How Much Does It Cost to Register a Company in Singapore? Requirements, Procedures, and Trademark Registration Explained

The costs and practical details of registering a company in Singapore are, in fact, more transparent and controllable than many people imagine. There are no hidden fees, nor any “express-track” premium charges. As long as all required documents are complete and procedures comply with regulations, the entire process can proceed very smoothly.

How much does it cost to register a company in Singapore?

The platform-related fees are exceptionally clear the official company registration fee is SGD 300 (approximately RMB 1,560), uniformly levied by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore (ACRA). This fee is payable as a one-time payment-regardless of company type or authorized share capital amount.

Additional mandatory expenses include

1. Annual company secretary service fee market rates range from SGD 1,800 to SGD 3,000 per year (approximately RMB 9,400-15,700); the first-year package typically includes registration support;

2. Registered office address service fee most agencies provide a virtual business address, with annual fees ranging from SGD 1,200 to SGD 2,500 (approximately RMB 6,300-13,100);

3. Bank account opening involves no mandatory charge; however, certain local banks-including DBS and OCBC-may impose an additional due diligence fee of SGD 500-1,000 for non-resident directors opening accounts;

4. If engaging a professional agency for end-to-end assistance, the all-inclusive service fee generally falls between SGD 2,500 and SGD 4,500 (approximately RMB 13,000-23,500), covering company registration, the first year’s secretary services, registered address provision, and basic tax advisory support.

Please note Starting in 2025, ACRA will fully implement the upgraded BizFile+ system. All submissions must be electronic-paper applications will no longer be accepted-and the “expedited processing” option has been discontinued. This means processing timelines are now more predictable, but “paying extra for faster service” is no longer possible.

Requirements for Registering a Company in Singapore

Singapore maintains clear yet flexible requirements regarding shareholder and director structure

1. At least one natural-person director, aged 18 or above, with no criminal record; nationality is unrestricted;

2. At least one shareholder-either an individual or a corporate entity-with no nationality restrictions; 100% foreign ownership is permitted;

3. Appointment of one qualified company secretary who must be a Singapore resident or hold a valid work pass;

4. A physical registered office address in Singapore is mandatory-P.O. boxes are not acceptable;

5. Minimum authorized share capital is SGD 1, with no requirement for paid-up capital; currency is unrestricted, although SGD or USD is recommended to facilitate subsequent bank account opening.

How to Register a Company in Singapore Step-by-Step Process

All steps are conducted entirely online

1. Propose and submit your preferred company name to ACRA for pre-approval; the name must comply with the Companies Act and must not duplicate existing entities or contain sensitive terms;

2. Prepare supporting documents identification and proof of residential address for all directors and shareholders; the company constitution (Constitution); and the company secretary appointment letter;

3. Submit the registration application via the BizFile+ platform, authorized by a local representative (e.g., a licensed corporate secretary firm); the system performs real-time review;

4. Upon approval, you will instantly receive a Unique Entity Number (UEN) and an electronic Certificate of Incorporation. The entire process typically takes just 1-2 working days.

Trademark Registration in Singapore (Brand Protection)

Trademark protection requires separate registration administered by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)

1. Trademarks may consist of words, logos, color combinations, or sounds-provided they possess sufficient distinctiveness;

2. Prior to filing, applicants are strongly advised to conduct a free preliminary search (available on the IPOS website) to verify that no confusingly similar marks have already been registered;

3. File the application online, specifying the relevant Nice Classification classes (Classes 1-45), submitting the trademark image/design, and providing applicant details;

4. The official examination period lasts approximately 4-6 months; applicants may receive requests for clarification or amendment during this time;

5. Once approved, the mark is published for a 3-month opposition period. If no objections are filed, registration is granted automatically. Registered trademarks are valid for 10 years and may be renewed indefinitely.

According to IPOS data released in 2025, trademark applications filed by Chinese applicants in Singapore increased by 22% year-on-year, with over 60% originating from e-commerce, SaaS, and cross-border education sectors.

The above outlines the core facts and current operational standards for company and brand registration in Singapore. We hope this information proves helpful. It is strongly recommended to engage only service providers holding a valid Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) license or officially registered with ACRA-this helps avoid complications such as abnormal annual return filings caused by unqualified secretaries. For businesses planning multi-jurisdictional operations, consider concurrently evaluating the Singapore Variable Capital Company (VCC) framework its tax-neutral structure offers superior suitability for fund management and holding company architectures.