Singapore Company Incorporation Specialists

Specialised in Helping Foreigners Set Up Business in Singapore from Overseas

Premium Company Incorporation Services in Singapore

Whether you are starting a company in Singapore for the first time or opening a subsidiary or branch of an existing overseas business, we offer reliable company formation services in Singapore to ensure everything is covered — from incorporation and filing to ongoing compliance.

Please refer to our services for a more in-depth understanding of our service capabilities or connect with one of our consultants today!

What Incorporating in Singapore Actually Involves

Government fees are S$315. This includes S$15 for the name application and S$300 for registration. This amount goes directly to ACRA, and is not included in our service fee. After incorporation, ACRA charges S$60 a year for your annual return.
You cannot file it yourself from overseas. BizFile+, ACRA’s filing portal, requires a Singpass to log in. Foreign founders must appoint an ACRA-registered filing agent to file on their behalf.
You can own 100% of the company. Singapore does not require a local equity partner for a private limited company, subject to sector-specific rules in regulated industries.
You do need one ordinarily resident director from day one. If nobody in your structure qualifies, a nominee director arrangement through a registered filing agent covers the requirement while you retain full ownership and control of the company.
Share capital starts at S$1. There is no minimum capital threshold to clear before you can incorporate.
A corporate secretary must be appointed within six months, and must be a natural person ordinarily resident in Singapore. You will also need a registered Singapore office address.
Timelines vary more than most providers admit. A straightforward application is often approved shortly after payment, typically within one to three business days. Complex applications can take up to 15 working days. If your business activity requires approval from a referral authority — finance, education, healthcare and several others — expect 14 to 60 days.
Bank account opening is usually the slowest step. We prepare the documentation and make the introduction; the timeline depends on the bank’s own compliance review.

Read the full incorporation process →

Why Foreign-Owned Companies Choose Startup Biz Consultants

ACRA-registered filing agent — you’re dealing with a regulated provider, not a middleman.
15+ years helping foreign founders and companies set up and run in Singapore.
Specialists who are members of ISCA, ACCA and SCTP — accounting, tax and HR under one roof.
No “one size fits all” — advice built around your entity, your home country and your goals.
One itemised quote before anything is filed. No surprise fees afterwards.

Pricing

The fees for the incorporation services varies, depending on the following factors:

Whether you need a nominee director or have a resident director already
Whether any founder needs an Employment Pass or EntrePass
Whether your activity falls under a regulated industry requiring licensing
Whether you expect to cross the S$1m GST registration threshold in year one
The number and type of shareholders, particularly corporate shareholders in other jurisdictions

Government fees of S$315 are passed through at cost on every quote.

Incorporating in Singapore From Your Country

From Hong Kong

Hong Kong founders usually decide to incorporate in Singapore for the refined foreign-sourced income exemption regime and ASEAN market access. These are two different routes depending on whether you are relocating the business or adding a Singapore entity alongside your Hong Kong company.

Incorporate in Singapore from Hong Kong

Start a business in Singapore from Hong Kong

From the United Kingdom

Singapore is an attractive destination for UK business owners to start operations because of its legal system, built on common English law, and its convenient access to Asian markets. If you are incorporating a subsidiary of your existing business, you would need to file for incorporation in Singapore from the UK, or you may be opening a new business in Singapore from the UK.

From Vietnam

Vietnamese business founders open companies in Singapore to expand their operations into broader regional markets and take advantage of the business-friendly environment and taxes. Learn more about incorporating a business in Singapore from Vietnam or start up a new business in Singapore from Vietnam.

From Australia

Australian business owners choose Singapore to incorporate their business to take advantage of lower corporate tax rates and a pro-business regulatory environment, and to enter the fast-growing Asian markets. The English-based legal framework and the strong intellectual property protection in Singapore are also leading factors for Australians choosing to incorporate in Singapore from Australia or opening new businesses in Singapore from Australia.

Speak with a Business Setup Consultant in Singapore Today

If you are starting the journey of setting up a business in Singapore, then Startup Biz Consultants can help. To receive assistance in starting a business the right way, speak to our team today by calling us at 6523 2574.

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Meet the Team

Genevieve

Director & Head of HR and Immigration Services

Genevieve Cheong (Gen) is a Director and Head of Human Resources and Immigration Services for Startup Biz Consultants Singapore. She has over 20 years of experience and now leads the HR & Payroll services team who are responsible for all HR related services from talent acquisition, work pass consultations and applications, PR applications, workers compensation and benefits, payroll, and overall general HR consultation for example internal HR policy review or development, employee engagement programs, HRMS migration or implementation and more.

Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing, Information Technology, and e-Commerce | University of Western Australia
Lead the HR department | Banyan Tree
Headed the HR department | Nu Skin regional office in Singapore
Worked in many renowned companies such as Unilever (FMCG industry), Borneo Motors (automotive industry), Valiram Group (retail industry) and MediaCorp (media industry)

Jason

Senior Manager

Jason is the Senior Manager of Startup Biz Consultants (Singapore). He works closely with a team of experienced professionals and is responsible to ensure accurate and efficient completion of accounting and tax services for all our clients. With his years of experience in financial reporting and taxation, he is able to provide accurate guidance and valuable advice to his clients. Jason also has extensive experience in liaising with government authorities like IRAS, CPF Board, MOM, as well as auditors and business leaders to help resolve various accounting and tax issues for the clients.

Member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), the Association of the Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Singapore Chartered Tax Professionals (SCTP)
Team-lead in another leading Singapore-based corporate services firm specialising in global client advisory regarding business expansion and corporate presence establishment in Singapore

Cold Fusion Wallet

This client went through an extremely unnecessary long and tedious process with another global profession services firm who does not seem to understand the client’s business and the way it will be operating in Singapore. The client needs urgent guidance due to tight commercial timeline syncing back to its head office in Taiwan. Client was introduced to Startup Biz Consultants Singapore, seeks help and guidance from the team and their journey to setup a subsidiary company in Singapore were instantly resolved.

What our clients have to say

An hour’s phone call is what did wonders for all of us as the SBC team addresses everything we need to take note of, and is specific in terms of what potential challenges we will face as a startup setting up in Singapore as a foreigner. A clear step-by-step approach was drafted, and we simply have to follow closely under the guidance of the experienced SBC team to achieve what we wanted. The team is not only efficient, responsive but actually cares about what we are trying to do here in Singapore. Definitely glad we make an effort connecting to the team, so before losing all hope, I would encourage you to drop the SBC team a note.

eCommerce Marketplace StartupEntrepreneur/Co Founder

Got introduced to SBC through a fellow entrepreneur and found the answers that I was so desperately searching for!

The team provided an interim solution and also a long-term strategy to help me achieve what I wanted, that is when I incorporated my own business entity as a foreigner to do what I do best still here in Singapore. SBC basically took care of everything and they just make it look so easy and simple but frankly I know it is definitely not the case. Thank you team SBC!

Regional TradingCEO and Founder

SBC took the challenge and help us incorporate our business entity in Singapore, they too connected us to some other 3rd party partners to help get our trademark registered and the legal advice we dearly seek in Singapore to help review some of the contracts we have on hand. The Team constantly checks in on us to ensure everything is in place and if we are well taken care of by their partners…. SBC took care of all compliance aspect of our Singapore business diligently since. Trustworthy partner to have alongside for sure!

Waste ManagementCommercial & Technical Director

It has been a pleasure working with Startup Biz over the past year. Their team consistently provided prompt and valuable responses to any questions or inquiries we had. Their dedication to customer service and support has been outstanding, ensuring that our needs were always met swiftly and effectively. We greatly appreciate the professionalism and expertise they brought to every interaction.

CFWFounder

At the initial stage, we have no clue exactly how to start the process, especially when we have limited knowledge and understanding about Singapore’s legal system and company law. A friend introduces us to Startup Business Consultant. After a few calls with the team and meeting in Singapore, they became a very important role in my career life and our business, the company was incorporated since 2022 as a private limited company, it has been almost 2 years now. Quite frankly, Startup Biz Consultants is a corporate services firm that is genuine in helping their clients and entrepreneurs like me, it’s the one complete, reliable and trustworthy company to partner with.

Wine TechFounder

The Directors of A& M Wilkinson School of Music & Drama would like to thank yourself, Jason & your staff for the wonderful help and assistance given to facilitate the closure of our School. It was a very complex and mentally tiring journey before you were introduced to us.

Your prompt personal and sensitive approach enabled us to tackle the daunting prospect with confidence and ease through the most professional advice and direction.

We sincerely wish that we had been introduced to you earlier as this would have saved much unnecessary worry and confusion, and we now look forward to our retirement.

A&M Wilkinson School of Music & DramaDirectors

Questions? Take a look at Our Guides

Why Should Startup/Business Consider Setting Up In Singapore?

Singapore have been the hot favourite country for startups and entrepreneurs to establish their business and getting more and more popular these past years. In this article, find out why Singapore is so popular and the reason some business owners feel that it is impossible to fail here in Singapore.

