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Ready-Made Hong Kong Money Lender Company

Buy a Hong Kong money lender through a share purchase, with due diligence and transfer support.

Maksim Gasanbekov

Last updated: 26 October 2026 10 min read

Fact Checked by: Mark Gofaizen

Reviewed on

4.6 43 reviews Reviewed on

4.5 26 reviews

Overview

Service Snapshot

Hong Kong company share purchase Transaction
Money Lenders Ordinance, Licensing Court Licensing
USD 55,000 for the company and transfer support Published Price
Confirm closing timetable after initial checks Transfer Timing

The Right Fit for Your Business

Positive Signs

You’ll lend through the acquired company in Hong Kong.
You want to assess an existing licensee’s records.

Warning Signs

You’ll use a different lender or location.
You’ll combine lending with other regulated services.

Check whether your plans require additional permissions or premises approvals. For crypto projects, explore our ready-made crypto companies and crypto licensing services.

Ownership Transfer and Licensing Requirements

Area	What You Need to Know
Transfer	You buy shares in the company, which remains the license holder.
Registration	The company updates its register of members and checks for separate corporate filings. It must notify the Registrar of Money Lenders in writing of reportable changes.
Permissions	The company must obtain Licensing Court endorsement before lending from additional or replacement premises.

Covered Activities

Separate regimes govern remittance, currency exchange, deposit-taking, and virtual asset trading platforms.

Unsecured Personal Loans

Lend to individuals without collateral.
SME Lending

Finance working capital for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Commercial Credit

Lend for agreed business needs.

Cost and Services

Budget for post-handover operating costs.

Company Purchase and Transfer Support

$55,000

Share transfer, notice preparation, name selection, and corporate documents.
Tailored policy for anti-money laundering and customer checks.
Help recruiting and onboarding a director, Compliance Officer, and Money Laundering Reporting Officer.
Bank application support, help finding premises, and a one-year company address.

Confirm payment terms and any additional fees, rent, salaries, or third-party costs.

How We Support Your Acquisition

We help you assess the company before closing.

Review your lending model and company records.
Coordinate paperwork and draft the notice for the licensee.
Adapt compliance policies for handover.

The company implements the policies.

Acquisition Steps

Buyer Checks

You provide buyer and business details.
Company Review

You and Gofaizen & Sherle review the seller’s documents.
Closing

You transfer the shares with the seller.
Written Notice

Under section 17, the licensee notifies the Registrar in writing within 21 days after reportable changes, including to registered particulars, directors, or control. It copies Police per Companies Registry guidance. The company files applicable director forms ND2A or ND2B separately.
Operational Handover

The company and Gofaizen & Sherle check policies, roles, and any required premises endorsement before launch.

What We Need From You

Ownership and Identity

Identify owners and ultimate beneficial owners. Provide relevant identity and address documents.
Incoming Directors or Management

Name proposed directors or managers.
Source of Funds

Show where the purchase funds come from.
Lending Model

Describe products, customers, and money flows.

What Affects the Transfer Timeline

Buyer Information

Missing buyer information can delay review.
Company Records

Discrepancies in company records can hold up closing.
Changes to Premises or Products

Premises or product changes can delay launch.

Endorsements and bank reviews follow separate timelines.

Hong Kong Money Lender Regulatory Framework

Hong Kong’s Money Lenders Ordinance (Cap. 163) governs licensing. The Licensing Court issues licenses, the Registrar of Money Lenders handles applications and keeps the register, and Police review relevant applications and enforce the Ordinance.

Interest Rate Limits Under Sections 24 and 25 of the Money Lenders Ordinance

For covered agreements effective from December 30, 2022, lenders cannot offer or make loans above a 48% effective annual rate. Above 36%, a transaction is presumed extortionate. The court can overturn that presumption within the 48% cap. Statutory exceptions apply.

Current Regulatory Status

Measure	Buyer Impact
Loan Referees	Do not request, receive, or use applicants’ referee details or contact those referees.
Condition 15	Assess affordability before entering an unsecured personal loan agreement or significantly increasing the loan amount. Use the result to decide.
Condition 16	For unsecured personal loans, cap DSR at 35% through HKD 6,000 monthly income and 40% at HKD 6,001–12,000 inclusive. In these bands, repayment cannot outlast applicable fixed-term employment.
Advertising Warning	Use revised risk warning wording.
Credit Data Smart (CDS)	Report each unsecured personal loan borrower’s personal credit information every 30 days. Join for data access if such loans total at least HKD 50 million or include borrowers earning below HKD 12,000 monthly.

