How to register a company in Macau: A guide for employers

Macau: Where the brilliance of the East meets the excellence of the West

By amalgamating Portuguese and Chinese influences and policies, Macau has shaped itself as a magnet for growing businesses worldwide. With its excellent geolocation as a port and flourishing economy, the nation provides an exceptional environment for businesses that want to expand globally.

Understanding the requirements to register a business in Macau can be difficult for English-speaking professionals. Fortunately, we’ve listed the essential rules for registering your company here along with other solutions you can consider to make your expansion here simple and hassle-free.

The business benefits of registering your company in Macau 

Macau’s economic landscape has improved immensely after implementing the free trade agreement with China. The benefits include:

Easy trade opportunities

Companies based internationally can set up their businesses in Macau without much hassle, especially as many homegrown organizations also follow international standards and business practices.  

Helpful financial support

Due to the open market and foreigner-friendly environment, business owners can easily apply for credit in the country. 

Affordable market penetration

Your business can expand in Macau at a fraction of the cost compared to other business hubs. The smaller market also means less competition, which can help your company establish a stronghold here.

Opportunities for further growth

International businesses can benefit from Macau’s strong ties with mainland China and nearby regions, making it easier for them to expand into these countries or work with their local suppliers.

Low taxes

The country has relatively low taxes to help companies grow and expand while boosting its economy. The taxation laws of Macau follow a simple structure: 

• Businesses should pay tax between 3 to 9% if they earn a profit under MOP 300,000
• Businesses that earn more than that have to pay 12%, nothing higher.

This simple policy makes tax compliance and business growth in Macau quite effortless. You can advantage of these benefits by registering your company in Macau or leveraging an Employer of Record (EOR).

What is the difference between standard company registration and expanding through an EOR?

When expanding into an international market, questions about the best approach often arise. You can grow your business presence in Macau through business registration or EOR solutions.

Here’s a quick comparison of the differences:

Aspect	Standard Company Registration	EOR
Purpose	To establish a legal entity in a country for full business operations	To operate in a country easily and quickly
Control	Full control over business operations	EOR handles employment, payroll, and compliance
Cost	High upfront and ongoing costs	Lower upfront costs, predictable fees
Compliance	Full responsibility for compliance	EOR manages compliance while reducing legal risks
Setup Time	Lengthy process	Rapid setup
Scalability	Scalable but requires significant investment	Lower risk and effort for scaling up or downsizing

Although standard company registration is a common option, it does entail significant risks, especially for growing businesses. Let’s examine exactly how an EOR can simplify this process for you.

How EOR simplifies company registration in Macau 

Factors like local labor laws, tax regulations, and administrative requirements can make entry into new markets challenging. EOR services like Multiplier solve this challenge by allowing businesses to hire employees and operate in Macau without establishing a local legal entity.

While EORs simplify your market entry, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure complete legal compliance, some companies still want to register their company in Macau. Let’s break down how they can do so.

A step-by-step guide to registering a company in Macau

Every nation has specific guidelines for what’s essential when registering a company there. Some prerequisites to register your company in Macau include:

Management and company overview

Regardless of the actual location, there must be at least one director, two shareholders, and a minimum share capital of MOP 25,000. Additionally, you will need one company secretary if your company has more than 10 employees.

Once your company is registered, you should conduct an Annual General Meeting within 3 months of the fiscal year ending.

Global company requirements

To conduct business as an offshore company, you must provide certain documents including business expenses in other currencies and transactions in other regions outside of Macau. Depending on your capital, you need to pay a registration fee of MOP 5,000 and an operating fee every six months.

After meeting the above criteria, the registration process can take about a month. You can save this time and avoid these hassles by using an employer of record to set up your workforce in Macau instead. If not, move on to the next steps.

Step 1: Trade name approval

The journey to incorporating your business in Macau starts with getting your trade name approved by the Commercial Registry Office (CRCBM). 

Step 2: Submitting the Memorandum and Articles of Association

Prepare and submit the Memorandum and Articles of Association within 60 days of your trade name getting green-lighted. You have three options for getting these documents notarized:

1. Use IPIM’s private notary services.
2. Work with a lawyer registered in Macau.
3. Draft the documents yourself and have them certified by a notary.

Step 3: Registering your company with CRCBM

After signing the Memorandum and Articles of Association, it takes about 15 more days to register your company with the CRCBM officially

Here’s what you’ll need to submit:

• The Company Constitution Document
• A signed Letter of Application (for verification)
• The official Certificate of Admissibility of Trade Name
• A list of shareholders’ names and copies of their ID
• A list of your administrative board members
• A Letter of Appointment for the administrative board

Step 4: Application for Taxes

Before you can start operating, you’ll need to register for taxes with the Macau Finance Services Bureau (DSF).

