Is your current Corporate Service Provider taking days to reply to a simple WhatsApp message? Have you received a “late filing penalty” from ACRA because they forgot to remind you about your Annual Return?

If yes, you are not alone.

Many business owners in Singapore stay with “bad” Company Secretaries because they fear the hassle of switching. They assume it will involve messy paperwork, awkward confrontations, or lost documents.

The Reality: Changing your Company Secretary is a standard administrative process that we handle entirely on your behalf. You rarely even need to speak to your old provider.

Here is how to upgrade your service in 2025 without disrupting your business.

1. Why Business Owners Switch (The “Red Flags”)

Under the new Corporate Service Providers (CSP) Act 2025, the role of a secretary is not just “admin.” It is “compliance.” You should consider switching if:

  • They are Unresponsive: You can’t reach them during critical banking or legal updates.

  • Hidden Costs: They charge you extra for every single resolution or signature.

  • Compliance Gaps: They failed to update your Register of Registrable Controllers (RORC), exposing you to a $25,000 fine.

2. The 4-Step Switching Process

At Excellence Singapore, we execute a “Seamless Takeover.” Here is how it works:

How to Change Company Secretary Singapore Process Flowchart Steps

Step 1: The Health Check We review your ACRA BizFile to ensure there are no immediate outstanding penalties.

Step 2: Appointment & Resignation You don’t need to fire them yourself.

  • We prepare a Directors’ Resolution in Writing (DRIW) to appoint us and remove the old secretary.

  • We send a formal Resignation Letter to the previous provider for them to sign.

Step 3: ACRA Lodgement Once signed, we lodge the “Cessation” of the old secretary and the “Appointment” of the new one on ACRA’s portal. This is instant.

Step 4: The Handover (Retrieval of Records) We formally request your Statutory Registers, Minute Book, and Common Seal from the old provider. By law, they must return these company records to you; they cannot hold them hostage for unpaid fees unrelated to the records.

3. Does It Cost Money to Switch?

  • ACRA Fees: There is $0 government fee to change a company officer.

  • Our Fees: We typically waive the “onboarding fee” if you sign up for our annual package.

  • Exit Fees: Check your contract with your old provider. Some have a “30-day notice” clause, but many allow immediate termination.

4. The Risk of “Doing Nothing”

Sticking with a non-responsive provider is dangerous. If they miss your Annual Return or AGM deadline:

  • The Fine: You (the Director) and the Company are liable for composition fines starting at S$300.

  • The Strike Off: Persistent failure to file can lead to ACRA striking off your company involuntarily.

Conclusion: Upgrade Your Support

Your Company Secretary should be a partner, not a bottleneck. If you are growing, you need a responsive team that uses digital signing and understands the latest tax grants.

At Excellence Singapore, we make the switch painless. We handle the resignation, the ACRA filing, and the document retrieval so you don’t have to have an awkward conversation.

Ready to upgrade? Contact us for a Seamless Transfer Quote.