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. Consider consulting professionals for seamless incorporation.

How to incorporate 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. Consider consulting professionals for seamless incorporation.

How do I incorporate my business in Singapore as a local?

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 Sleek’s 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. Additionally, if you are not based in Singapore, Sleek can help foreign entrepreneurs apply for visas to legally own a company and stay compliant in Singapore.

Can foreigners start a business in Singapore?

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.

To avoid any hassle or uncertainty, foreigners are advised to hire a corporate secretary firm like Sleek, who can help clients with the whole incorporation process.

To avoid any hassle or uncertainty, foreigners are advised to hire a corporate secretary firm like Sleek, who can help clients with the whole incorporation process.

How do I check if a company is registered in Singapore?

It is super easy to check whether or not a company is registered in Singapore. Head to ACRA’s search platform and type in the company name that you would like to check. Right after that, if the company is registered, you will get the company’s information that would include – company name, office address, Unique Entity Number (UEN) and more.

Why is Singapore a good place to start a business?

Singapore is renowned for its stable jurisdiction, well-regulated economy, and robust financial infrastructure. Additionally, Singapore 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 that enables tax optimization. Singapore offers attractive tax rates and a plethora of tax incentives to promote entrepreneurship and business growth.

What are the key requirements to set up a new business in Singapore?

• At least S$1 paid up capital
• Local company secretary
• Singapore-based director
• A registered address in Singapore

Sleek can support each requirement to help you to get your company started.

What types of business structures are available for Singapore company incorporation?

You can choose between the following business structures:

Sole Proprietorship

Sole proprietorship essentially means there are no partners in the business. This means the owner can earn all the profits but also bears higher risk if anything happens. Sole proprietorship is not a separate legal entity from the business owner.

Who can apply:
Singapore citizens or permanent residents, Dependant Pass holders with a valid Letter of Consent (LOC), ONE Pass holders.

Partnership

Who can apply:
Singapore citizens or permanent residents, Dependant Pass holders with a valid Letter of Consent (LOC), ONE Pass holders.

Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) – most popular structure
Private limited companies have: less than 50 shareholders and their shares should not be accessible to the public. A private limited company has the most flexible business structure. It is a separate legal entity from its shareholders and directors. It enjoys limited liability. We recommend the Pte Ltd structure due to its flexibility, legal protection and accessibility to government grants, funding and tax exemptions.

Who can apply:
Singapore citizens or permanent residents, Dependant Pass holders with a valid Letter of Consent (LOC), Employment Pass holders, EntrePass holders, ONE Pass holders, Personalised Employment Pass holders.

Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP)
LLP allows companies to operate as partnerships while enjoying the benefits of a private limited company. LLP are separate legal entities. Partners will not be held liable for any losses or debts from the business.

Who can apply:
Singapore citizens or permanent residents, Dependant Pass holders with a valid Letter of Consent (LOC), ONE Pass holders.

Gathering all the right information for your company registration could be the trickiest part, get in touch with Sleek if you need any assistance.

How much share capital do I need?

You only need $1 paid-up capital for your Singapore company registration, in any currency. The share capital can be increased any time after your incorporation.

How many shareholders do I need?

To incorporate your company in Singapore, you can have 1-50 shareholders. A shareholder can either be an individual or a corporate entity (also sometimes known as a “corporate shareholder”).

What is a 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.
You can also add more shareholders at a later time.

What is a corporate shareholder and do I need one?

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.

Who can I appoint as the director of my company?

You can appoint 1 or more directors for your company. Every company needs at least one local resident director (a Singapore Citizen or a Permanent Resident).

If they are Singapore citizens and/or Permanent Residents (PR)

They have to be individuals, and at least 18 years old.

If they are foreigners

If he or she is not a Singapore resident and wishes to fulfil the local resident requirements, the director must have a valid EntrePass or Employment Pass, and have a Letter of Consent (LOC) from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to act as a Director (if applicable).

What is a corporate secretary?

A Corporate Secretary will keep your company on top of all the regulatory affairs. It is priced based on the number of shareholders (irrespective if they are individuals or corporate).

This role takes care of:

• Preparation & filing of annual return
• Appointments, resignations, & changes in particulars for directors, auditors, secretaries
• Distribution of dividends
• Maintenance of company records
• Overall compliance with local laws and much more
• Let Sleek handle your company secretarial services today.

What is the requirement for company secretaries?

Every Singapore company must appoint a secretary within 6 months of incorporation in Singapore.

A company secretary has to be an individual (and not an entity) and a local resident in Singapore.

Where can my registered address be?

All Singapore registered companies must have a registered address in the country.
It must be a place with a physical local address. A P.O. box is not accepted.

If you are living in Singapore, it is possible to use your home address as the registered office address if you participate in the Home Office Scheme with either URA or HDB. However, it is important to meet the specific criteria for using your home address and be aware that your permit can be revoked if those conditions are violated.

If you need a registered business address in the central business district area of Singapore, explore Sleek’s registered address and mailroom services.

What do I need to provide in order to incorporate my company in Singapore?

In order to incorporate your company in Singapore, you would need to provide:

Your company name for name registration
A brief description of your business activities
Details of your shareholders and directors, as well as their KYC (Know Your Customer) information

Gathering all the right information for your company registration could be the trickiest part, get in touch with Sleek if you need any assistance.

How much does it cost to incorporate a company in Singapore?

You can incorporate your business with Sleek at S$275. This excludes Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) fee of S$375.

What tax benefits do companies get for incorporating in Singapore?

Singapore offers many business-friendly tax benefits as incentives to encourage companies to register in the country.

New companies incorporated in Singapore can benefit from a generous startup tax scheme.
In terms of shareholding, shareholders of Singapore companies can enjoy 0% tax for both dividends and capital gains.
Singapore has also signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTA) with over 50 countries including China, Japan, Canada, France and the UK.
Singapore has a thriving investor community that facilitates raising investment.
All private companies in Singapore can be 100% foreign-owned.
The regulations and procedures for opening a bank account and other business operations are straightforward.

How do I check if a company is registered in Singapore?

It is super easy to check whether or not a company is registered in Singapore. Head to ACRA’s search platform and type in the company name that you would like to check. Right after that, if the company is registered, you will get the company’s information that would include – company name, office address, Unique Entity Number (UEN) and more.

What does ACRA do?

ACRA is the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, a Singaporean government agency that oversees the registration and regulation of business entities in the country.

As an aspiring business owner in Singapore, you’ll need to register your business with ACRA before you can start operating. This process ensures that your business is compliant with Singapore’s laws and regulations, and it also allows you to access certain benefits and resources that are available to registered businesses.

ACRA also provides other services and resources for business owners, such as an online business portal to file annual returns and access various business resources.

Why do we need a Unique Entity Number (UEN) for companies in Singapore?

The Unique Entity Number (UEN) is an identification number issued by the Singapore government to all entities in Singapore. You will receive your UEN upon the completion of your Singapore company registration.

Entities that can get an UEN are local companies, LLPs, societies and representative offices.The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) is responsible for issuing an UEN to all the entities with limited partnership, limited liability partnerships, foreign companies and public accounting firms.

Incorporation process


How can I get my company name approved?