When incorporating a new company in Singapore, one of the first fields you must fill in is: “Registered Office Address.”

For many new entrepreneurs and solo founders, the temptation is to simply use their home address (HDB or private condo) to save on rent.

While this is legally allowed under specific government schemes, it comes with privacy risks and compliance headaches that most business owners do not anticipate.

In this guide, we weigh the pros and cons of the Home Office Scheme versus using a professional Virtual Office.

1. Yes, You Can (The “Home Office Scheme”)

Under the Home Office Scheme, both HDB (Housing Development Board) and URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) allow you to use your residential premises for small-scale business administration.

The Conditions:

  1. Approvals: You must get written approval from HDB (for flats) or URA (for private property).

  2. No Nuisance: You cannot generate noise, smoke, or heavy traffic.

  3. Staff Cap: You are limited to 2 non-resident employees working in the flat.

  4. Ownership: You must be the owner, or have the owner’s explicit consent.

2. The “Privacy” Trap (Your Address Becomes Public)

This is the biggest downside that new founders overlook.

ACRA’s Register is Public. Once you register your company using your home address, that address becomes permanently listed on the public ACRA BizFile database.

  • The Risk: Anyone (competitors, creditors, unhappy customers, or random salespeople) can buy your Business Profile for $5.50 and see exactly where you and your family live.

  • The Result: You may start receiving unsolicited junk mail and sales visits at your doorstep.

3. The “3-Hour” Compliance Rule

According to the Companies Act, a Registered Office must be accessible to the public for at least 3 hours during ordinary business hours on each business day.

  • The Problem: If you use your home address, you are technically required to be “open” to receive government mail or legal notices.

  • The Inspection: While rare, if an ACRA officer or a process server (delivering a lawsuit) visits your home during office hours and no one is there, your company can be penalized for not maintaining a valid Registered Office.

4. The Solution: A Virtual Office Address

For most small businesses, the smarter (and still very cheap) alternative is a Virtual Office.

This is a service provided by Corporate Service Providers (like Excellence Singapore) where you “rent” our prestigious CBD address for ACRA registration, without actually renting physical office space.

Why choose a Virtual Office?

  1. Privacy: Your home address remains private. The public only sees our office address.

  2. Professional Image: Your business cards will show a CBD address (e.g., Cecil Street or Raffles Place) instead of a residential block.

  3. Mail Handling: We receive your government letters and scan/forward them to you. You never miss an IRAS deadline.

  4. Compliance: Our office is open 9am-6pm, satisfying the “3-hour” rule perfectly.

Summary: Which Should You Choose?

HDB Home Office vs Virtual Office Singapore Comparison Table Privacy Cost

Conclusion: Protect Your Privacy for a Small Fee

The cost of a Virtual Office is often less than S$20-30 per month. Compared to the loss of privacy and the hassle of HDB approvals, it is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

At Excellence Singapore, our Virtual Office Packages provide you with a premium registered address and digital mail handling, ensuring you look professional from Day 1.

Don’t want your home address on Google? Sign up for our Registered Office Address service today.