Opening Company in Singapore
Thinking about starting your business in Singapore and other countries in Southeast Asia?
We provide a full spectrum of corporate secretarial services to assist businesses establish a presence in Singapore or China, and to be the main contact point in establishing presence in Southeast Asia.
Attractive Corporate Tax Rates
Singapore offers one of the most attractive corporate tax structures in the world. Although its marginal rate is the third-lowest in the world, its effective tax rate is even lower, compared to other more developed countries.
Double Taxation
Singapore has agreements on Double Taxation Avoidance with more than 80 countries. The full list of countries is available on Singapore Tax Authority website: IRAS
Singapore Economic Development Board encourages multinational companies to relocate their headquarters to Singapore by offering numerous incentives.
For new companies, there is a partial tax exemption scheme available:
We Work with Foreign Individuals and Foreign Business Entities.
You are a start-up and you are still working on your business model, or you are looking for investors, or perhaps you are planning to take things a step further?
We can help you reach the ‘next level’ by linking with other organizations and sharing our own knowledge, experience, and expertise.
Furthermore, we help you find subsidies and tax incentives. Lastly, we offer assistance in the field of international expansion.
You can also check multiple grants available in Singapore below
From start-ups to global multi-nationals, family businesses are powering national economies and employment opportunities. Singapore is becoming a home base for many family offices.
Setting up of a family office is typically coupled with the setting up of a family fund; but the simplicity, efficiency, clarity of succession, and cost reduction associated with setting up a family office in Singapore isn’t just for billionaires.
We can assist with family office design and set-up, family education and communications, charitable planning and private foundations, and structuring business investments.
Learn more about how we can assist families with our Kids Education & Sports advisory services
We provide a full spectrum of corporate services to assist businesses establish a presence in Singapore. Our services include:
- Company incorporations
- Registered office/ correspondence address
- Attendance at board and shareholders’ meetings
- Provision of company secretary
- Provision of nominee director by our external working panels.
- Annual filing with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore
Company Registration for Individuals
Individuals non-residents are allowed to register a private limited company in Singapore. Foreigners can own 100% of the company.
Company registration in Singapore is relatively simple. You can find all details here: Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)
We provide 2 types of company registration:
- Company Registration + Nominee Director – this type is suitable for entrepreneurs who wish to set up a Singapore company but don’t plan to relocate to Singapore. This package includes the provision and services of a nominee resident director in order to comply with ACRA
- Company Registration + Employment Vias – this type is suitable for entrepreneurs or professionals who wish to set up a company in Singapore and relocate to Singapore. The Singapore company will have to be incorporated first before the Employment Pass is issued. You can engage our local resident nominee director on a temporary basis until you secure your Employment Pass.
Registration requirements
- Minimum 1 shareholder
- 1 resident (local) director.
- 1 local secretary, can be a Permanent Resident or Citizen
- Minimum paid-up capital of S$1
- A local registered address (can be virtual)
If you need an Employment Pass:
- Our representative can act as a nominee director on a temporary basis to apply for your EP, open a corporate account in Government services, or opening a bank account.
- When your EP is ready you are considered a local resident and a nominee director is no longer required.
- Your physical presence is not required until your EP is ready.
For Company registration
- Copy of passport
- Copy of residential address proof such as a recent utility bill, residential phone bill, tax bill, cable TV bill or bank statements
For Employment Pass (EP) application
- Copy of passport (passport must have a validity of more than 6 months)
- Copy of highest educational certificate (including mark sheet) – translated into English and notary certified.
If you bring your family with you:
- Copy of passport of your wife/husband/children (passport must have a validity of more than 6 months)
- Copy of Marriage Certificate (spouse) – translated into English and notary certified.
- Copy of Birth Certificate (child-under 21) – translated into English and notary certified.
- Copy of highest education certificate (for spouse and/or child)
There are a few very important things that you need to know before you pay for company registration?
- Important 1. Ownership or directorship of a Singapore company doesn’t give you Singapore residency status. To be able to relocate to and live in Singapore, you will need to become an employee of your company, i.e. to obtain an Employment Pass.
