Join over 1,000 businesses that have trusted us to set up their Singapore company.
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"The team was incredibly efficient. My company was registered within a single business day. All documents arrived promptly and the whole process was completely online — no trips to Singapore needed."
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James L.
Founder, Tech Startup · UK
★★★★★
"As a foreigner, I was worried about the process, but the team made it seamless. Their nominee director service and bank account opening support exceeded all expectations."
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Priya K.
CEO, E-commerce Business · India
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"Highly transparent fees, responsive team, and they handled everything from incorporation to our first tax filing. Truly a one-stop solution. I recommend them to every entrepreneur I meet."
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Michael C.
Managing Director · Australia
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Everything you need to know about registering a company in Singapore.
Incorporating a company in Singapore involves these steps. First, choose a unique name and ensure it complies with regulations. Next, appoint directors and a company secretary who must be Singapore residents. Third, provide a registered office address in Singapore. Fourth, decide on the company's shareholders and their respective shares. Fifth, submit the incorporation application through BizFile+ to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). Pay the necessary fees and obtain the Certificate of Incorporation once approved. Lastly, complete post-registration tasks like opening a corporate bank account and fulfilling tax and regulatory requirements.
Incorporating a company in Singapore is easy and straightforward. To set up your company, you are advised to: choose your business structure, register your company with ACRA and get a corporate bank account. With our help, you can complete all these steps in as little as one day and start your business from anywhere in the world, without needing any face-to-face meetings.
Yes. Foreign entrepreneurs are welcome to begin their Singapore company registration process with either an Employment Pass, Dependant Pass with a Letter of Consent, ONE Pass, EntrePass or Personalised Employment Pass. The most common visa, Employment Pass, allows foreign professionals, managers and executives to work in Singapore. You will need to complete your company registration before applying for the employment pass and your application is subject to approval by authorities.
It is easy to check whether a company is registered in Singapore. Head to ACRA's search platform and type in the company name you would like to check. If the company is registered, you will get the company's information including company name, office address, Unique Entity Number (UEN) and more.
Singapore is renowned for its stable jurisdiction, well-regulated economy, and robust financial infrastructure. It occupies a prime location in Southeast Asia and serves as an international hub. Incorporating a company in Singapore has numerous advantages, including a business-friendly tax system, attractive tax rates, and a plethora of tax incentives to promote entrepreneurship and business growth.
The key requirements are: at least S$1 paid-up capital, a local company secretary, a Singapore-based director (or nominee director), and a registered address in Singapore. Our team provides all of these as part of our incorporation packages.
Sole Proprietorship: No partners in the business; owner earns all profits but also bears higher risk. Not a separate legal entity from the business owner.
Partnership: Suitable for Singapore citizens, PRs, Dependant Pass holders with a valid Letter of Consent (LOC), and ONE Pass holders.
Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) – most popular: Less than 50 shareholders, most flexible structure, separate legal entity, enjoys limited liability, eligible for government grants, funding, and tax exemptions. We recommend this structure.
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): Operates as a partnership while enjoying benefits of a private limited company. Partners are not held liable for losses or debts from the business.
You only need S$1 paid-up capital for your Singapore company registration, in any currency. The share capital can be increased at any time after your incorporation.
To incorporate your company in Singapore, you can have 1–50 shareholders. A shareholder can either be an individual or a corporate entity (also known as a "corporate shareholder").
Singapore incorporated companies must have a minimum of one shareholder. This can be the same person as your local resident director. You can also add more shareholders at a later time.
A corporate shareholder is a business entity that owns shares in another limited company. The term 'corporate shareholder' may refer to another limited company, a limited liability partnership, or a non-profit organisation or charity.
You can appoint 1 or more directors. Every company needs at least one local resident director (a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident) who must be at least 18 years old. If all directors are foreigners, they must hold a valid EntrePass or Employment Pass and may require a Letter of Consent (LOC) from Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to act as director. We provide nominee director services to fulfil this requirement.
A Corporate Secretary keeps your company on top of all regulatory affairs. This role takes care of: preparation and filing of annual returns, appointments and resignations of directors/auditors/secretaries, distribution of dividends, maintenance of company records, and overall compliance with local laws.
Every Singapore company must appoint a secretary within 6 months of incorporation. A company secretary must be an individual (not an entity) and a local resident in Singapore. A company secretary cannot also be the sole director or sole shareholder of the company.
All Singapore registered companies must have a registered address in the country. It must be a physical local address — a P.O. box is not accepted. If you are living in Singapore, you may use your home address under the Home Office Scheme with URA or HDB, subject to specific criteria. We provide a Singapore registered address service for clients who need one.
You will need to provide: your proposed company name, a brief description of your business activities, and details of your shareholders and directors along with their KYC (Know Your Customer) information. Our team will guide you through every step of the document collection process.
Singapore offers many business-friendly tax benefits. New companies can benefit from a generous startup tax exemption scheme. Shareholders enjoy 0% tax on both dividends and capital gains. Singapore has signed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTA) with over 90 countries. All private companies can be 100% foreign-owned, and the corporate tax rate is capped at a flat 17%.