Here’s what you’ll need to prepare:

• Industrial Tax Form M1 (two copies, both signed for verification).
• Names of shareholders and copies of their IDs.
• A Letter of Appointment for the administrative board.
• The Certificate of Registration from the CRCBM.
• A copy of your Memorandum and Articles of Association.
• Payment of the Industrial Tax (Form M7).

Remember, tax filing and compliance is never a ‘once and done.’ If you don’t have the resources or expertise to manage your taxes in Macau, an EOR is always the better route. If you want to continue with your registration process, you must comply with other labor laws in Macau which means enrolling with other services.

Step 5: Enrolment with other services

When you run your business in Macau, your employees must be enrolled in the Social Security Fund, which involves making quarterly payments. There will also be some ongoing accounting and tax obligations to remember.

Alternatively, you can use an EOR to grow your team in Macau without having to manage any of these legalities. These platforms manage most of your administrative tasks in compliance with local laws, including contract creation, onboarding, payroll, and termination.

These services also help you save costs associated with company registration in Macau.

How much does it cost to incorporate a company in Macau? 

Avoiding unexpected and unwanted expenses is critical for businesses. To give you a complete picture of what to expect, here’s a rundown of the costs you’ll incur if when setting up a local entity:

Registration costs

• Trade Name Registration: MOP 200–300.
• Company Registration Fee: MOP 1,000–3,000.

State fees

• Commercial registry fees: MOP 500–1,500.
• Industrial Tax Registration: MOP 30–50.

Share capital

• Recommended amount: MOP 25,000–100,000.

Legal and notary fees

• Notarization cost: MOP 1,000–3,000
• Legal fees: MOP 5,000–15,000.

Annual maintenance costs

• Commercial Registry Renewal: MOP 500–1,000.
• Business License Renewal: MOP 300–1,000 per year.

Accounting and tax compliance

• Financial reporting: MOP 1,000–3,000 per month
• Annual audits: MOP 5,000–15,000.
• Corporate taxes: MOP 3,000.

Office address and renewals

• Office Rentals: MOP 1,000–5,000 per month.
• Address Renewal Fees: MOP 500–1,000 annually.

Ongoing Costs to Consider

• Social Security Fund Contributions: MOP 90–180 per employee per quarter.
• Utility costs: MOP 1,000–5,000 monthly.

Cost comparison: standard registration vs. EOR

Using an Employer of Record (EOR) eliminates many upfront and ongoing costs associated with traditional business registration. Here’s a quick look: 

Cost Category	Standard Registration	EOR
Setup Costs	MOP 10,000 to18,300	You avoid these setup costs
Share Capital	MOP 25,000 to100,000	Not required
Compliance Costs	MOP 600 to 2,000 + MOP 90 to 180/employee/quarter	All compliance costs are included in your EOR fees
Accounting and Taxes	MOP 21,000	These costs are included in your EOR fees
Office Address	MOP 1,000 to 5,000/month	Not required
Total Estimated Costs	Minimum MOP 70,000+ (first year)	Single, predictable Fee

EORs can also help you save on many upfront and ongoing expenses.

• When you use an EOR, you don’t need to incur the minimum share capital requirement of MOP 25,000.
• EORs make budgeting more manageable and help you avoid unexpected expenses. Payroll, tax management, compliance, and HR services are bundled into one fee.
• You avoid upfront costs on trade name registration, notary fees, and legal services.
• You save on real estate costs or rent since EORs eliminate the need for a physical or virtual office.

Multiplier makes your expansion into Macau hassle-free

Expanding your business into Macau doesn’t have to be a daunting, resource-intensive process. As a leading EOR solution, Multiplier has simplified global expansion for thousands of enterprises, and mid and small-sized companies.

We help by:

• Ensuring your employment contracts are fully compliant with the Macau laws.
• Enabling you to hire top talent in Macau without worrying about the legal complexities or administrative tasks involved in onboarding.
• Taking care of payroll processing according to Macau’s regulations.
• Providing a one-stop platform for simplifying HR tasks like expense tracking, benefits, and time-off management—all in one place
• Making absolutely sure your business remains compliant with labor and tax laws, minimizing the chances of penalties or legal disputes.

Multiplier isn’t just any EOR; we’re your partner in global expansion. By handling the complexities of hiring, payroll, and compliance, we empower your business to enter Macau quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively.

Book a demo today. Our team would love to help with your global expansion plans in Macau.