How Much Does It Cost to Register a Company in Singapore?

Key Takeaways

• Government fees are fixed: ACRA charges S$15 for name application and S$300 for company registration. Every business pays these same fees regardless of which firm you use.
• Professional service fees vary: Basic incorporation packages in Singapore generally start from S$350 to S$600. Comprehensive packages that include corporate secretarial, nominee director, and registered address services can range from S$1,500 to over S$3,000. 
• The cheapest option is not always the most cost-effective: A package that excludes corporate secretarial services means you pay again within the first year for mandatory compliance filings.
• Foreign founders pay more: If you do not have Singpass access, you must engage a registered filing agent. If you need a nominee director, budget an additional S$2,400 per year.
• Post-incorporation costs are often overlooked: Annual return filing, company secretary services, and accounting add to your first-year total. Plan for these from the start.

Introduction

One of the first questions most founders ask before setting up in Singapore is a practical one: how much is this actually going to cost?

The honest answer has two parts. There are fixed government fees that every company pays to ACRA, and there are professional service fees that vary depending on who you engage and what services you need.

Getting a clear picture of both before you start helps you budget properly and avoid surprises in your first year of operation. From our experience working with hundreds of local and foreign business owners at OneStop Professional, the founders who plan their incorporation costs in full have a much smoother start.

Here is a straightforward breakdown of what to expect.

What Are the Fixed Government Fees for Company Registration in Singapore?

Every company incorporated in Singapore pays the same two fees to ACRA, regardless of which firm handles the process. These are fixed and non-negotiable.

The name application fee secures your proposed company name for 120 days while you prepare your documents. The registration fee is paid at the point of submission.

These S$315 in government fees are charged by ACRA directly. Any company incorporation service in Singapore that quotes you a package price should include these fees within that total, always confirm this before signing up, as some providers list government fees separately.

What Do Professional Company Incorporation Services Cost in Singapore?

Professional incorporation service fees in Singapore generally start from S$350 to S$600 for a basic package, depending on the provider and what is included. Comprehensive packages that bundle corporate secretarial services, nominee director services, and registered addresses typically range from S$1,500 to over S$3,000. At OneStop Professional, our packages start from S$600 and are priced to suit different business needs and budgets.

The professional fee covers the work done by your incorporation service provider — document preparation, ACRA submission, post-incorporation documents, and any add-on services included in your package. Here is how our packages at OneStop Professional are structured:

The Starter package at S$600 covers the essentials for a straightforward local incorporation. The Standard package at S$980 makes more practical sense for most businesses because it includes 12 months of corporate secretarial services — a legal requirement every Singapore company must meet within six months of incorporation. Paying for secretarial services separately later typically costs more than bundling it from the start.

What Extra Costs Should Foreign Founders Budget For?

Foreign entrepreneurs who do not hold a Singapore Singpass account cannot self-register a company through ACRA’s Bizfile portal. They must engage a registered filing agent — which is covered by the professional service fee above.

However, there is one additional cost that applies specifically to foreign founders: the nominee director requirement.

Every Singapore-incorporated company must have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. If you do not meet this requirement yourself, you need to appoint a nominee director through a licensed corporate service provider.

At OneStop Professional, our nominee director service starts from S$2,400 per year. This is included in our Premier package at S$3,100, making it the most cost-effective route for foreign founders who need both incorporation and nominee director coverage.

What Ongoing Costs Come After Incorporation?

Incorporation is a one-time cost. But staying compliant in Singapore comes with recurring annual costs that every business owner should plan for from day one.

Here are the main ongoing compliance costs to factor into your first-year budget:

Missing any of these deadlines attracts penalties. Late annual return filing costs between S$300 and S$600 on top of the S$60 filing fee, depending on how late the submission is. Director changes filed beyond the 14-day window are a breach of the Companies Act.

Working with a single firm that handles incorporation, secretarial, and ongoing accounting from the start removes the risk of things falling through the cracks as you focus on building your business.

Is a Cheaper Incorporation Package Always Better?

Not necessarily. The cheapest incorporation packages available in Singapore as low as S$200 to S$400 online, often exclude the ACRA government fees of S$315, include minimal post-incorporation documents, and provide no ongoing compliance support.

When you add back the government fees, a company secretary within six months, and your first annual return filing, the actual first-year cost of a low-price starter package is often higher than a bundled package that covers all three from the beginning.

The right question to ask any incorporation provider is not just “how much?” but “what does this include for my first 12 months?”

At OneStop Professional, we are transparent about what each package covers. Our Standard package at S$980 is designed so that most businesses have everything they need to stay compliant through their first year, with no unexpected add-on charges.

Conclusion

The minimum cost to register a company in Singapore is S$315 in government fees, paid to ACRA. On top of that, professional company incorporation services in Singapore start from S$600 for a basic local incorporation and S$3,100 for a full package that includes nominee director and registered address services for foreign founders.

Planning for your ongoing first-year costs — secretarial, accounting, and tax gives you a much clearer picture of what setting up in Singapore actually requires.

Want a clear, all-in cost estimate for your specific situation? Contact OneStop Professional today for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does the S$315 ACRA fee apply to all company types in Singapore?

The S$315 fee — S$15 for name application and S$300 for registration applies specifically to Private Limited Companies (Pte Ltd), which is the most common structure for SMEs. Other structures have different fees: registering a sole proprietorship or partnership costs S$115, and branch office registration costs S$315. Always confirm the structure you need before budgeting, as each carries different legal and tax implications.

2. Which incorporation package is best for a foreign entrepreneur with a limited budget?

For foreign founders on a budget, OneStop Professional’s Premier Package at S$3,100 is actually the most cost-effective all-in option. It bundles incorporation, 12 months of corporate secretarial services, nominee director services, and a registered address — four services that would cost significantly more if purchased separately. Sourcing these individually from different providers typically adds up to S$4,000 or more in the first year. See our full company incorporation service page for a detailed breakdown.

3. Can I start with a basic package and add secretarial services later?

Yes, but it is usually more expensive that way. Every Singapore company must appoint a qualified corporate secretary within six months of incorporation — this is not optional. If you start with a basic S$600 package that excludes secretarial services, you will need to engage a company secretary separately within that window, typically at S$720 to S$900 per year. Bundling it into the Standard package at S$980 from the start covers both incorporation and your first 12 months of corporate secretarial services at a lower combined cost.

4. Are there Singapore government grants that help offset incorporation or business setup costs?

Yes. Newly incorporated Singapore companies may be eligible for several government support schemes, including the Startup SG Founder grant, the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG), and various SkillsFuture-linked subsidies for training. The Startup SG Founder grant provides S$50,000 in co-matching funding for eligible first-time entrepreneurs with a qualifying business concept. Eligibility criteria and application timelines vary. OneStop Professional provides grants advisory services to help you identify and apply for schemes relevant to your business.

5. Is a chartered accountant firm worth the higher cost compared to a digital incorporation platform?

It depends on your business complexity. Digital platforms like Sleek or Osome offer fast, low-cost incorporation for straightforward cases. However, a chartered accountant firm like OneStop Professional adds value that goes beyond the initial filing, including proactive compliance monitoring, tax planning, audit support, and direct access to accredited accountants when issues arise. For SMEs that expect to grow, raise investment, or navigate Singapore’s tax incentive schemes, the extra cost of a full-service accounting and incorporation firm typically pays for itself within the first year.