01
Pte. Ltd.
The standard vehicle: private company limited by shares with at least one ordinarily resident director and a licensed company secretary.
SG+65SGD
Form a resilient Singapore company for Asiaand the world.
With ACRA registration, mandatory local structure, company secretary, registered office and a clear plan for tax, accounting and banking.
- ACRA registration basis SGD 315
- 17 % standard corporate tax rate
- Audit exemption for qualifying small companies
01 / Who this jurisdiction fits
Who this jurisdiction fits
Who this jurisdiction fits
- Asia-operating companies and regional headquarters
- B2B SaaS, trade and professional services
- Founders who value reputation and clear governance over the minimum price
- Companies with a real management or staffing perspective in Singapore
When we advise against it or review in depth
- Foreign founders who cannot provide a responsible resident director
- Letterbox models without an explainable business activity
- Anyone confusing start-up exemptions with 0 %
- Anyone treating nominee roles as a formal signature without control
02 / Options at a glance
Options at a glance
03 / How it works
How it works
- Step 1
Formation
Eligibility, KYC, documents, filing and register evidence.
- Step 2
Banking
Bank-readiness file, applications with bank or fintech, follow-up handling.
- Step 3
Ongoing operations
Compliance calendar, bookkeeping, filings, renewals and annual status report.
04 / Structure & requirements
Structure & requirements
| Topic | Practice |
|---|---|
| Form | Private company limited by shares (Pte. Ltd.) |
| Government fee | SGD 15 name and SGD 300 incorporation — SGD 315 in total |
| Director | At least one ordinarily resident director |
| Secretary | To be appointed within six months; with only one director, that director may not also be the secretary |
| Address | Local registered office address required |
| Capital | At least one issued share; often SGD 1 initial capital |
05 / Formation process
Formation process
- Step 01Review business model, UBO and resident-director route
- Step 02Prepare name and company data
- Step 03Constitution, directors' consents and ACRA filing
- Step 04Receive UEN and BizFile documents
- Step 05Activate company secretary, registers and registered office
- Step 06Structure Corppass and the financial year
- Step 07Prepare bank or fintech application
- Step 08Start accounting, ECI, tax return and annual return calendar
06 / Tax & levies
Tax & levies
The standard corporate tax rate is 17 %.
Qualifying new start-ups can receive a 75 % exemption on the first SGD 100,000 of normal chargeable income and a further 50 % on the next SGD 100,000 in the first three consecutive years of assessment. This is not a blanket tax exemption. GST becomes mandatory above SGD 1 million of taxable turnover under the retrospective or prospective test.
07 / Ongoing duties
Ongoing duties
- Company secretary and resident director — continuously
- Annual return with ACRA
- Estimated chargeable income and corporate income tax return with IRAS
- Bookkeeping and financial statements under the applicable standard
- AGM or permitted dispensation and resolutions
- GST registration and returns where applicable
- Audit unless exempt: small private companies are typically exempt if two of three criteria are met — revenue and assets each at most SGD 10 million and at most 50 employees
08 / Banking & payment providers
Banking & payment providers
Local banks and fintechs review management, economic connection to Singapore, customers, suppliers, website and source of funds. A nominee director alone does not replace traceable governance. Account opening and processing time remain provider-dependent.
09 / Market price benchmark
Market price benchmark
| Cost block | Market observation | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Government basis | SGD 315 | ACRA SG-1T1 |
| Company secretary | From approx. SGD 350 per year | Sleek public pricing SG-6T2 |
| Foreign-founder package | Approx. SGD 2,500–4,095 visible | Market comparison 2026 SG-7T2 SG-8T2 |
| Accounting — simple case | Approx. SGD 1,720 per year up to significantly higher by volume | SBC pricing guide 2026 SG-9T2 |
10 / Recommended packages
Recommended packages
Positioning recommendations per package. Government and partner costs are passed through and confirmed before any engagement.
Currency
* Indicative conversion — quotes are issued in the local currency with a validity date.
