ASSEMBLY WORKS INSIGHTS
How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate a Company in Singapore? [2026 Pricing Guide]
Published 2026-04-21
Government Fees — What ACRA Charges
Every Singapore private limited company (Pte. Ltd.) is incorporated through the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) via the BizFile+ portal. The government fees are fixed and straightforward.
ACRA incorporation fees:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Name application | S$15 |
| Company registration | S$300 |
| Total | S$315 |
The S$15 name application fee is charged when you reserve your company name. The name reservation is valid for 120 days. The S$300 registration fee is paid when you submit the incorporation application itself.
These fees have been unchanged for several years and apply to every company — whether you file the incorporation yourself or use a corporate services provider.
After incorporation, the main recurring ACRA fee is:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual return filing | S$60/year |
The annual return must be filed within a set period after your company’s AGM (or financial year end, for companies exempt from holding AGMs). Late filing attracts penalties and can lead to composition fines or even striking off.
Can You Incorporate for Just S$315?
Technically yes — but only if you are a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident who is also comfortable filing the BizFile+ forms yourself.
If you are a local founder with a Singpass account, you can log in to BizFile+, reserve a name, and submit the incorporation application directly. In that scenario, the S$315 ACRA fee is all you pay at the point of incorporation.
However, there are mandatory compliance requirements that kick in immediately after incorporation, and these come with their own costs:
- You must appoint a company secretary within 6 months of incorporation (Companies Act requirement)
- You must have a registered office address in Singapore
- You must maintain proper accounting records from day one
- You must file annual returns and (eventually) financial statements with ACRA
So while the incorporation itself can cost as little as S$315, the true first-year cost includes these ongoing compliance items.
Mandatory Costs After Incorporation
These are not optional — they are legal requirements under the Companies Act.
1. Corporate Secretary (S$300–S$1,200/year)
Every Singapore company must appoint at least one company secretary who is a natural person ordinarily resident in Singapore. The secretary is responsible for ensuring the company complies with the Companies Act — filing annual returns, maintaining statutory registers, and handling ACRA submissions.
Most small businesses outsource this to a corporate services provider. Annual fees typically range from S$300 to S$1,200 depending on the provider and the level of service. Basic packages cover annual return filing and routine ACRA updates. More comprehensive packages include board resolutions, share transfers, and changes to the company’s constitution.
If you have a co-founder or employee who is a Singapore resident and qualified to act as company secretary, you can appoint them at no additional cost — but the administrative responsibility still falls on them.
2. Registered Office Address (S$0–S$500/year)
Your company must have a registered office address in Singapore that is open to the public during business hours. If you operate from your own commercial premises, this costs nothing extra — you simply register that address.
If you work from home or do not have a physical office, you will need to use a registered address service. These typically cost S$200–S$500 per year. Note that HDB residential addresses can only be used as a registered address if you have obtained a Home Office Scheme approval from HDB — and even then, there are restrictions on the type of business activity allowed.
3. Accounting and Bookkeeping (S$500–S$2,000/year)
All Singapore companies are required to keep proper accounting records. For most small businesses, this means either hiring a bookkeeper or outsourcing to an accounting firm.
Annual accounting and bookkeeping fees for a small company with straightforward transactions typically range from S$500 to S$2,000 per year, depending on the volume and complexity of transactions. This usually includes preparation of unaudited financial statements, which you need for your annual return filing.
4. Tax Filing — ECI and Form C-S (S$0–S$600/year)
Singapore companies must file an Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) declaration within 3 months of their financial year end, and a corporate tax return (Form C-S or Form C) by 30 November each year.
Companies with straightforward tax positions and annual revenue of S$5 million or less can file Form C-S, which is a simplified return. If your accountant is already preparing your financial statements, the tax filing is often bundled in — but if billed separately, expect S$200–S$600 per year for a small company.
New companies with no revenue in their first year may qualify for an ECI filing waiver, but you still need to file Form C-S when it is due.
Optional but Common Costs
These are not legally required but are expenses that many founders encounter.