Singapore Incorporation Options For Foreign Individuals – General Guide

Thousands of foreign startups and entrepreneurs chose to setup their businesses in Singapore in a year. May it be a foreigner working in Singapore looking at setting up his own business, or a foreign business owner who have interest in promoting his ideals in or through Singapore. Read about the options available to you as a foreign individual and a business owner here in this article.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO SETUP A COMPANY IN SINGAPORE

Singapore is top ranking in global reports worldwide to be the easiest country to start your business. Despite that, many business owners and entrepreneurs faced multiple challenges and wasted effort on clearing pitfalls as they are not familiar with the processes. This is a step-by-step guide to provide an in depth understanding when setting up your business in Singapore.

Our Team

Startup Biz Consultants (Singapore) is the creation of a team of professionals who are passionate about helping entrepreneurs and foreign business owners who have an interest to establish their businesses here in Singapore.

Equipped with more than 15 years of experience helping thousands of companies’ setup in Singapore, the team is well versed to know that the same solution does not fit every client. Partnering with the right service provider is an asset that one must consider when trying to achieve your goal, that is what the team in Startup Biz Consultants (Singapore) is all about. Helping you realized your goals and achieving them at the most efficient way possible is our main priority.

READY TO INCORPORATE YOUR COMPANY?

It does not matter if you are trying to understand the requirements to incorporate a company in Singapore, find out what are the applicable tax policies for your income, when to register for GST, or what are the regulatory restrictions when working for a Singapore company as a foreigner, the team will deliver a clear and structured advice based on your unique requirements and your target outcome.

Check out what are some of the service packages we have or connect with one of our consultants for a no obligation chat today! Hope to hear from you and let us help make your plans into a reality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreign individual or an overseas company own 100% of a Singapore company?

Yes. Singapore places no restriction on foreign shareholding in a private limited company. A foreigner or an overseas parent company can hold all of the shares. There is no requirement for a local shareholder, a local partner, or a minimum level of investment. The only requirement is to have a local ordinarily resident director.

Do I need a Singapore-resident director, and can Startup Biz Consultants provide one?

Yes, every Singapore company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore, and you must appoint one at the time of incorporation. If nobody in your group qualifies as a resident director, then we act as a nominee resident director so the company can be registered.

I hold an Employment Pass, or plan to apply for one. Can I be my own resident director?

Not automatically, and this is important to consider before you file. ACRA treats Singapore citizens, permanent residents and EntrePass holders as ordinarily resident. An Employment Pass is tied to a sponsoring employer, so you would normally require approval first before taking a directorship in another company.

Do I have to travel to Singapore to incorporate the company?

No. We act as your filing agent and file the incorporation application electronically with ACRA, so no director or shareholder needs to be physically present at any point. What you do need to provide is certified identity and address documentation for every director, shareholder and beneficial owner.

Can I open a Singapore corporate bank account remotely?

Depending on the bank, you may be required to travel to Singapore. Some Singapore banks will complete onboarding by video call or through an overseas branch; others still require a director to attend in person, and their positions change.

Realistically, how long does the whole incorporation process take from overseas?

Once the application is complete, ACRA registration takes 1-3 days, but that is the shortest step, not the whole timeline. For a foreign-owned company, it is advisable to allow roughly one to three weeks for document collection, certification and KYC before filing, then a further two to six weeks to open a corporate bank account.

What does it cost to set up a Singapore company, and what does it cost each year after that?

These are two different costs and they should not be mixed. Government fees for incorporation are fixed and published by ACRA. Companies offering corporate services quote fees that cover incorporation, a nominee resident director where one is needed, company secretary, registered address, accounting and tax filing.

Once the company is registered, what do I still have to do from overseas each year?

Four things must be done every year:

File an annual return with ACRA.
File corporate tax with IRAS, preceded by an estimate of chargeable income after your financial year-end.
Keep proper accounting records and prepare financial statements.
Hold an annual general meeting, or formally dispense with one.

You don’t have to be in Singapore for any of these tasks; it is just your legal responsibility as a director that someone files it on your behalf.

What is a nominee director and do I actually need one?

Every Singapore company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. If you do not have a qualifying individual, a nominee director fills that statutory role. They hold no shares, no control over the bank account and no say in how you run the business. If you or a co-founder holds an Employment Pass or PR status, you may not need a nominee director..

How long does incorporation take?

A typical incorporation application is usually approved within one to three business days of payment. Complex applications can take up to 15 working days. If your business activity requires approval from a referral authority, the process may take 14 to 60 days.