- Important 2. To obtain an Employment Pass, you will most likely need to deposit your 12-month salary in your bank account. There is a min. salary requirement, which is stated on the website of the Ministry of Manpower. You can do a self-assessment of your potentially required salary here: Ministry of Manpower
- Important 3. To open a bank account, apply for your own Employment, and many other services your company will need to register CorpPass – the only method of interaction with more than 200 government services. You will need to have a local director (can be a nominee director) who will apply for CorpPass or open a Bank account for your company. You cannot do it as a foreigner or a foreign director.
Company Registration for Legal Entities
A foreign company planning to set up an office or expand their business in Singapore has several options for its company structure:
- Branch Office – not a separate legal entity but an extension of the parent company. Taxed as a non-resident entity, local tax benefits are not available. Advisable for a medium to large-sized businesses that intend to conduct a wide range of local & international business activities.
- Subsidiary Company – a separate legal entity distinct from its parent company. It is treated as a local Singapore company and taxed as a Singapore resident entity, local tax benefits available. Advisable if you are running a small to medium-sized businesses.
- Representative Office – has no legal status, a temporary administrative arrangement. Can only conduct market research or feasibility studies, no taxation applicable as a representative office cannot generate income. All costs must be funded by the parent company.
A step-by-step guide is available on the website of Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)
Registration requirements
- Minimum 1 shareholder
- 1 resident (local) director.
- 1 local secretary, can be a Permanent Resident or Citizen
- Minimum paid-up capital of S$1
- A local registered address (can be virtual)
If you need an Employment Pass:
- Our representative can act as a nominee director on a temporary basis to apply for your EP, open a corporate account in Government services, or opening a bank account.
- When your EP is ready you are considered a local resident and a nominee director is no longer required.
- Your physical presence is not required until your EP is ready.
For Branch Office:
- A certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the foreign company
- A certified copy of the Constitution of the foreign company
- Particulars of the directors of the foreign company
- A memorandum of appointment and details of at least 1 person resident in Singapore who will act as the authorized representative for the Singapore branch office
- Latest audited financial statements of the parent company, if required
For Subsidiary:
- A certificate of incorporation of the parent company
- An extract from the Registrar of Companies that shows the current registered address and directors of the parent company
- A corporate resolution authorizing a specific individual to sign necessary subsidiary documents on behalf of the parent company
- Passport particulars and residential address details of individuals who will act as the directors of the Singapore subsidiary
- Signed Consent to Act As Director by each proposed director
- Registered address details for the Singapore subsidiary
- Memorandum & Articles of Association for the Singapore Subsidiary
For Rep. Office:
- Copy of the parent Company’s Certificate of Incorporation
- Copy of the parent Company’s latest annual report and audited accounts
- Duly endorsed undertaking to abide by the Terms and Conditions governing Representative Offices in Singapore
For Employment Pass (EP) application
- Copy of passport (passport must have a validity of more than 6 months)
- Copy of highest educational certificate (including mark sheet) – translated into English and notary certified.
If you bring your family with you:
- Copy of passport of your wife/husband/children (passport must have a validity of more than 6 months)
- Copy of Marriage Certificate (spouse) – translated into English and notary certified.
- Copy of Birth Certificate (child-under 21) – translated into English and notary certified.
- Copy of highest education certificate (for spouse and/or child)
Government Programs and Grants
The strengths of Singapore’s current entrepreneurial landscape are a pro-business government, a vibrant venture capitalist market, and ease of starting a business. So if you want to join the vibrant startup ecosystem, below is the list of the governmental programs for you to consider:
- Startup Grants here.
- Government Assistance For Businesses here.
- Tourism Board Grants here.
- Aviation Development Fund here.
- Angel Investors Tax Deduction here.
- Fintech & Innovation Grants (Monetary Authority) here.
- Early Stage Venture Fund here.
- Health Promotion Board Grants here.
- National Environment Agency grants here.
- Cities of Tomorrow Research Grants here.
- National Medical Research Council Grants here.
- Agency of Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR) Grants here.