Xiaohongshu Business Account Guide for Hong Kong Companies: Documents, Steps and FAQs

More and more Hong Kong businesses are noticing that mainland visitors, mainland-born residents and young local consumers open Xiaohongshu (RedNote) to search before choosing a restaurant or a brand. If you want to be found, the first step is not posting. It is opening a verified Xiaohongshu business account. In this guide, THOR PR & Marketing walks through the documents a Hong Kong company needs for Xiaohongshu enterprise verification, the process, common rejection reasons and the post-setup checklist.

If you would rather have a team handle account opening, verification and note planning end to end, WhatsApp us at +852 6078 6377 or read about our Xiaohongshu account management and KOC seeding service.

Personal Account vs Business Account: What Is the Difference?

Xiaohongshu accounts fall into two broad types: personal accounts and professional accounts. Professional accounts are further split into individual professional accounts (creators) and enterprise professional accounts (merchants and brands). A Hong Kong business should apply for an enterprise professional account and complete enterprise verification, for four reasons:

In short: if you want search visibility, ads and KOC collaborations without being throttled, a business account is a prerequisite. Posting commercial content from a personal account not only lacks merchant tools, it also risks being classified as unregistered soft advertising, which hurts note reach.

What Documents Does a Hong Kong Company Need for Enterprise Verification?

Based on the platform's public guidance and market experience, a Hong Kong company typically needs the following. Note: Xiaohongshu updates its requirements for overseas, Hong Kong and Macau businesses from time to time. The platform's latest rules always prevail.

• Business Registration Certificate (BR): a colour scan, within its validity period.
• Certificate of Incorporation (CI): required for limited companies; sole proprietors and partnerships rely mainly on the BR.
• ID of the responsible person: Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, and depending on the case a Home Return Permit or HKSAR passport.
• Trademark or brand authorisation: if the account name uses a brand name, you may need a trademark registration certificate or a brand authorisation letter. Distributors need a full chain of authorisation.
• Verification application letter: completed on the platform template and stamped with the company chop.
• Contact mobile number: for verification and review notifications. Some flows require a mainland number or one that can receive SMS.

On fees, publicly available sources generally cite an enterprise verification review fee of around RMB 600 per year, with review taking several working days. Opening a Xiaohongshu store is a separate process with its own deposit and technical service fee. Actual amounts and terms are subject to the platform's latest announcement.

The 7-Step Process to Open a Xiaohongshu Business Account

Step 1: Prepare documents

Check that the BR, CI, responsible person's ID, trademark or authorisation documents are complete and valid, and that the company name is identical across every document. Doing this carefully avoids the most common rejection reason.

Step 2: Register the account

Register with a company mobile number and email, not an employee's personal number. Name the account with the brand name or "brand name + Hong Kong" so it is easy to search.

Step 3: Apply for professional account and enterprise verification

In account settings, enter the professional account application, choose the enterprise identity, upload the documents and application letter, pay the review fee and wait for the result. If returned, resubmit with the corrections the platform lists.

Step 4: Complete the profile

Once verified, set the avatar (brand logo), bio, business information, contact details and address. The bio should include the terms customers actually search, such as industry, district and hero products.

Step 5: Publish the first batch of notes

Prepare six to ten notes covering brand introduction, product benefits, store environment and frequently asked questions, so new visitors have something to read the moment they land on the profile.

Step 6: Set search keywords

Titles, body copy and topic tags of every note should revolve around target keywords, for example "Hong Kong + category + scenario". Where the platform allows, set brand keywords on the business profile to increase the chance of being found.

Step 7: Register collaborations

Before working with KOCs or creators, register the collaboration through the Pugongying platform. Unregistered commercial content may be throttled, and registration also keeps collaboration data with the brand.

Not sure how account management, seeding content and real store visits differ? Read our companion article: Xiaohongshu account management vs seeding vs store visits.

Common Reasons Enterprise Verification Gets Rejected

• Unclear or expired documents: blurry scans, an expired BR, or a name that does not match the company.
• Account name does not match credentials: using a brand name without trademark ownership or authorisation.
• Errors in the application letter: missing date, company chop or signature of the responsible person.
• Prior violations on the account: content violations or complaints after registration.
• Insufficient industry credentials: regulated sectors such as aesthetic medicine, health supplements and education need additional licences or permits.

You do not need to re-register after a rejection. Fix the issues listed and resubmit.

Post-Setup Checklist

Passing verification is only the starting point. These four items decide whether the account keeps earning visibility:

1. Consistent profile data: brand name, address, opening hours and phone number should match your Google Business Profile, website and other platforms. This helps search engines and AI search understand the brand.
2. Clear contact entry: set DM auto-replies and a WhatsApp or enquiry link so Xiaohongshu traffic turns into real enquiries.
3. Steady posting rhythm: publish on a fixed weekly schedule and adjust topics based on search data, rather than posting ten notes at once and then going quiet.
4. Reply to comments and DMs: real replies are an important activity signal for the platform and the key to converting enquiries.

THOR PR & Marketing provides social media marketing services for Hong Kong SMEs and brands, handling business account opening, profile setup, note writing, KOC collaboration and registration in one place, with content planned around Hong Kong locals and mainland-born residents.

Want us to open and run your Xiaohongshu business account? WhatsApp us at +852 6078 6377 or leave a message on our Contact Us page and we will recommend a plan based on your industry and target audience.

FAQ

Q1: Can a Hong Kong company without a mainland business licence apply for a Xiaohongshu business account? Yes. Hong Kong companies generally apply for enterprise verification using the Business Registration Certificate and Certificate of Incorporation, with no need to set up a mainland entity. The exact document list is subject to Xiaohongshu's latest rules.

Q2: How much does Xiaohongshu enterprise verification cost? Public sources generally cite a review fee of around RMB 600 per year. Opening a store involves a separate deposit and technical service fee. Check the official page before applying, as amounts are subject to the platform's latest announcement.

Q3: How long does enterprise verification take? With complete documents, review usually takes several working days, longer if corrections are required. Allow two to three weeks to finish account opening and profile setup.

Q4: What is the risk of posting commercial content from a personal account? Personal accounts have no merchant features or ad tools, and collaborations cannot be registered. The platform may classify unregistered commercial content as soft advertising and throttle it, which affects account performance over time.

Q5: How do I get visibility after opening the business account? The keys are a complete profile, notes built around target search terms, a steady posting rhythm and real engagement. KOC seeding and Spotlight promotion can be added as needed, and THOR can advise based on your budget.