You start a business in Singapore by choosing a structure, reserving a name, registering with ACRA through Bizfile and then keeping to a fixed filing calendar. ACRA charges S$315 to set up a company and S$115 to set up a sole proprietorship or partnership for one year, as of 5 November 2026. A company needs one director who is a citizen, permanent resident, EntrePass holder or Employment Pass holder, plus a company secretary within six months. Most registrations are approved soon after payment.
Accurate as of 5 November 2026. Every figure, date and rule on this page was checked against its source on that date, and the page is rechecked monthly.
A Singapore company costs S$315 to register and a sole proprietorship S$115
ACRA's published fees put a company at S$315 and a one-year sole proprietorship or partnership at S$115, and the structure you pick sets your liability and your ongoing filings. This guide covers sole proprietorships, partnerships and private limited companies. ACRA's structure page covers limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships.
| Structure | Liability | Set-up fee (name plus registration) | Recurring ACRA fee | Eligibility to register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | Unlimited, personal | S$115 for one year, or S$175 for three years | S$30 to renew | Owner is 18 or older and a citizen, PR or eligible FIN holder; foreigners use a corporate service provider and a local authorised representative |
| Partnership | Unlimited for every partner | S$115 for one year, or S$175 for three years | S$30 to renew | 2 to 20 partners; same residency and age rules as a sole proprietorship |
| Private limited company | Limited for shareholders | S$315 (S$15 name plus S$300 registration) | S$60 to file annual returns | At least one shareholder and one director; one director is a citizen, PR, EntrePass holder or Employment Pass holder |
Set-up and recurring ACRA fees for the three most common structures, checked 5 November 2026.
Source: GoBusiness, November 2026
How much does it cost to register a company in Singapore?
It costs S$315: S$15 for the business name application and S$300 for registration, as of 5 November 2026.
ACRA accepts payment by credit card, debit card or online banking. An alternate address, which keeps your home address off public searches of the entity, costs S$40 each. A company that adds one alternate address pays S$315 + S$40 = S$355 at registration. ACRA then charges S$60 each year to file annual returns.
Source: GoBusiness, November 2026
Does a sole proprietorship or a company suit a first business?
A company limits what shareholders owe and carries the most ongoing obligations, while a sole proprietorship leaves the owner personally liable for all debts and losses.
ACRA states that only companies and LLPs are separate legal entities that sue, are sued and own property in their own name. Its structure page notes that sole proprietorships are taxed at personal income tax rates and companies at corporate rates. Choose a company when your personal assets need protection from business debts. Choose a sole proprietorship when one owner accepts that exposure in return for lower set-up fees and fewer filings.
Registration runs in six steps, and the name comes before the filing
GoBusiness lists six start-up steps, and the name reservation has to be approved before ACRA accepts the registration. The registration guide walks through the Bizfile screens in detail.
| Step | What you do | Cost | Time or limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose a structure | Pick a sole proprietorship, partnership or company | No fee | Fixes liability and tax treatment |
| 2. Choose an address | Give a registered office in Singapore | S$40 per optional alternate address | Open to the public at least three hours each business day; P.O. boxes are excluded |
| 3. Reserve the name | Apply for the business name in Bizfile | S$15 | Held up to 120 days; immediate if available, 14 to 60 days if a referral authority reviews it |
| 4. Register the entity | File through Bizfile and pay | S$300 (company) or S$100 (sole proprietorship, partnership) | Other position holders endorse within 60 days; complex applications take up to 15 working days |
| 6. Open a bank account | Apply with the bank after approval | Set by the bank | GoBusiness calls a corporate account strongly encouraged |
The GoBusiness start-up steps with ACRA costs and limits, checked 5 November 2026. GoBusiness lists step 5 as registering a Corppass Administrator.
Source: GoBusiness, November 2026
Source: GoBusiness, November 2026
Source: GoBusiness, November 2026
What do you need before a bank opens a company account?
You need the approved company, its Business Profile and a board resolution prepared by a company secretary.
GoBusiness lists certified copies of the Certificate of Incorporation, the ACRA Business Profile and the constitution, plus passports and proof of residential address for directors, signatories and ultimate beneficial owners. The bank account guide sets out the full document pack and the DBS fee arithmetic.
Source: GoBusiness, November 2026
A private company files four items on a fixed calendar after its year end
A private company files its estimated chargeable income within 3 months of year end, holds its AGM within 6 months, files annual returns within 7 months and files its tax return by 30 November of the following calendar year.
GoBusiness publishes these rules for local companies as accurate as of 9 April 2026. The table applies them to two financial year ends. Estimated chargeable income filing is waived in some cases.
| Obligation | Rule for a private company | Due for year end 31 December 2026 | Due for year end 30 June 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated chargeable income (ECI), IRAS | Within 3 months of year end, unless waived | 31 March 2027 | 30 September 2027 |
| AGM and financial statements to members | Within 6 months of year end | 30 June 2027 | 31 December 2027 |
| Annual returns, ACRA | Within 7 months of year end | 31 July 2027 | 31 January 2028 |
| Corporate income tax return (Form C-S, C-S (Lite) or C), IRAS | 30 November of the following calendar year | 30 November 2027 | 30 November 2028 |
Due dates derived by adding the GoBusiness month limits to each year end, checked 5 November 2026.