ACRA is the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority — the Singaporean government agency that oversees the registration and regulation of business entities. You must register your business with ACRA before you can start operating. ACRA also provides an online business portal for filing annual returns and accessing various business resources.
The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is an identification number issued by the Singapore government to all registered entities. You will receive your UEN upon completion of your Singapore company registration. ACRA is responsible for issuing UENs to entities including companies, LLPs, foreign companies, and public accounting firms.
Your company name must be approved before you can proceed with registering your company. We recommend having a shortlist of three name options in case your first choice isn't available. Names can be reserved for up to 60 days through ACRA's BizFile+ portal.
You determine the shareholders and their respective ownership percentages by indicating it in your company incorporation documents. If incorporating a subsidiary in Singapore, the sole shareholder will be the existing local or foreign company. For a new venture, the shareholders will be you and any partners you may have.
For an individual starting a company: It can be as easy as providing your passport and proof of residency that is less than 3 months old.
For an existing company looking to have a Singapore entity: • Certificate of Incorporation/Registration • Business Profile/Certificate of Incumbency • Group ownership structure chart • Certificate of Appointment of Corporate Representative and/or Directors' Resolution in Writing authorising the representative
The application process in Singapore typically takes 1–2 working days, provided all necessary documents are in place. However, the processing time may be longer if there are any issues with the application or if additional information is required. Companies with foreign shareholders or directors may take slightly longer due to additional compliance requirements.
After incorporation, the company is a legal entity and can start conducting business and hiring employees. You will receive a Certificate of Incorporation from ACRA by email, including your business registration number. You will also receive a Business Profile ("Bizfile") — the identity card of the company — for free. After registration, you can open a corporate bank account with any bank in Singapore.
To appoint a company secretary in Singapore, the company must ensure the secretary meets the necessary qualifications and is a Singapore resident. The necessary documents — such as a Notice of Appointment of Company Secretary and Consent to Act as Company Secretary — must be submitted to ACRA. Note that a company secretary cannot also be the sole director or shareholder of the company.
Business Licences: Certain industries require specific licences before operating.
Employment Laws: Compliance with the Employment Act, Work Injury Compensation Act, and other MOM regulations.
Taxation: Register for and comply with GST (if annual turnover exceeds S$1 million), Corporate Income Tax, and Withholding Tax.
Data Protection: Comply with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) for handling customer and employee data.
Immigration: Ensure foreign employees have the appropriate work permits and visas.
Intellectual Property: Be aware of trademark, patent, and copyright laws to protect your business assets.
Whether you need a business licence depends on the nature of your business activities. Certain industries such as food and beverage and retail require specific licences and permits. For example, food establishments must obtain a Food Shop License from the National Environment Agency (NEA). It is important to research the specific licensing requirements for your industry before commencing operations.
To open a corporate bank account in Singapore, you will need to provide the bank with documents such as your Certificate of Incorporation, business profile, and personal identification documents of the company's directors and signatories. Different banks have different requirements, and some may require a minimum deposit. We assist our clients through this process using our existing banking partnerships.
Under Singapore law, it is no longer a legal requirement for companies to have a company seal. However, some companies may choose to use a company seal for executing documents or contracts, in which case it must be used in the presence of a director or company secretary.
The cost of running a company in Singapore varies depending on the size of the company, nature of business activities, and location. Common expenses include office rent, employee salaries, utilities, and business taxes. The government has implemented various tax incentives and grants that can help offset some of these costs.
Singapore-incorporated companies enjoy a partial tax exemption on up to S$100,000 of taxable income, with 75% of their first S$100,000 of corporate profits exempted for the first 3 tax filing years, and a 50% further exemption on the next S$100,000. The government also provides schemes such as the Productivity and Solutions Grant (PSG), which can fund up to 70% of eligible technology and productivity investments.
As a local: No, locals do not need a visa to start a company in Singapore.
As a foreigner: If you wish to relocate to Singapore to run your business, you will need to obtain a relevant work visa or pass such as the Employment Pass (EP), Dependant Pass with Letter of Consent (LOC), ONE Pass, EntrePass, or Personalised Employment Pass (PEP). The type of pass required depends on your qualifications, work experience, and the nature of your business.
According to Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) regulations, work permit holders are not eligible to start a business on their own. If a work permit holder wishes to start a business, they would need to obtain approval from MOM and meet the eligibility criteria for the relevant work pass or visa.
Yes, as an EP holder you are allowed to start a Private Limited Company in Singapore. However, you can only run the company that is sponsoring your Employment Pass.
If you as an EP holder just lost your job, your EP will be cancelled. You will have a 30-day grace period to either find a new job and have your new employer apply for a new EP, or leave Singapore. If you intend to start a business, you will need to meet the eligibility criteria for the EntrePass, which is specifically designed for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to start and operate a business in Singapore.
Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to obtain a work visa such as the Employment Pass or EntrePass once you have incorporated a company in Singapore. This opens the door for you to move to the country and manage business operations here. We assist with Employment Pass applications as part of our incorporation packages.