Ongoing Compliance Obligations

Keep these controls in place after closing.

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing. Verify customers and relevant beneficial owners, monitor activity, and report suspicions to the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit.
Lending Decisions. Document affordability and compliance with applicable repayment limits.
Loan Records. Use written agreements and provide required borrower documents.
Advertising. Include the applicable risk warning.
Renewal. Apply within three months before the 12-month license expires.

Keep due diligence records throughout the relationship and for five years or more afterward. For qualifying one-off and other transaction records, count from completion.

Risks to Check Before Acquisition

Unlicensed Operations. Check license validity and approved premises against planned operations.
Late Notices. Compare change dates and notices for missed filings.
Excess Interest. Check effective rates and contracts for enforceability risks.
License Breaches. Review conditions, compliance records, and correspondence for unresolved breaches.
Historic Liabilities. Check past activity, accounts, contracts, tax filings, and disputes for outstanding obligations.

Banking and Payment Services

We help prepare the bank application. The bank decides whether to open an account and may review an existing account after ownership changes. It may ask who controls the company and how you will use the account.

Taxation

Standard stamp duty on Hong Kong stock sales is 0.1% on each bought and sold note, plus HKD 5 on the transfer instrument where applicable. Check share value and any relief.

Eligible companies pay 8.25% profits tax on the first HKD 2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% above it. Only one connected company may use the two-tier rates per year.

Ready-Made vs New Company

Criterion	Ready-made	New company
Company Structure	An existing company changes owners. Its legal structure and management arrangements may need to be adapted to the buyer’s plans.	The legal structure, ownership, and management arrangements are established when the company is formed.
Company History	The company has an existing record of filings, tax returns, and any past activity. It may also have outstanding contracts or liabilities.	The company’s own record begins at incorporation. Its obligations reflect what it takes on during setup and operation.
Licensing and Registration	Any existing license or registration has a defined scope. The ownership change or planned services may require additional filings or approvals.	Any required licenses or registrations are applied for in the new company’s name, based on its planned services and markets.
Time to Start Operations	The timeline includes due diligence, ownership transfer, and any remaining regulatory, banking, or operational steps before launch.	The timeline includes incorporation, any required regulatory procedures, banking setup, and preparation for launch.
Cost to Get Started	Upfront costs include the purchase price and any due diligence, transfer, or setup work billed separately.	Upfront costs include incorporation, any required applications, professional fees, and operational setup.
Compliance Setup	Existing policies and controls, where available, provide a starting point for adapting the compliance program to the buyer’s business.	Policies and controls are developed for the new company’s planned services and operations.
Banking and Payments	Continued access to any existing accounts or payment services depends on the provider’s terms and review of the ownership change.	Accounts and payment services are established for the new company, subject to each provider’s review and approval.

Licensing and Registration Status

The offer describes a licensed company. Confirm availability and match the license to the register. Check expiry, conditions, and approved premises before signing. See Acquisition Steps for filing and handover.

Official Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Can another group company lend while the acquisition is pending?

Only if it has its own money lender license or the licensing requirement does not apply to its activity. Identify which company will sign the loan agreements and confirm its licensing position under the Money Lenders Ordinance before it starts lending.

Can we lend from the corporate address after closing?

Only if the address is covered by the license for money lending. Compare the corporate address with the premises listed on the license. If you plan to lend from a different or additional location, obtain the required endorsement before operating there.

What if the seller only shares the company’s legal name?

Search the Companies Registry’s list of licensed money lenders using the full legal name. Match the license number in the listing against the seller’s license copy. If the records differ, ask the seller for an identifier that resolves the discrepancy before signing.

What should I confirm with the bank before using the account?

If an account exists, ask the bank who is authorized to sign and transact after the change of control. Confirm whether it needs updated ownership details, new signing instructions, or other checks before your team can use the company’s account.

Client Testimonials

Trusted by Industry Leaders

Good service, clear roadmap, quick communication. Satisfied with prompt work, been looking for shelf company solution, got Canadian company with already acquired license in like 2-3 weeks. Setting up the flows now, but good to go.

Gabriel Irvingley Verified User (Trustpilot)

4.6 43 reviews

4.5 26 reviews

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