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Setting up a company in Singapore means choosing a structure, registering it with ACRA, and then putting the practical pieces around it: an office address, a bank account and any licence. ACRA's two fees are S$15 and S$300. Checked . SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide and not a provider. The form on this page sends your request to suitable providers.
What is the order of steps?
- Pick the structure. ACRA lists seven local company types. A Pte Ltd suits most founders who want limited liability. Read private limited company and sole proprietorship to compare.
- Choose and reserve the name. The fee is S$15, and a reserved name stays yours for up to 120 days.
- Line up your people. You need a resident director, a secretary within six months, and the shareholders.
- Fix the address. A registered office open to the public for at least 3 hours a day.
- Register on Bizfile. The fee is S$300. Most approvals follow soon after payment.
- Open the bank account. See business bank account for the checks banks run.
- Check licences and tax. GoBusiness lists licences by activity. Tax and annual filing duties start once the company exists.
What does it cost to set up?
| Cost | Who sets it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Name application | ACRA | S$15 |
| Company registration | ACRA | S$300 |
| Government fees together | ACRA | S$315 |
| Provider fee, resident director, secretary, registered address | Provider | Varies, ask for a written quote |
For the wider cost picture, including what providers charge, see company formation cost.
What should you decide first?
Three questions shape the rest.
Are you a resident? A foreigner must use a corporate service provider and needs a resident director. Register a company as a foreigner covers it.
Do you need a work pass? An owner who wants to live and work in Singapore needs a pass such as the EntrePass or an Employment Pass, and the pass shapes the timing. ACRA says you can apply for an EntrePass before incorporation or within six months of setting up.
Does your trade need a licence? The company registration does not authorise your activity. MOM says the same about the EntrePass: it does not guarantee that business registration and licences will be approved.
How much capital do you need?
ACRA requires at least S$1 in share capital for a company type that uses share capital. Paid-up share capital is what shareholders actually paid for their shares. A company with S$500,000 or more of paid-up capital is automatically eligible for Singapore Business Federation membership, which ACRA mentions on its share capital page. Banks and MOM may look at more than the S$1 minimum, and their pages are the place to check.
How long does setup take?
The ACRA step is fast for a clean filing. Name review can take up to 3 working days. Complex applications take up to 15 working days, and a referral authority case takes 14 to 60 days. The slowest pieces are usually outside ACRA: a work pass, a bank account or a licence.
What happens right after registration?
You get the UEN. The company then needs Corppass access for government services, so read Corppass. You pick the SSIC code for the main activity during registration and can look it up afterwards. For the filing mechanics step by step, see company registration and company incorporation.
Want help with the whole setup? Use the quote form on this page and suitable providers will get in touch.
Sources
- ACRA fee table: S$15 and S$300.
- ACRA local company overview: the six steps and seven company types.
- ACRA Bizfile registration page: timing and the office rule.
- ACRA name reservation: the 120 day hold.
- ACRA share capital page: the S$1 minimum and the S$500,000 note.
- ACRA foreigners page: the CSP rule and EntrePass timing.
- MOM EntrePass application page: the licence caveat.
