Setting Up Business in Singapore

Singapore is a strategic hub for entrepreneurs, offering an environment that is ideal for setting up businesses of all sizes. With clear regulations and attractive tax policies, it offers excellent opportunities for growth and expansion.

If you’re planning to incorporate your business in Singapore, find out how Excellence Singapore Group can guide you every step of the way.

Why Incorporate a Company in Singapore

Many entrepreneurs choose to incorporate their business in Singapore because of the following reasons:

  • Stable and business-friendly economy that fosters growth
  • Attractive corporate tax rate for both local and foreign companies
  • Strategic Southeast Asia location, providing easy access to international and regional markets
  • Transparent regulations and simple compliance, making operations straightforward
  • Legal protection and enhanced credibility for your company

Types of Business Entities for Incorporation in Singapore

Identify which type of business entity best fits your company or work closely with our professionals to help you determine the right category suits your business:

Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd)

  • The most common form of business entity in Singapore, suitable for both local and foreign entrepreneurs
  • Can be classified as an Exempt Private Company or a Private Company Limited by Shares
  • Limited liability for shareholders
  • Recognised as a separate legal entity
  • Has share capital

Sole Proprietorship

  • A simple business structure owned and operated by one individual.
  • Owned and managed by a single person
  • No separation between personal and business liabilities
  • Unlimited personal liability
  • Easy to set up with minimal compliance requirements

General Partnership

  • A business structure owned by at least two partners
  • The maximum number of partners is 20
  • Partners may be individuals, companies, or limited liability partnerships
  • Not a separate legal entity from its partners
  • Partners are personally liable for all debts and losses of the partnership
  • Legal actions are taken in the names of the partners

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

  • Offers the flexibility of operating as a partnership while having a separate legal identity
  • Recognised as a body corporate with legal personality distinct from its partners
  • Enjoys perpetual succession; changes in partners do not affect its existence
  • Can sue and be sued, acquire property, and act in its own name
  • Partners may be individuals, local or foreign companies, or other LLPs

Public Company (Ltd.)

  • Can be structured as a Public Company Limited by Shares or Limited by Guarantee
  • Typically established for larger-scale operations or public-interest activities.
  • Public Company Limited by Shares may raise capital by offering shares or debentures to the public
  • Registration of a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore is required before public offerings
  • Public Company Limited by Guarantee is commonly used for non-profit activities serving public or national interests

Eligibility Requirements for Singapore Company Incorporation

Depending on the type of business entity you are planning to incorporate, the eligibility requirements include:

Sole Proprietorship and Partnership

  • Owner or partners must be at least 18 years old
  • Owners must be Singapore Citizens, PRs, or eligible FIN holders
  • Owners must be up to date with MediSave contributions
  • Foreigners residing overseas may register a sole sole proprietorship or partnership but must appoint at least one locally resident authorised representative
  • Provide a registered business address. This should not be a P.O. Box Address

Private Company & Public Company

  • Must have at least one director who is a Singapore resident
  • Director must be at least 18 years old and of full legal capacity
  • Director must be a Singapore Citizen, PR, EntrePass holder, or Employment Pass (EP) holder
    • Nominee director can be appointed for foreign companies or foreign entrepreneurs wanting to incorporate in Singapore
  • Must appoint a company secretary within six months of incorporation
    • Company secretary must be a natural person and locally resident in Singapore
    • Company secretary cannot be the same individual as the director
  • Must provide a local Singapore contact address for ACRA public records
  • Minimum issued share capital is $1

Foreign entrepreneurs and companies can incorporate in Singapore. However, at least one director must be a resident in the country for the company to be registered.

If a foreign company does not have a locally resident director, it may engage a corporate service provider to appoint a nominee director to fulfil this statutory requirement.

Singapore Company Incorporation Process

Incorporating a business in Singapore involves several steps:

Register your company name through ACRA’s BizFile+ system. A registration fee of S$15 applies, and once approved, the name will be reserved for 120 days.

