Starting a Business in Singapore: 29 Items
Plan your Singapore business structure, Bizfile registration, UEN, licences, taxes and first-month operating tasks.
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๐งญ Business plan and structure
Notes: Write a clear description of what you sell and to whom, including whether it is regulated.
Write a clear description of what you sell and to whom, including whether it is regulated.
Notes: Interview potential buyers and check realistic pricing before committing to premises.
Interview potential buyers and check realistic pricing before committing to premises.
Notes: Include professional fees, premises, software, payroll and cash reserves.
Include professional fees, premises, software, payroll and cash reserves.
Notes: Compare sole proprietorship, partnership, LLP and company liabilities and ongoing duties.
Compare sole proprietorship, partnership, LLP and company liabilities and ongoing duties.
Notes: Foreign owners should confirm local-residency and corporate-service-provider rules with ACRA.
Foreign owners should confirm local-residency and corporate-service-provider rules with ACRA.
๐ชช Identity and registration
Notes: Check ACRA exemptions and any special rules for your activity.
Check ACRA exemptions and any special rules for your activity.
Notes: Choose accurate primary and secondary business activities for regulatory filings.
Choose accurate primary and secondary business activities for regulatory filings.
Notes: Avoid restricted or misleading terms and identify approval requirements.
Avoid restricted or misleading terms and identify approval requirements.
Notes: Track approval and name-reservation validity before registration.
Track approval and name-reservation validity before registration.
Notes: Gather required lawful identification and residential or contact information securely.
Gather required lawful identification and residential or contact information securely.
๐๏ธ Company incorporation details
Notes: Singapore companies generally need at least one director ordinarily resident locally; verify eligibility.
Singapore companies generally need at least one director ordinarily resident locally; verify eligibility.
Notes: Track the statutory appointment deadline and use a qualified provider if required.
Track the statutory appointment deadline and use a qualified provider if required.
Notes: Confirm service and recordkeeping requirements before using an address.
Confirm service and recordkeeping requirements before using an address.
Notes: Document shareholders, share capital and beneficial ownership without public disclosure of sensitive IDs.
Document shareholders, share capital and beneficial ownership without public disclosure of sensitive IDs.
Notes: Submit the correct form in Bizfile and confirm the issued UEN.
Submit the correct form in Bizfile and confirm the issued UEN.
๐งพ Licences and tax readiness
Notes: Food, education, financial and other regulated activities may require extra permission.
Food, education, financial and other regulated activities may require extra permission.
Notes: Check Corppass requirements for government e-services.
Check Corppass requirements for government e-services.
Notes: Check turnover and forecast thresholds using current IRAS guidance.
Check turnover and forecast thresholds using current IRAS guidance.
Notes: The business structure determines filing and payment obligations.
The business structure determines filing and payment obligations.
Notes: Set up secure retention of invoices, contracts and transaction records.
Set up secure retention of invoices, contracts and transaction records.
๐ผ Banking and operational setup
Notes: Review eligibility, fees, signatories and account opening verification.
Review eligibility, fees, signatories and account opening verification.
Notes: Use a system that reconciles payments and stores supporting documents.
Use a system that reconciles payments and stores supporting documents.
Notes: Draft clear contracts, refund terms and lawful personal-data handling.
Draft clear contracts, refund terms and lawful personal-data handling.
Notes: Employment, CPF and work-pass duties depend on each workerโs status.
Employment, CPF and work-pass duties depend on each workerโs status.
Notes: Consider liability, premises, cyber and employee protection based on exposure.
Consider liability, premises, cyber and employee protection based on exposure.
๐ Launch and ongoing compliance
Notes: Record applicable annual returns, registers and maintenance deadlines.
Record applicable annual returns, registers and maintenance deadlines.
Notes: Track licence renewals, tax filing, accounting and employee obligations.
Track licence renewals, tax filing, accounting and employee obligations.
Notes: Confirm invoicing, customer support, fulfilment and payment reconciliation.
Confirm invoicing, customer support, fulfilment and payment reconciliation.
Notes: Keep trading name and contact details consistent with registrations.
Keep trading name and contact details consistent with registrations.
Complete Guide
Choose the right structure before registering
A sole proprietorship and a private limited company do not create the same legal responsibilities. Compare liability, ownership, annual returns, tax treatment and fees rather than choosing solely by registration cost.
Bizfile, name reservation and UEN
ACRA manages business registration through Bizfile. Prepare accurate SSIC activity details, officer information and a registered address. Name reservation is a separate step; successful registration usually results in a UEN.
Foreign founders and local appointments
Rules affecting a foreign founder can depend on entity type and residency. Local director or authorised-service-provider conditions should be checked against ACRA before submitting forms. Do not assume incorporating gives permission to work in Singapore.
Industry licences and tax setup
A registration certificate is not permission to conduct every regulated activity. Search GoBusiness for relevant licences, then confirm GST and income or corporate tax obligations with IRAS based on the chosen structure.
Banking, hiring and customer readiness
Plan for verification at account opening, payment processing, recordkeeping and customer terms. Before hiring, identify CPF, work-pass and employment requirements relevant to each employee; these do not follow automatically from company incorporation.
After launch: stay compliant
Keep track of annual filings, licence renewals, corporate records and tax deadlines. Revisit requirements when ownership, activities or office address changes, and use official portals for final submissions.
Frequently asked questions
Is a UEN the same as a business licence?
No. A UEN identifies your registered entity; regulated activities may require separate licences or permits.
Can a foreigner register a Singapore business?
Foreign owners can establish businesses, but registration and locally resident officer requirements vary by structure. Check ACRAโs rules and whether an authorised service provider is required.
Do all new businesses need GST registration?
No. GST registration depends on IRAS rules such as taxable turnover and expected turnover; check the current thresholds before acting.
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