Singapore company registration is done online through the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). You file on its BizFile+ portal, pay two small government fees, and often get your company number soon after. Most of the work happens before you click submit. This guide walks through the steps for a private limited company, which is the most common type for a new business.
Check what you need first
Under the Companies Act, a company needs a few people and details in place. Know these before you start.
- At least one director who lives in Singapore. A citizen, a permanent resident or a pass holder who meets ACRA's local residency rules can fill this role.
- Directors must be 18 or older.
- At least one shareholder and at least one issued share. A company that has share capital needs at least S$1.
- A company secretary, who must be a real person and cannot be the same person as the sole director.
- A registered office address in Singapore. It must be open to the public for at least three hours on each business day.
The secretary has more time than the others. You must appoint one within six months of registration. A late appointment can bring a fine of up to S$1,000 for the director.
Step 1: Reserve your company name
Start with the name. You apply for it on BizFile+, and the application fee is S$15. The fee is not refunded if the name is unavailable or you withdraw the application.
Pick a name that is not the same as, or too close to, one already on the register. Ask for the name without the "Pte Ltd" ending, because the ending is added later. Have a backup in mind. You will also state your main business activity when you apply.
Save the transaction number you receive. You need it for the next step.
Step 2: Gather your documents and details
Registration asks for personal and company details. Have them ready so the form takes one sitting.
- The approved name and its reference number.
- The company's financial year end and a company email address.
- The Singapore registered office address and its opening hours.
- For each director, secretary and shareholder: full name, ID number, date of birth, home address, mobile number and email.
- Details of the share capital and who holds the shares.
- The company constitution. You can upload your own or use the model constitution.
- Details on controllers, which ACRA keeps in a register of registrable controllers.
The model constitution suits most small firms. A custom one makes sense when you have several owners who want special rules.
Step 3: Submit and pay on BizFile+
Log in with Singpass and file the application. The government fee to register a local company is S$300. You can pay by card or online banking. Together with the name fee, the minimum government cost is S$315.
The person who reserved the name must be named as a director or secretary of the new company. Other people named in the application are asked to confirm their roles.
If you cannot file yourself, a registered filing agent, such as a corporate service provider, can file for you. The agent charges its own fee on top of the government fees. Compare those fees, because they vary a lot.
Most applications are approved soon after payment. Cases that need extra review take longer. Some business activities need approval from another agency first, so check this early if you plan to sell a regulated product or service.
Step 4: Finish setting up after approval
Once approved, you receive a notice of successful incorporation and your Unique Entity Number, or UEN. The UEN is the number you use with government agencies and on invoices. You can also download a copy of the company's business profile.
Then plan your first months.
- Appoint your company secretary within six months.
- Open a business bank account. Banks ask for the business profile and the constitution.
- Keep your registers up to date, including those for members, directors and controllers.
- Plan to file an annual return with ACRA and your tax return with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).
On tax, companies pay a flat 17 percent on chargeable income. New companies can claim a start-up exemption for their first three years of assessment. It exempts 75 percent of the first S$100,000 of normal chargeable income and 50 percent of the next S$100,000. After that, companies can claim a partial exemption: 75 percent of the first S$10,000 and 50 percent of the next S$190,000. Ask an accountant which one applies to you.
Costs in plain numbers
The fixed government costs are small and easy to plan for.
- Name application: S$15.
- Company registration: S$300.
- Total paid to ACRA: S$315.
Other costs depend on your choices. A filing agent, a company secretary service and a registered office service all charge their own fees. A shared address may cost less than a rented office, but check that it meets the opening hours rule. Ask each provider for a written price list before you agree.
A short checklist helps. Choose your name, line up a resident director, pick a secretary, confirm your office address and collect everyone's details. With those five items ready, the filing itself is quick.