One-time setup
- 01One-time setup
Local Director Launch
SGD 4,990one-time≈ $3,740 *ACRA, company secretary year 1, registered office, standard documents, bank readiness
- 02One-time setup
Foreign Founder Launch
fromSGD 12,490first year≈ $9,370 *Launch plus resident nominee director year 1 after KYC; deposit separate
Monthly managed
- 03Monthly managed
Managed Singapore
fromSGD 590/ month≈ $443 *Secretary, address, annual return, accounting up to 50 transactions, ECI and simple tax return
- 04Monthly managed
GST, payroll & audit
Individual quoteSeparate modules depending on turnover, staff, group and exemption
Quotes are confirmed after KYC, activity review and confirmation of local third-party costs. Complex ownership chains, regulated activities, additional shareholders, apostilles, translations, clean-up work and late filings are priced separately.
Data status: September 2026
11 / Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
01Can a foreigner own 100 %?
Yes, a Pte. Ltd. can be foreign-owned. At least one director must however be ordinarily resident.
02What does a nominee director do?
It is more than a name function. Directors carry statutory duties and require KYC, control, indemnity and real governance processes.
03How much is the minimum capital?
At least one share is required. In simple cases SGD 1 is often issued; appropriate capitalisation depends on the business.
04When do I need a company secretary?
Within six months of incorporation at the latest. Operationally the role should be organised from the start.
05Is the start-up tax rate 0 %?
No. Limited exemptions apply to parts of chargeable income and only where the conditions are met.
06When do I have to register for GST?
Generally when taxable turnover exceeds SGD 1 million retrospectively or prospectively.
07Do I need an audit?
Many small private companies are exempt if the statutory criteria are met. Financial statements and records remain required.
08Can the company be formed fully remotely?
With a registered filing agent often yes. Banks or special documents can require additional identification.
09Is a local address mandatory?
Yes. It must be usable for official communication. Pure marketing addresses must be clearly separated.
10What does ongoing compliance cost?
Mainly nominee director, accounting volume, GST, payroll, audit and group structure. That is why we re-scope after the first financial year.
12 / Sources for this page
Sources for this page
T1 Primary sourceT2 Market benchmarkData status: September 2026
- SG-1ACRA — Choosing a business structure ↗www.acra.gov.sg/register/business/choosing-business-structure/T1
- SG-2ACRA — Appointing directors and officers ↗www.acra.gov.sg/register/business/registering-different-business-structures/local-company/appointing-company-directors-other-key-officers/T1
- SG-3IRAS — Corporate income tax rates ↗www.iras.gov.sg/quick-links/tax-rates/corporate-income-tax-ratesT1
- SG-4IRAS — GST registration threshold ↗www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-%28gst%29/gst-registration-deregistration/do-i-need-to-register-for-gstT1
- SG-5ACRA — Audit exemptions ↗www.acra.gov.sg/manage/companies/legal-requirements-common-offences/preparing-financial-statements/audit-exemptions/T1
- SG-6Sleek — Corporate secretary pricing ↗sleek.com/sg/corporate-secretary-singapore/T2
- SG-7Statrys — Singapore incorporation comparison ↗statrys.com/sg/reviews/osome-vs-sleek-singapore-incorporationT2
- SG-8Commenda — Singapore provider comparison ↗www.commenda.io/entity-management/comparison/singapore/commenda-vs-sleek-vs-osomeT2
- SG-9SBC — Incorporation pricing guideline 2026 ↗www.sbcincorp.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Pricing-Guideline-2026-04-14.pdfT2
Other jurisdictions
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United States
Wyoming LLC · Delaware C-Corp · Florida LLC
View USA ↗AE3.50/ 5
United Arab Emirates
Freezone Company · Mainland LLC · ADGM / DIFC
View UAE ↗HK4.00/ 5
Hong Kong
Private Company Limited by Shares
View Hong Kong ↗CH3.10/ 5
Switzerland
GmbH · AG — Zug, Schwyz, Zurich, Nidwalden
View Switzerland ↗Start eligibility check for Singapore
Start with the free eligibility check. You receive a scoring result, the risks and a recommended route — before any quote is issued.
Pricing ↗Free of charge. No quote is issued before the check.Data status: September 2026