Solutions · Consulting & Agency

Consulting & Agency: Go International

For consultants, coaches and agency owners who work for clients in several countries. With a company in Hong Kong or the USA you invoice through a company and accept payments internationally; platforms and payment providers run their own checks on the company. The location decides what the company pays in tax, your residence decides what you pay personally. Hong Kong and the US LLC need no local director; in Singapore a director resident there is mandatory.

Pathfinder

LocationLocation-free

TaxesBy residence

PaymentsWorldwide

Setup100% Remote

Last updated: 10/2026

Overview

When a company abroad pays off for consultants and agencies

As a consultant, coach or agency owner, you sell knowledge and services, not physical products. Your business is therefore location-independent by nature. An international structure pays off when your clients are in several countries and you do not live permanently in Germany, Austria or Switzerland; if you live there and run the company from there, it can become taxable there.

With a company in Hong Kong or the USA you can apply for accounts with payment processors such as Stripe, Airwallex and PayPal; the provider decides whether to open one. Through Airwallex you get a European IBAN, so clients in Europe can pay normally by bank transfer. You can send payment links and accept credit card payments.

The company follows the rules of its location: Hong Kong only taxes profits sourced in Hong Kong, and a US LLC is pass-through for tax purposes. How much tax is ultimately due depends on residence, place of management and documentation. Hong Kong and the US LLC need no local director; in Singapore a director resident there is mandatory. You can run the business 100% remotely, whether you live permanently in one country or travel.

Whether expenses like travel costs, software, freelancers and equipment are deductible depends on the tax law of the country where the company is taxable. You need receipts and ongoing bookkeeping in any case.

Typical Profiles & Situations

Marketing agency with international clients

Serves clients in different countries and needs a company structure that handles international payments cleanly and fits the owner's residence.

E-commerce coach

Offers coaching programs and courses online and needs payment links, course platform integration and clean invoicing.

Business consultant

Advises companies strategically and needs a reputable company structure with a business account and a clear tax position.

Design or development agency

Works with a remote team on projects for international clients and needs a central company with multi-currency banking.

Financial or tax advisor

Advises clients on international structures and needs a structure of their own that they can explain to clients without reservation.

Recruiting or HR agency

Places professionals internationally and needs a company structure that can receive commissions and fees from different countries.

Banks can treat consulting and agency businesses as higher risk

Consulting and agency businesses often sell intangible services, work with international clients and receive payments from different countries. Some banks and payment providers may review these businesses more carefully, especially if contracts, invoices, company structure or source-of-funds documentation are weak. Strasia helps agencies and consultants prepare a stronger structure with suitable banking options, better documentation and cleaner international payment flows.

Common Risks & Hidden Complexity

Structure matters for high-margin service businesses

Consulting and agency businesses often have high margins, international clients and few physical constraints. Once the business becomes cross-border, the company structure, founder residence, invoicing setup and tax position should be reviewed together.

Restricted international payment traffic

Some countries heavily control international payment traffic. Some banks restrict payments depending on structure and destination. With a well-prepared international company structure, payment flows can be designed much more reliably.

Platform restrictions

Many coaching and consulting platforms only accept companies from certain countries. With an HK or US company, registration is often easier; each platform checks for itself whether to activate an account.

Corporate clients ask for a company

Some corporate clients only work with registered companies and ask for a registration number, an invoice and a business account before the first contract.

Popular Structures & Setups

Hong Kong Limited for Consultants

Territorial system: profits sourced outside Hong Kong may qualify for offshore exemption, subject to IRD review; what applies at home depends on your residence. Support with account opening, IBAN via Airwallex, common payment platforms connected after their own review. No local director needed, 100% remote operable.

US LLC for Agencies

Pass-through taxation: the LLC itself generally pays no US federal income tax; profits are allocated to you and taxed where you are tax resident. Reporting duties such as Form 5472 apply. US banking and Stripe after review by the bank and provider, common coaching platforms can be connected. No local director needed.