Nominee Director (S$1,500–S$5,000/year) — Foreign Founders Only
If no director of the company is ordinarily resident in Singapore, you must appoint a locally resident nominee director. This is a common requirement for foreign entrepreneurs incorporating remotely.
Nominee director fees vary widely — from around S$1,500 per year for a basic appointment to S$5,000 or more if the nominee is expected to attend meetings, sign documents regularly, or carry additional responsibilities.
Paid-Up Capital
The minimum paid-up capital to incorporate a Singapore company is S$1. There is no requirement to commit a large amount of capital upfront. Most small companies incorporate with S$1 to S$10,000 in paid-up capital. This is not a “fee” — it is your equity contribution to the company.
Business Licences and Permits
Depending on your industry, you may need specific licences before you can operate — for example, a food licence from SFA, a financial adviser licence from MAS, or an employment agency licence from MOM. Licence fees vary by agency and industry. Check the GoBusiness Licensing portal for your specific requirements.
Bank Account Opening
Most Singapore banks do not charge a fee for opening a corporate bank account, but some require a minimum initial deposit (typically S$1,000–S$3,000). The account opening process itself can take 1–4 weeks depending on the bank and the complexity of your business profile. Foreign-owned companies may face additional due diligence requirements.
Total First-Year Cost — What to Budget
Here is a realistic estimate for the most common scenarios:
Scenario 1: Local Founder, Simple Business
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| ACRA incorporation fees | S$315 |
| Corporate secretary (basic package) | S$300–S$600 |
| Registered address (if needed) | S$0–S$400 |
| Accounting and bookkeeping | S$500–S$1,000 |
| Total first-year cost | S$1,115–S$2,315 |
Scenario 2: Foreign Founder, No Local Director
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| ACRA incorporation fees | S$315 |
| Incorporation service (professional filing) | S$500–S$1,000 |
| Corporate secretary | S$500–S$1,200 |
| Registered address | S$200–S$500 |
| Nominee director | S$1,500–S$5,000 |
| Accounting and bookkeeping | S$500–S$1,500 |
| Total first-year cost | S$3,515–S$9,515 |
Note: These are indicative ranges. Many corporate services providers offer bundled packages that combine incorporation, secretary, and registered address into a single annual fee — typically S$1,000–S$2,500 for local founders.
Ongoing Annual Costs After Year One
After the first year, the annual compliance costs settle into a predictable pattern:
| Item | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| ACRA annual return filing fee | S$60 |
| Corporate secretary | S$300–S$1,200 |
| Registered address (if applicable) | S$200–S$500 |
| Accounting and bookkeeping | S$500–S$2,000 |
| Tax filing (if billed separately) | S$200–S$600 |
| Total annual cost | S$1,260–S$4,360 |
As your business grows and transactions become more complex, accounting costs will increase. Companies that do not qualify as a “small company” — broadly, those exceeding any two of: S$10 million in revenue, S$10 million in total assets, or 50 employees — must appoint an auditor — which adds S$3,000–S$10,000+ per year depending on company size.
How to Keep Costs Down
Bundle your services. Most corporate services firms offer packages that include incorporation, corporate secretary, registered address, and sometimes accounting — at a lower total cost than buying each service separately.
Start with a basic secretary package. If your company is dormant or has minimal activity in the first year, a basic secretary package covering annual return filing and routine compliance is sufficient.
Do your own bookkeeping initially. If you are comfortable with Xero, QuickBooks, or similar accounting software, you can handle day-to-day bookkeeping yourself and only engage an accountant for year-end financial statements and tax filing.
Use your own address if possible. If you have a commercial office or an approved home office, register it as your company address to save S$200–S$500 per year.
How Assembly Works Can Help
Assembly Works provides incorporation services, corporate secretary, registered address, and accounting support — all under one roof. Whether you are a local founder incorporating your first Pte. Ltd. or a foreign entrepreneur setting up a Singapore entity remotely, we handle the full process from name reservation to BizFile+ filing.
Learn more about our Incorporation service or contact us for a quote tailored to your setup.
Corporate services in Singapore.