Most incorporation mistakes happen in the first 30 days. Wrong structure. Missing a statutory requirement. Paperwork filed with errors that ACRA kicks back. These are not catastrophic problems on their own — but they cost time, create delays, and in some cases lead to compliance issues that follow you for years.
This guide exists so you avoid all of that.
The One Decision That Changes Everything
Before anything else, you need to choose your business structure. And for the vast majority of founders, entrepreneurs, and foreign companies expanding to Singapore, the right answer is the Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd).
Here is why it beats every alternative: it gives you limited liability, a separate legal identity, access to startup tax exemptions, and eligibility for government grants. It can scale to 50 shareholders. It is the structure investors recognize and respect. And it is the only structure that gives you the full benefit of what makes Singapore so attractive in the first place.
The only real alternative worth considering for foreign businesses is the subsidiary structure — a locally incorporated Pte Ltd where the parent is a shareholder. This is almost always preferable to a branch office, which leaves the parent company personally liable for all Singapore obligations.
The Actual Requirements
ACRA sets the floor, and it is lower than most people expect. You need at least one shareholder. You need at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore — Citizen, PR, or Employment Pass holder. Minimum paid-up capital is just S$1. You need to appoint a qualified company secretary within six months. And you need a local registered address (not a P.O. box).
The requirement that catches foreign founders off-guard: the locally resident director. If your entire team is based outside Singapore, you cannot satisfy this requirement without a Nominee Director — a locally resident individual who is appointed as a statutory director. Your incorporation agent handles this.
Step by Step: How Incorporation Works
Reserve your company name through ACRA’s BizFile+ portal. Standard approvals return in under an hour. Your reserved name holds for 120 days.
Prepare your incorporation documents — the Memorandum and Articles of Association, particulars of all directors and shareholders, your registered address, and the shareholding structure. ACRA provides standard M&AA templates, so this step is straightforward with the right guidance.
Submit through BizFile+ with the S$315 registration fee. In most cases, ACRA approves within one to three business days. Same-day approvals are common.
Then: appoint your company secretary (statutory, not optional), open a corporate bank account, and assess your GST registration obligation. Registration is compulsory if annual taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million; voluntary registration is available and beneficial if you have significant input tax credits.
The Numbers
ACRA registration: S$315. Annual company secretarial services: S$300–S$600. Nominee director (if required): S$1,500–S$3,000 per year. Registered address: S$200–S$600 per year. Professional incorporation fee: S$200–S$1,000.
Bundling everything through one provider is almost always the right call. Not just for convenience — for accuracy. A missed requirement, an error in your ACRA submission, or a gap in your compliance setup costs far more to fix than a professional service fee.
Post-Incorporation: What You Cannot Ignore
Once incorporate a company in Singapore, you are subject to: Annual Return filing with ACRA within seven months of your financial year-end. AGM within six months (or satisfying the private company opt-out conditions). Annual corporate tax filing with IRAS. Financial statements prepared to SFRS standards. CPF contributions for all Singapore citizen and PR employees. Industry-specific licenses where your sector requires them.
Getting into good compliance habits from month one makes all of this manageable. Letting it slide makes it expensive.
The Case for Fast Accounting
Fast Accounting is an ACRA Registered Filing Agent (FA20240415) and full-service corporate services firm in Singapore. Their incorporation service covers the entire process — advisory on structure and requirements, document preparation and ACRA submission, company secretary appointment, registered address, and post-incorporation setup including bank account and GST registration.
What sets them apart is what happens next. Their ongoing services cover accounting and financial statements, corporate income tax, payroll and CPF, statutory audit, government grant applications, nominee director service, and overseas incorporation for businesses expanding further. All-in-one monthly packages start at S$100.
For founders who want to incorporate correctly the first time and have one trusted partner for everything that follows — Fast Accounting is the practical answer.
Book a free consultation with Fast Accounting today and get your Singapore company incorporated the right way.