Source: GoBusiness, April 2026
When does a new company need to register for GST?
GST registration is required when taxable turnover exceeds S$1,000,000 at calendar year end, or is expected to exceed S$1,000,000 in the next 12 months.
Once registered, a company e-files its GST F5 return within 1 month after each accounting period ends. For the period 1 July to 30 September, the filing and payment date is 31 October. The GST guide covers input tax and output tax.
Source: GoBusiness, April 2026
What tax does a new company pay on its first S$200,000 of profit?
A qualifying new company pays S$12,750 on S$200,000 of normal chargeable income under the start-up exemption, against S$16,575 under the partial exemption that other companies receive.
IRAS sets the corporate tax rate at 17%. The start-up exemption applies for each of a company's first 3 consecutive years of assessment: 75% of the first S$100,000 and 50% of the next S$100,000. The partial exemption is 75% of the first S$10,000 and 50% of the next S$190,000.
| Scheme | Exempt amount | Chargeable income | Tax at 17% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start-up exemption | (75% x S$100,000) + (50% x S$100,000) = S$125,000 | S$200,000 - S$125,000 = S$75,000 | S$12,750 |
| Partial exemption | (75% x S$10,000) + (50% x S$190,000) = S$102,500 | S$200,000 - S$102,500 = S$97,500 | S$16,575 |
Worked illustration on S$200,000 of normal chargeable income; the start-up exemption saves S$16,575 - S$12,750 = S$3,825. Rates from IRAS explanatory notes for year of assessment 2026, checked 5 November 2026.
The start-up exemption requires that the company is incorporated in Singapore and tax resident for that year of assessment. No more than 20 shareholders hold its share capital, and either all are individuals or at least one individual holds 10% or more of the issued ordinary shares. Investment holding companies and property developers do not qualify. The tax filing guide covers Form C-S and the filing season.
Foreign founders meet the director rule through a pass or a resident director
A foreign founder satisfies the company director rule by appointing a Singapore citizen or PR, or by holding an EntrePass or Employment Pass personally. ACRA requires each company to have at least one director aged 18 or older who is ordinarily resident, and GoBusiness lists citizens, PRs and EntrePass or Employment Pass holders.
| Route | Who holds it | Condition | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident director | Singapore citizen or PR | Ordinarily resident, aged 18 or older | One such director meets the rule |
| EntrePass | Foreign founder | Holds at least 30% of a registered private limited company that is venture-backed or owns innovative technology, plus one track-record test | Valid up to 1 year for the new pass and first renewal, up to 2 years after |
| Employment Pass | Foreign professional | Holds the pass | A Letter of Consent from MOM comes first if the holder registers as a sole proprietor or partner |
| Foreign sole proprietor or partner | Foreign national | Uses a corporate service provider and appoints a local authorised representative | Registers through a registered filing agent |
Routes to meet ACRA and GoBusiness residency rules, checked 5 November 2026.
What track-record test does an EntrePass applicant need to meet?
An EntrePass applicant meets at least one of five tests, and the funding test is a single round of at least S$100,000 from investors.
The other four tests are support from a government-recognised or internationally renowned incubator or accelerator, founding and selling a venture-backed or innovative-technology business, registered intellectual property that gives a significant competitive advantage, and an ongoing research collaboration in Singapore with an institute of higher learning or research institution. MOM excludes businesses such as coffee shops, bars and nightclubs, and employment agencies.
When does a company appoint its secretary?
The company secretary is appointed within six months of registration, and a vacancy past that point exposes the director to a fine of up to S$1,000.
The secretary is a natural person who is a citizen, PR or meets the local residency rules, and is not the same person as the sole director.
Hiring your first employee adds a CPF Submission Number and monthly payment dates
A company obtains a CPF Submission Number before it hires its first local or SPR employee, then pays CPF and the Skills Development Levy by the last day of each month.
GoBusiness lists late CPF payments as subject to enforcement action after the 14th of the following month. Work injury compensation insurance starts before work begins for manual workers and for non-manual workers earning less than S$2,600 a month. A company hiring Work Permit or S Pass holders also sets up GIRO for the foreign worker levy, with the bill visible by the 6th and payment by the 17th of each month. The employment law guide covers contracts and leave.
Source: GoBusiness, April 2026
GoBusiness lists the licences and grants that apply to your activity in one portal
GoBusiness hosts the government's licensing portal and a Grants and Support section, so check both against your business activity before you register.
The name itself triggers approval in some sectors. GoBusiness states that names containing words such as hospital, clinic, surgery or healthcare need Ministry of Health approval, and that any name sent to a referral authority takes 14 to 60 days. The licensing guide explains how licences differ by sector.
Source: GoBusiness, November 2026
Source: GoBusiness, November 2026
General guidance as of 5 November 2026, not legal advice.