USA

Singapore Pte. Ltd.

17% corporate income tax (headline rate per IRAS); new companies may use the qualifying start-up exemption if they meet its conditions. A director ordinarily resident in Singapore is mandatory. Fits consultants with clients in Asia.

Dubai Free Zone Company

UAE: 9% corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000; qualifying free zone companies may benefit on qualifying income. No personal income tax in the UAE; at home, your residence decides. A visa is not automatically included; we clarify with you whether one is possible through the company. Fits consultants who want to live in Dubai and work internationally.

Dubai

Multi-Entity for Scaled Agencies

Holding and operating companies for agencies with multiple business areas or locations. Separates risks between the areas; the tax consequences depend on residence and place of management.

HKSGUSA

Consulting through Hong Kong or Singapore? Go deeper with the overview of the Hong Kong limited company or with a Pte. Ltd.’s filing duties around Form C-S.

Our Consulting & Agency Package

Company formation in HK, USA, SG, UK or Dubai

Support with account opening at established banks

IBAN for European payments (via Airwallex)

Support with connecting payment providers (Stripe, PayPal, Airwallex, payment links)

Debit and credit cards for business expenses

Tax assessment and compliance

Ongoing bookkeeping and tax returns

Structure advisory for scaling and multi-entity setup

Our Process

Initial Consultation & Analysis

60 Min.

We analyze your consulting or agency model, client base and residence. From this we develop the right structure, or we advise against a company.

Company Formation

Depends on country

Formation of your company in the chosen jurisdiction, including all registrations and compliance requirements. The authority sets the timeline; we tell you the current state in the call.

Banking & Payments

Guided

Support with account opening, IBAN, payment providers and cards. Banks and payment providers decide on accounts.

Ongoing Support

Ongoing

We handle bookkeeping, tax returns and compliance, and you focus on your clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which consulting models are suitable for an international structure?

Mainly those that sell knowledge and have clients in several countries: marketing agencies, e-commerce coaching, business consulting, design agencies, recruiting and HR consulting. If you and all your clients are in the same country, a company abroad usually only adds obligations; in that case we advise against it.

Can I get paid in Europe?

Yes. With providers such as Airwallex and other suitable banking / fintech options, many agencies can operate internationally with multi-currency accounts and practical payment flows, depending on the structure and compliance profile.

Do I have to live in the country where my company is registered?

Not for Hong Kong or the US LLC: you need neither a residence there nor a local director, and the business can be run 100% remotely. In Singapore at least one director must be ordinarily resident there. Your personal tax follows your residence.

How are expenses like travel costs handled?

What is incurred for the business and documented can be deducted, such as travel costs, software, freelancer fees and equipment. The details follow the tax law of the country where the company is taxable; if the company is run from your country of residence, its rules may apply.

Why Hong Kong instead of Dubai for an agency?

Hong Kong can be attractive for agencies because of its strong international payment traffic and established business reputation. Dubai can also be useful, especially with relocation. Strasia helps compare the right structure for your situation.

Can I connect coaching platforms?

Usually yes: platforms like Kajabi, Teachable and Thinkific accept HK and US companies. Whether your account is activated is checked by the platform itself.

How fast can I get started?

The authority sets the timeline for formation, and the bank or payment provider sets it for account opening, because they review the business and the owners. That is why we do not quote a fixed figure; in the initial consultation we tell you what to expect in your case.

Check the structure for your agency

Free initial consultation: 60 minutes, no obligation.

HK Incorporation USA Incorporation Digital Nomad Setup E-Commerce

Our Office

Contact our Hong Kong Team

Tell us what it is about: company formation, accounting and tax, or a visa. You will hear from us within one business day.

Strasia Group · Hong Kong

Office

Unit 1005, 10/F, Boss Commercial Centre
28 Ferry Street, Yau Ma Tei
Kowloon, Hong Kong

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