top of page

How to Set Up a Company in Singapore

Do reach out to us on our 'Contact' section to get more detailed information and assistance. We offer a competitive price of service exclusively for you.

Decide and Register A Name

  1. Choose a business or company name and check its availability of BizFile+ (Business Filing Portal of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)).

  2. Ensure the name doesn't duplicate existing registered entities. Read more about ACRA's business or company naming guidelines.

  3. Register the chosen name via BizFile+ for $15, ensuring it adheres to ACRA's regulations.

  4. Post-approval, the name is reserved for 120 days; register the business/company within this period to avoid expiration.

  5. Please be advised that names with certain words (e.g., "school") may require approval from Referral Authorities, taking 14-60 days.

  6. Read more about Referral Authorities on BizFile+ for specific business registration applications.

  7. Consult the Singapore Charity Portal for naming criteria and guidelines for charity status applications.

Decide Type of Business Entity

The next important step to take is to decide which type of business entity/structure:

  1. The type of Companies in Singapore can be either

    • Private Company: Up to 50 shareholders; can be an exempt private company if it has 20 or fewer shareholders and no corporate shareholders.

    • Public Company: More than 50 shareholders; can offer shares to the public but must register a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

    • Public Company Limited by Guarantee: Suitable for non-profit activities.

  2. Other business structures:

  3. You can read more about the "Comparison of Business Entities in Singapore" table provided by ACRA for detailed information on each structure.

  4. If you are still not sure on the type of business or company you want to establish, you can visit  e-Adviser for Business Structure on GoBusiness or reach out to us for advice.

Requirements to Register

Generally, to register a business or company in Singapore, you need to:

  1. At least 18 years old.

  2. All business entities must have at least one person residing in Singapore.

  3. For business, LLP, and LP, owner or partner’s Medisave must be paid up with the Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB) all time/up-to-date.

  4. Comply with all requirements for registration. In this case, the business or company registration requirements will be determined by the type of business entity/company you choose.

  5. Comply with post-registration requirements.

​

While to establish a company as a business entity, the requirements include the following:

  1. Draft a Company Constitution, detailing:

    • Company's key characteristics.

    • Governance rules and regulations.

    • Operational procedures.

    • Obligations of participants.

  2. Alternatively, as prescribed by ACRA, you can also choose to adopt a Model Constitution, either a private company limited by shares or a company limited by guarantee.

  3. Prepare and obtain signed Consent to Act forms from each director and secretary.

  4. Collect identification details of all shareholders, officers, and beneficial owners.

  5. Ensure at least one director is ordinarily resident in Singapore.

  6. Employment pass holders can also be accepted as a Director as long as they do not own any shares in the company.

​

Additional requirements that is not included to register to BizFile+:

  1. Appoint a company secretary within six months of incorporation, and they must reside in Singapore and not be the company's sole director.

  2. CEO appointment is not mandatory for a company.

  3. Appoint an auditor within 3 months of incorporation, unless exempt from statutory audit.

  4. Set up the company address. Please note that a PO BOX address cannot be used as a company address.

  5. Provide residential addresses of business owners, directors, and secretaries to ACRA, which the public can access at purchase. You can also opt for an Alternate Address at $40 instead for personal data protection.

  6. Prepare a Shareholders Agreement. This is to supplement the company constitution.

  7. Most companies can start a business once incorporated, but certain regulated activities need a license. For further information about this, you can visit GoBusiness Singapore. You can also reach out to us to consult about this.

Register a Company to BizFile+

  1. Visit BizFile+ to submit a company incorporation application once all required information is ready.

  2. Incorporation fee: $300, payable via credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

  3. Standard setup time: Within 1 hour after fee payment.

  4. Extended review time: 14 days to 2 months for special cases (e.g., setting up a school).

  5. Option to use a registered filing agent for online application.

  6. For detailed guidance, refer to ACRA's step-by-step guide on incorporating a local company in Singapore.

  7. Alternatively, you can use our service to make it even more convenient for you. You can relax and let us handle the arduous task.

Post-Registration

Once you completed the registration using our service, you will receive:

  1. Certificate of Incorporation

    • Receive one free, unsigned copy via email from ACRA.

    • Purchase a signed copy for $50 via BizFile+.

    • Includes company name, registration number, date of incorporation, corporate structure, and Unique Entity Number (UEN).

  2. Business Profile:

    • Outlines the company's corporate structure.

    • Contains details like primary business activity, registered address, shareholder and director details, and shareholding structure.

bottom of page