Singapore is known for its fast and efficient company registration process. When it comes to setting up a company in the city-state, one of the most common questions we get is about the total cost involved.
For a foreign investor, the cost can be broken down into two main parts. First are the low, one-time government registration fees. Second, and more significantly, are the costs for mandatory local services, such as a resident director and a company secretary as required by law.
This guide provides a breakdown of both these costs to help you budget accurately for your company registration in Singapore.
Choosing the Right Company Structure
Before looking at costs, the first step is to choose the right legal structure for your business. While Singapore offers several types of business entities, such as partnerships and representative offices, the vast majority of foreign investors register a Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd).
However, we recommend setting up a Private Limited company for the following reasons:
- It is a separate legal entity that limits your own personal liability (protects your personal assets from business debts).
- Helps you present a credible, scalable business to banks, clients, and potential investors.
In contrast, other structures like a Sole Proprietorship offer no liability protection and are generally not suitable for foreign entrepreneurs looking to build long-term. For most foreign investors, the Pte Ltd is the most practical and secure choice.
Recommended reading: Types of Business Entities in Singapore
Breakdown of Company Incorporation Costs in Singapore
A. Government Registration Costs
The government layer is the most predictable part of the whole process. ACRA (the national company registrar) charges standardized filing fees through its BizFile+ portal. The rates remain the same regardless of your nationality or company size.
Two standard government fees make up a standard registration:
- Name application: Costs S$15 and reserves your approved company name for up to 120 days.
- Company registration: Costs S$300, which covers ACRA's processing, your Unique Entity Number (UEN), and the filing of your company constitution.
| Government fee (ACRA) | Amount (SGD) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Name application | 15 | Reserves your company name for up to 120 days |
| Company registration | 300 | Processing, Unique Entity Number, constitution filing |
| Certificate of incorporation (hard copy) | 50 | Optional printed certificate |
Once your company is registered, you will encounter a handful of other ACRA fees, most of which are situational. They are not part of standard compliance, but they may apply if your business undergoes changes, files late, or requests an exemption.
Below are the most common ACRA fees that apply after incorporation and in special cases:
- Annual Return (AR) Filing: SGD 60 per year
- Lodgment of Notice of Error (NOE): SGD 60
- Conversion of company types: SGD 40
- Extension of Time (AGM/accounts): SGD 200 per request
- Special Permissions or Exemptions: SGD 200 each (e.g. exemption from SFRS, holding land under Section 23(2), omitting 'Limited' in name)
Most companies won't need to file beyond standard compliance, but if a specific lodgment is required, our team will flag it early and guide you through it.
B. Professional Service Costs for Foreign Companies
This layer is where the cost for setting up a company goes beyond government fees for foreign companies. BizFile+, ACRA's filing portal, requires a SingPass login that you can only obtain after incorporation.
You cannot file on your own without it, so under the Corporate Service Providers Act you must engage an ACRA-registered Corporate Service Provider (CSP) to lodge the application for you. The CSP then handles mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks, drafts your constitution, and ensures compliance before lodging with ACRA.
Under the Companies Act, you’ll also need a resident director, a Singapore-registered physical address, and a company secretary to legally incorporate a private limited company. These two generally carry the highest cost should you choose to outsource. You don’t have to appoint a company secretary during registration, but you must do so within 6 months of incorporating your company.
Here is an overview of costs for the full registration process, alongside government and professional service fees with Emerhub as your licensed CSP:
| Cost Component | Government Fee (SGD) | Emerhub Fee (SGD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Registration with ACRA | 315 | 500 | ACRA filing ($15 for name reservation + $300 company registration) + Emerhub advisory fee. |
| Company Secretary (AR and AGM filing included) | — | 840/year | Must be appointed within 6 months; typically bundled with annual compliance. |
| Registered Address / Virtual Office | — | 480/year | Required for statutory correspondence; must be local |
| Nominee Director (Resident Director) | — | 2,300/year | Required if all directors are non-residents |
| Nominee Director Deposit | — | 1,000 (refundable) | Security retainer, held during directorship |
| Bank Account Opening | — | 500 | Assistance with opening a business bank account in Singapore |
| Filing Agent / Incorporation Support | — | Included | End-to-end onboarding and ACRA setup |
| Total Estimated First-Year Setup | — | SGD 5,520 | Excludes licensing, relocation, and post-incorporation services |
C. Ongoing Compliance and Relevant Costs
Whether or not your company is actively trading, every Singapore-incorporated company is required by law to maintain ongoing compliance with ACRA and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). Statutory deadlines are strictly enforced. Late lodgement of Annual Returns incurs an automatic ACRA penalty of SGD 300 (if filed within 3 months of the deadline) or SGD 600 (if filed more than 3 months late).
