Company registration · Singapore
Company registration in Singapore reputation, Asian banks and a 17% rate
- Support
- from $3 200
- Registration time
- 17%
- Corporate income tax rate
- 17%
One of the strongest business jurisdictions in Asia: a transparent registry, working banks and a start-up exemption that lowers the effective rate in the first years.
Registration
from $3 200
Turnkey work by BRIDGES. Government fees and duties appear as a separate line in the estimate at actual rates.
See packages17%
Corporate income tax rate
3-7 days
Incorporation with the registry
Start-up relief
Lower burden in the first three years
Who it suitsSingapore
Who Singapore suits
Working on the company structure- 01Trade with Asian markets and regional distribution
- 02IT and SaaS companies with clients across Asia
- 03Regional headquarters of an international group
- 04Holdings owning Asian subsidiaries
- 05Businesses that need a strong reputation with banks
Does not suit
- Minimum budget: upkeep here is not cheap
- No resident director and no willingness to appoint one
- You are counting on anonymity: the registry is public
- The business has no connection to Asia at all
Company forms4
Which company to open
The private limited company covers almost every scenario for foreign founders.
- 01Private Limited Company · Pte Ltd — the main form
Trading, IT, services, holdings.
Strong reputation, access to banks and tax reliefs.
At least one resident director and a company secretary are required.
- 02Branch · branch of a foreign company
An existing group entering the Asian market.
No new legal entity is required.
The parent company carries the liability and files its accounts.
- 03Representative Office · representative office
Companies studying the region before entering it.
Simple to set up and maintain.
Commercial activity is not permitted; limited in duration.
- 04Variable Capital Company · VCC — fund vehicle
Fund managers operating in Asia.
A modern regulated form recognised by investors.
Requires a licensed manager and an administrator.
Packagesfrom $3 200
Three ways to launch
The scope is built from real scenarios. The amount depends on the director arrangement and the level of support.
01 · 1-2 weeks
Company
from $3 400
A structure for contracts and ownership
- Name approval and preparation of the constitution
- Incorporation with the registry
- Company secretary and registered address for the first year
- Full set of corporate documents
- Nominee resident director for the first year
02 · 4-10 weeks
Company and account
from $6 200
An operating business with real settlements
- Everything in the Company package
- Bank file and submission to suitable banks
- Support at the bank interview
- Accounting set-up and a reporting schedule
- Assessment of the tax position and available reliefs
03 · from 8 weeks
Turnkey with relocation
by project
A founder moving to Singapore
- Everything in the Company and account package
- Employment pass application for the founder
- Office and hiring support
- Payroll and contributions administration
- Bookkeeping, reporting and the annual filing
Registry fees, the nominee director service and pass fees appear as separate lines in the quote.
TaxesSingapore
Taxes in Singapore
A flat rate with reliefs that materially lower the burden for new companies.
Taxes in Singapore
Singapore
- 17%
- Corporate income tax rate
- from $3 400
- BRIDGES fee
- 3-7 days
- Incorporation with the registry
- Start-up relief
- Lower burden in the first three years
- Corporate income tax
- A flat rate of 17% on chargeable income.
- Start-up relief
- A qualifying new company receives a partial exemption on its first tranches of income for the first three years.
- Partial exemption
- A general partial exemption applies to established companies as well.
- Dividends
- Dividends paid by a Singapore company are not subject to withholding tax.
- Goods and services tax
- Registration becomes compulsory once the turnover threshold is exceeded.
- Obligations at home
- Owning a foreign company creates obligations in the beneficiary country of residence.
Annual upkeep
- Company secretary
- Resident director
- Annual general meeting and filing
- Financial statements
- Tax return
- Goods and services tax returns
- Audit
- Bank compliance
Registry fees, the nominee director service and pass fees appear as separate lines in the quote.
Bank
The bank account after incorporation
Singapore banks are strong and thorough: the interview is a real stage of the project.
- 01What the bank looks at
The activity, the counterparties, expected turnover, the connection to Asia and the source of funds.
- 02Which documents are needed
The corporate set, beneficiary profiles, contracts and evidence of the source of funds.
- 03Where the account is opened
With local banks, and with payment institutions where speed matters more than status.
- 04What we do
We prepare the file, arrange the interview and run the submission through to the result.
A company with no real connection to the region will be questioned. Where that is the case we say so before incorporation and suggest alternatives.
Stages1-2 weeks
How the work runs
Timelines are split by who is responsible.
- 01Consultation and structure
Activity, director, taxes, banking, relocation.
One meeting - 02Quote and contract
We fix the scope of work and the amount.
1-2 days - 03Compliance and documents
Provider verification and collection of the set.
3-7 days - 04Incorporation
Filing with the registry and issue of the documents.
3-7 days - 05Account and interview
Bank file, the meeting and account opening.
The bank sets the timing - 06Pass where required
Employment pass application for the founder.
3-8 weeks
Result: The outcome is a Singapore company with a resident director, a bank account, accounting in place and, where needed, a pass for the founder.
ComparisonSingapore
Singapore or Hong Kong
| Singapore | Hong Kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 17% with reliefs | 8.25% and 16.5% on a two-tier basis |
| Taxation principle | income received in Singapore | territorial |
| Resident director | required | not required |
| Banking | strong, with detailed checks | strong, with detailed checks |
| Reputation | very high | high |
| Upkeep cost | higher | lower |
| Who it suits better | regional headquarters and funds | trade with China and Asia |
Hong Kong is cheaper and simpler for trade; Singapore is stronger for headquarters, funds and long-term reputation.
TeamBRIDGES
Company team
Questions
Registration questions
What is the corporate tax rate?+
17% on chargeable income, with partial exemptions that lower the effective rate, especially in the first three years.
Do I really need a resident director?+
Yes, at least one director must be ordinarily resident in Singapore. A nominee director from a licensed provider satisfies this.
How long does incorporation take?+
3-7 days with the registry once compliance is complete.
Can a foreigner own 100% of the company?+
Yes, there are no restrictions on foreign shareholding.
How hard is it to open a bank account?+
Realistic with a clear business and a regional story; the bank interview is a genuine stage.
Is an audit mandatory?+
Only once the company exceeds the small company thresholds.
When must I register for goods and services tax?+
Once the annual turnover threshold is exceeded; voluntary registration is possible earlier.
Can the founder relocate?+
Yes, through an employment pass. The authority assesses the business plan and the founder’s profile.
Is the registry public?+
Directors and shareholders are visible; beneficial ownership information is held in the prescribed manner.
Do I have to declare the company at home?+
As a rule yes: owning a foreign company creates obligations in your country of residence.
What does upkeep cost?+
Secretary, nominee director, accounting, the annual filing and returns. We set it out three years ahead.
Singapore or Hong Kong?+
Hong Kong is cheaper and simpler for trade; Singapore is stronger for headquarters, funds and long-term reputation.
A company for your task
Tell us what the company will do: we will check whether the country fits and show the launch and upkeep budget before the contract.
- Other jurisdictionsA comparison of countries for company registration.
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- EstoniaRegistration: 1-5 days · from €900
- Hong KongRegistration: 5-7 days · from $1 600
Company registration
Want a company in Singapore?
Write to us, we will set it up. We will choose the form, calculate the launch and the annual upkeep, register the company and help open the account.