Appoint company director(s) and company secretary. Their NRIC or passport numbers, full names, contact information, and residential addresses must be provided. Directors must meet eligibility requirements, including age and residency.

Prepare the company Constitution and the directory and company secretary’s particulars for the online application to Bizfile

Submit all incorporation documents to ACRA for formal approval. A registration fee of S$300 applies.

Once your incorporation application is approved, BizFile will email the appointed officers to request their endorsement. All officers must endorse their appointments within 60 days from the date of the email.

Open a corporate bank account to manage your company’s finances.

Receive guidance on ongoing compliance, including annual filing, corporate secretary requirements, and tax obligations.

When you partner with Excellence Singapore Group, we make it even faster, smoother, and fully compliant, guiding you through the documentation process for a smooth setup. We can also support investors and business owners who are exiting or selling their companies.

Tailored Incorporation Services for Foreign Entrepreneurs in Singapore

Foreign entrepreneurs and companies are required to work with a corporate service provider, particularly if they do not have a locally resident director or partner to assist with registration. Excellence Singapore Group offers specialised incorporation services designed to simplify the process, save time, and ensure full compliance with local regulations.

Nominee Director Services

For businesses that may not yet have a local resident director, we provide nominee director services to fulfil this statutory requirement. Please note that this service is charged separately from our standard incorporation package.

Bank Account Assistance

Opening a corporate bank account has become more stringent than in the past, with applications getting rejected if the company’s background and supporting documents are not clearly presented. Our bank account opening assistance ensures your application is properly prepared, with sufficient documentation and context, so it is “bank-ready” and aligned with current compliance expectations.

Document Verification and Translation

Our professionals can help ensure compliance with documentation related to exiting and selling the business. We can also help with proper document verification and translation to help reduce internal disputes with other directors or shareholders.

End-to-End Compliance Support

Benefit from full guidance from registration through post-incorporation filings like trademark registration, helping your company maintain compliance with ongoing statutory obligations.

Dedicated Consultation

Access personalised consultation services tailored for foreign clients, providing expert advice to navigate Singapore’s regulatory framework efficiently. This service is also available to local companies seeking support for incorporation in Singapore.

Basic Documents Required for Singapore Company Incorporation

We can guide you through the documentation process to ensure full compliance with Singapore’s incorporation requirements.

Particular Required by Officers (Company Director and Secretary)

  • NRIC and full name
  • Nationality
  • Contact information (telephone number and email address)
  • Residential address

Company Constitution

If you do not have a customised constitution, we can assist in preparing one that includes:

  • Company name and registered office address
  • Business activities and operational procedures
  • Member liabilities
  • Share capital details, including total amount and number of issued shares
  • Governance rules, such as:
    • Transfer of shares
    • Calling Annual or Extraordinary General Meetings
    • Appointment and resignation of directors and company secretary

Register Office Address

  • A registered office in Singapore that is open and accessible to the public for at least three hours during ordinary business hours on each business day

Company Incorporation Packages Tailored to Your Needs

Our packages cover everything from business registration to essential corporate services, so you can focus on growing your company.

Feature Foundation Package Strategic Growth Package
Starting From S$1,000

Includes:

  • Company name reservation
  • Preparation of incorporation documents
  • ACRA business registration (inclusive of S$315 government fees)
  • Corporate secretary for the first year
  • First board resolution and share certificate issuance
S$1,300

Includes:

  • Everything in Foundation Package
  • Additional advisory on corporate governance, accounting and regulatory matters (refer below)
Best For Local or foreign individual shareholders and directors. Foreign entities, corporate shareholders, or complex structures.
Onboarding Dedicated onboarding with direct assistance for KYC and CDD. Comprehensive due diligence advisory for complex ownership structures.
Communication Direct access to our team via WhatsApp, Wechat, in-person, video call, and email. Direct access to our team via WhatsApp, Wechat, in-person, video call, and email.
GST Advisory InvoiceNow readiness check for future GST registration. InvoiceNow readiness check for future GST registration.
Share Structure Standard Ordinary Shares setup. Advanced structures (ESOPs, Preference Shares, etc.).
Key Benefit Direct access to senior consultants—no automated chatbots or mass-volume ticketing. Professional advisory on complex regulatory and corporate governance requirements.
  • Additional services such as nominee director service, Employment Pass (EP) application, corporate bank account opening, GST registration, trademark registration, and annual return filing are available separately.
  • Price range also depends on factors such as multiple shareholders, corporate shareholders, and additional services required.

