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In Singapore you reserve a business name with ACRA first and register the business second. The name application costs S$15 and the name is held for up to 120 days. The business itself is then registered for S$100 (sole proprietorship or partnership, one year) or S$300 (company). These facts were read on ACRA pages and checked .
What does it cost to register a business name?
| Step | ACRA fee |
|---|---|
| Apply for the business name | S$15 |
| Register a sole proprietorship or partnership, one year | S$100 |
| Register a sole proprietorship or partnership, three years | S$160 |
| Register a local company | S$300 |
The S$15 is separate from the registration fee, and ACRA does not refund it if the name is unavailable or you withdraw. People often call the whole process "business name registration". In practice the name is only the first step. The company registration fee page covers the company side.
How long is a reserved name held?
ACRA holds an approved name for up to 120 days. After that the name is released for others. The page does not describe an extension. Register your business inside the window.
ACRA reviews most name applications within three working days. A name sent to a referral authority can take up to 15 working days. On the naming page ACRA says a referral can add 14 to 60 days to your processing time. Plan for that if your name has a sensitive word in it.
What names will ACRA reject?
ACRA says a name cannot be:
- identical to an existing business name or a reserved name
- vulgar, obscene or offensive
- similar to a government body or a name protected by law, such as Temasek
Some names need a referral authority's approval. ACRA's example: a name with the word school may go to the Ministry of Education.
Certain words do not make a name different. ACRA disregards "The" at the start, Asia, Singapore, Worldwide, Company, International, Partnership, Ltd, LLP, Pte, Sdn and domain endings such as .com, .sg and .org. Adding one of those words to an existing name therefore does not make your name new. Our name availability page shows how to check before you pay. If you plan to apply for charity status, ACRA tells you to read the charity naming rules first.
Who can reserve a name?
Business owners, directors, secretaries, partners and managers can apply with Singpass. Anyone can hire a corporate service provider (CSP). A foreigner must use one. Only the person who reserved the name can register the business, unless a CSP registers on your behalf. The step is done in Bizfile.
Does the name protect your brand?
No. ACRA says business name registration gives you no exclusive rights and no intellectual property protection. A trade mark does the protecting, and it is applied for with IPOS. See trade mark registration and trade mark classes. Search for trade marks before you reserve a name, so that you do not build a business on a name you may have to drop.
How do you reserve a name step by step?
- Pick two or three options. The first choice may be taken or may need a referral.
- Check the rules above. Look for identical names, protected words and words that trigger a referral.
- Search trade marks. ACRA's naming page points you to the trade mark check in its e-Adviser tool.
- Apply in Bizfile. Use Singpass, or have a corporate service provider apply for you. Pay the S$15.
- Wait for the result. Most are quick. A referral takes longer.
- Register inside 120 days. If the clock runs out, the name goes back into the pool.
Keep a note of the date ACRA approved the name. Set a calendar reminder well before day 120.
What comes after the name?
Pick the structure and register it within 120 days. A sole proprietorship or partnership is registered under the business name and has to renew every one or three years. A company uses the name as its company name, and you can later change the company name. ACRA lists a name change application fee of S$200 in its company fee table, but the page does not say which names it applies to, so check before you rely on it.
Registered businesses must trade under their registered name. They cannot use another one without registering it.
Common mistakes with names
- Paying for several names at once. Each application costs S$15 and ACRA does not refund a withdrawn one.
- Assuming a company name and a business name are separate searches. ACRA's disregarded words cover Pte, Ltd, LLP and Sdn, so the ending will not rescue a clash.
- Printing signs before approval. A name can still be sent to a referral authority, which adds 14 to 60 days.
- Treating the name as a brand right. It is not one. See the trade mark section above.
Independent guide, not ACRA
This site is an independent guide. It is not ACRA, IPOS or a provider. Providers pay us a referral fee when a request we pass on becomes a client. See how we earn.
If you would rather have a provider reserve the name and register the business, use the form on this page. We send your request to providers who reply with their own quotes.
Sources
- ACRA, Reserving a business name through Bizfile, https://www.acra.gov.sg/register/business/choosing-reserving-a-business-name/reserving-bizfile/ (S$15, 120 days, timing, who can reserve, no exclusive rights)
- ACRA, Choosing a business name, https://www.acra.gov.sg/register/business/choosing-reserving-a-business-name/choosing/ (rejected names, referral authorities, disregarded words)
- ACRA, Sole proprietorship or partnership, https://www.acra.gov.sg/register/business/registering-different-business-structures/sole-proprietorship-or-partnership/ (S$100 and S$160 registration)
- ACRA, Company service and transaction fees, https://www.acra.gov.sg/manage/companies/service-transaction-fees/ (S$300, S$200)
