Want to start a company in Singapore? A step-by-step guide to registration-your easy first step toward going global

In recent global business news, Singapore has once again captured the attention of international entrepreneurs and small-to-medium enterprise SME owners. According to The Straits Times, in the third quarter of 2025, new company registrations in Singapore surged nearly 15% year-on-year, with over 30% coming from China, India, and other Southeast Asian countries. This data reflects a growing trend more and more businesses are turning their eyes toward this “small but mighty” economy as a springboard for global expansion.

So, how do you successfully register a company in Singapore? It’s not just about paperwork-it’s a strategic move that can open doors to international markets. And the appeal goes far beyond rising numbers. Behind the scenes lies a stable environment, transparent legal system, prime geographical location, and highly competitive tax policies. In recent years, with the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP and the rapid growth of Southeast Asia's digital economy, many Chinese companies have chosen to set up regional headquarters in Singapore to reach broader Asia-Pacific markets.

Step 1 Define Your Company Type and Business Direction

Before filling out any forms, it’s essential to know what kind of company you want to establish. In Singapore, the most common structure is the Private Limited Company Pte Ltd. This form offers limited liability, flexibility in fundraising, and suits most startups and foreign investors looking to expand. Other options include branches, representative offices, or sole proprietorships-but for those aiming at international operations, a private limited company remains the top choice.

Take, for example, an e-commerce company from Shenzhen that last year registered a subsidiary in Singapore. By leveraging the city-state’s mature logistics network and advanced digital payment systems, they quickly broke into the Malaysian and Indonesian markets. As the company’s manager said in an interview “The registration process was easier than we expected. What really mattered was having a clear idea of our business positioning from the start.”

Step 2 Prepare Required Documents and Information

Registering a company isn’t as simple as filling out one form. You’ll need at least one local director-someone who is either a Singapore citizen or permanent resident-one company secretary who must be appointed from a licensed corporate services firm, a registered office address in Singapore, and details on initial shareholders and share structure.

There’s no minimum capital requirement-you could technically incorporate with just S$1-but most entrepreneurs recommend setting between S$10,000 and S$100,000 to reflect credibility and financial strength.

Here’s a practical tip Many founders worry about finding a local director, but there are professional service providers offering compliant nominee director services at reasonable rates. That said, while outsourcing is allowed, core information such as shareholder identities and main business activities must remain accurate and truthful-otherwise, it could cause problems later when opening bank accounts or filing taxes.

Step 3 Submit Application Online via ACRA

Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority ACRA runs a highly efficient online system. You-or your appointed agent-can use the BizFile+ platform to submit both name reservation and incorporation applications. Name approval usually comes back within minutes, and if everything checks out, the entire registration process can be completed in a single day.

Notably, ACRA has been continuously improving user experience. Recently, they introduced an AI assistant to help guide applicants through form-filling, and by the end of 2025, added multilingual support to make things easier for non-native English speakers. These upgrades highlight Singapore’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a world-class business environment.

Step 4 Complete Post-Registration Compliance Tasks

Incorporation is just the beginning. After registration, several key steps follow opening a corporate bank account, applying for necessary licenses especially if operating in sectors like education, finance, or food services, registering for GST Goods and Services Tax-a value-added tax equivalent, and ensuring timely submission of annual financial statements and corporate income tax returns.

Opening a bank account used to be a major hurdle for some foreign entrepreneurs. But now, with banks like DBS, OCBC, and UOB rolling out fully digital onboarding processes-including video interviews and remote verification-the barrier has significantly lowered. One entrepreneur from Zhejiang shared his experience “I was based in Hangzhou, and I got my Singapore company’s bank account in just three days-faster than opening a corporate account back home.”

Step 5 Leverage Policy Benefits to Go Truly Global

Registering a company isn’t the finish line-it’s the starting point. To attract foreign investment, Singapore offers various incentives. Startups, for instance, can benefit from partial tax exemptions on profits for their first three years under the “Startup Tax Exemption Scheme.” Tech-focused firms may also qualify for RD grants from the Economic Development Board EDB.

Even more importantly, Singapore has signed double taxation avoidance agreements with over 80 countries. This means your business can distribute dividends or invest globally with lower tax burdens. Combined with its status as Asia’s leading financial hub, this makes fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, and cross-border settlements much smoother.

Many companies use Singapore exactly for this reason-as a launchpad for global expansion. For example, a manufacturing tech firm from Guangzhou first established a presence in Singapore, then used that base to acquire a factory in Malaysia. The whole process went smoothly, with seamless fund transfers and manageable legal risks.

At the end of the day, registering a company in Singapore isn’t complicated. What truly matters is the founder’s strategic vision and execution ability. Think of it as a key-not just to one market, but to the entire ASEAN region and beyond. With proper preparation and a clear roadmap, this path might be easier to walk than you think.