Engage Our Services

Why Choose Excellence Singapore?

Unlike high-volume digital platforms, we prioritise a direct partnership over mass automation. Every company incorporation includes:

Our team has extensive experience in Singapore’s regulatory environment, ensuring a seamless and compliant incorporation process.

We provide end-to-end support, from company registration to post-incorporation requirements, helping your business succeed from day one.

We customise our services to meet your specific needs, whether you’re a local entrepreneur or a foreign investor.

Our pricing is clear and upfront, with no hidden fees, so you know exactly what to expect.

We don’t just “file and forget.” We advise on tax compliance and business structures tailored to your long-term goals.

Our professionals can meet you via video call or in-person to ensure security and build a direct relationship from Day 1. You can also contact us via WhatsApp, WeChat or email.

As a Xero Silver Partner and QuickBooks ProAdvisor, we ensure your entity is set up for seamless digital accounting from the start.

Post-Incorporation Compliance Requirements

After incorporating a company in Singapore, businesses must comply with ongoing legal and regulatory obligations to remain in good standing. Excellence Singapore Group can help you beyond company incorporation:

Annual Filing

With our ACRA XBRL filing services, we assist you in submitting accurate financial statements on time so you avoid penalties and late-filing issues.

Corporate Secretarial Duties

Our company secretary services ensure your statutory registers are properly maintained, corporate governance standards are upheld, and all secretarial obligations are efficiently managed.

Accounting & Tax Filing

We provide outsource accounting services to manage your financial needs, including preparing accurate financial statements, filing corporate tax returns, and maintaining overall compliance with Singapore’s accounting regulations.

Trademark Registration

Our experts help you protect your brand by conducting thorough trademark searches and assessments to identify potential conflicts. They can also offer guidance in the registration process and handle the paperwork for a hassle-free submission process

GST Registration InvoiceNow Service

Our professionals assist in transmitting invoice data to IRAS using InvoiceNow-ready solutions via the InvoiceNow network, simplifying your GST compliance process.

Personal Data Protection (PDPA) Registration

With our PDPA registration service, we handle the official submission of Data Protection Officer (DPO) appointments through the ACRA BizFile+ portal, ensuring your records are accurate and up to date. Additionally, we can act as the primary contact for any data protection-related queries from the public or authorities.

Accounting Software Integration

We provide seamless integration with popular accounting software such as QuickBooks Online and Xero, helping you manage your company’s finances accurately.

Other Regulatory Requirements

Excellence Singapore Group can guide you through other regulatory requirements, including auditing, due diligence checks, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Company Incorporation Services in Singapore

This depends on how prompt you and your shareholders can submit documentation to our staff. However, typically, once all the documents are prepared, the registration process will take 1 to 3 days. Should the application be referred to another Minister, this could take up to 2 months.

Yes, a registered office address in Singapore is mandatory, but it doesn't have to be where the business operates.

Yes, foreigners can incorporate a company in Singapore. However, at least one director must be a Singapore resident to register the business. You can engage with nominee director services to fulfil this requirement.

The minimum paid-up capital required to incorporate a company in Singapore is just S$1, making it accessible for entrepreneurs to start a business.

No, you don't need to be physically present in Singapore to incorporate your company. If you're unable to travel, we offer nominee director services where our representative can handle the entire registration and incorporation process on your behalf.

Foreigners who formed companies in Singapore can benefit from the same tax advantages as local companies, including a flat corporate tax rate of 17% and access to various tax exemptions.

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The incorporation form is specifically for Singapore (SG) incorporation. For any other types of incorporation, please feel free to reach out to us for a different incorporation form.

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