For foreign business owners running operations remotely, outsourcing compliance to a qualified secretary and accountant ensures all lodgments are filed accurately and on time.
Below is a breakdown of recurring compliance obligations and commonly outsourced support services:
| Cost Component / Service | Govt Fee (SGD) | Emerhub Fee (SGD) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Return Filing (AR) | 60/year | Included in secretary retainer | Mandatory annual lodgment with ACRA. |
| Company Secretary Retainer | — | 840/year | Mandatory role responsible for statutory registers and AGM preparation. |
| Bookkeeping & Tax Support | — | From 2,100/year | Monthly bookkeeping, ECI, and annual tax filings (Form C-S/C) for up to 100 transactions. |
| XBRL Financial Statement Preparation | — | 500/year | Mandatory financial reporting format for ACRA, unless exempt. |
| Payroll Processing | — | 125–250/month | CPF registration, monthly salary processing for up to 5 staff, and IR8A tax reporting. |
| GST Registration & Filing | — | 300–1,000+ / year | Mandatory if annual taxable turnover exceeds SGD 1 million; optional voluntarily. |
| Work Pass Application (EP / EntrePass) | SGD 105 (app) + SGD 225 (issuance) | Quoted per case | Full visa application, appeals, and advisory support for relocating founders/staff.Note: Employment Pass approvals are subject to Singapore’s COMPASS points-based criteria, including salary benchmarks and diversity metrics. |
| Sector-Specific Licences | SGD 100 – 1,000+ / year | Quoted per case | Required for regulated sectors (F&B, employment agencies, fintech, education, etc.). |
Expert Company Setup Packages in Singapore
Emerhub specializes in end-to-end support for foreign founders, remote-led teams, and global businesses setting up in Singapore.
Our incorporation service is designed to cover all the mandatory requirements and more. From customizable single compliance items to full operational setup packages, most businesses lean on one of our three core packages:
- Basic Incorporation (SGD 1,340): Best for businesses that already have a local resident director. Includes company registration, official government fees, secretary retainer, and registered address.
- Full Compliance (SGD 6,220): Ideal for remote foreign founders. Covers ACRA registration, nominee director service (plus deposit), registered address, corporate secretary, and full accounting/tax support for up to 100 annual transactions.
- Full Compliance + EP (SGD 6,720): Tailored for founders relocating to Singapore. Includes everything in the Full Compliance package plus complete Employment Pass (EP) visa application and bank account opening support.
Ready to incorporate your company in Singapore? Fill out the form below, and our team will walk you through your next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a company in Singapore without living there?
You can register and own a Singapore company from abroad, since the country sets no residency requirement for shareholders. However, you must have at least one director who ordinarily resides in the country. Foreign owners usually meet this through a nominee director service. Under the Corporate Service Providers Act, you also need a registered filing agent to incorporate. ACRA only accepts incorporation filings through a licensed agent such as Emerhub, which submits your application through BizFile on your behalf.
How long does it take to incorporate a company in Singapore?
The ACRA filing itself is fast. Once your documents are in order, the certificate of incorporation is usually issued within 24 hours of submission. The groundwork before that, from collecting the KYC documents to appointing your nominee director generally takes a few days to a week.
What’s the minimum capital required to start a company in Singapore?
The statutory minimum is just SGD 1. However, most founders set a more realistic paid-up capital (e.g., SGD 1,000-10,000) to meet practical needs like visa eligibility, bank credibility, or licensing requirements.
Do I need a visa to own a company in Singapore?
You don’t need a visa to incorporate or own shares. But if you want to live or work in Singapore under the company, you’ll need to apply for an Employment Pass (EP) or other relevant work visa.
Why do some foreign-owned companies get stalled after incorporation, even when everything looks ‘by the book’?
The most common reasons include not appointing a resident director, missing out on required licences, or failing to file the company’s first tax or annual return on time. This is why choosing a reliable local partner often prevents these issues early on.