operate in Hong Kong. Before you register your business, you need to plan out what you are going to name it. This is because you will have to register your business in its name.
Research
The next thing that you need to do is to carefully research Hong Kong’s business scene. As already mentioned, Hong Kong has a thriving business sector, with a variety of different industries flourishing there. Researching will give you an opportunity to see which industries are doing best. You should already have an idea about what industry your business is going to operate in prior to registering it but be sure to continue researching it after registration is complete. Industries evolve and change. By constantly educating yourself, you stay ahead of any changes and know everything that there is to know about yours.
Audience
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Will you be offering business services to the city’s 7.842 million residents or will you be basing yourself in Hong Kong and offering services internationally? Before you can open your business, you need to have an idea about who your audience is and how you are going to reach them. If you can’t pinpoint your audience then you need to go back to the start and redo your initial business plan. If you are going to offer Hong Kong’s residents your services, how are you going to reach them?
Mission
A mission statement is very important. If your business doesn’t have a mission statement, then you could have trouble finding investors or employees, especially in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s business world is very formal. All businesses are expected to have a mission statement. A mission statement provides your business’s investors, customers, and employees with a vision for your company’s future. Mission statements also direct growth. They give employees the opportunity to think about how their actions will impact and shape their business. Customers and investors can also do the same. Mission statements are especially useful if you want to attract investors.
Funding
How are you going to fund your new business venture? One thing that can be confidently said about Hong Kong is that it isn’t cheap. Unless you already own property in Hong Kong, how are you going to buy or lease a base for your business? Most people rely on investors to fund their businesses. How are you going to attract investors? One very effective way of sourcing investors is to use a crowdfunding platform. Alternatively, you can use a platform where investors are able to buy shares in your business by funding your business venture.
Marketing
Finally, you need to plan out your business’s marketing. Hong Kong is not short on marketing agencies, so you can outsource this aspect of your business’s creation and management. If you want to manage it yourself then you can use influencers, social media, and content marketing. All three of these solutions are by far the marketing world’s most effective (currently). Marketing trends do change and shift rapidly, however, so it’s worth subscribing to a few business journals and magazines so that you can learn about new marketing solutions as soon as they are developed and promoted. Search engine optimization is also essential for your website.
Starting a business is an effective way of reclaiming your future and ensuring that you achieve financial independence. Hong Kong is a very competitive business environment, so it can be difficult to start a business there if you don’t properly plan and factor in all of this article’s guidance. Bear this in mind.
