Starting a company in Singapore is one of the fastest company registration processes in the world — but only if you know the steps beforehand. Miss a document or pick the wrong company type, and what should take a day can drag into weeks. Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide to registering your company with ACRA in 2026.
Step 1: Choose Your Business Structure
Most founders register a Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) because it offers limited liability and looks more credible to banks and investors. Sole proprietorships and partnerships are simpler but leave you personally liable for business debts.
- Sole Proprietorship — simplest, but no separation between you and the business
- Partnership — for two or more owners, same liability risk
- Private Limited Company — separate legal entity, limited liability, most common choice
Step 2: Reserve Your Company Name
Before anything else, check if your desired company name is available through ACRA’s BizFile+ portal. Names that are identical or too similar to existing companies, or that contain restricted words (like “bank” or “school”), will be rejected. Name approval is usually instant if there’s no conflict.
Tip: Have 2–3 backup names ready. A rejected name means starting the reservation step over.
Step 3: Prepare Your Company Details
Before you register, you’ll need to have decided on:
- At least one local resident director (Singapore Citizen, PR, or valid work pass holder)
- A company secretary appointed within 6 months of incorporation
- A registered local business address (can’t be a P.O. box)
- Shareholders and their shareholding percentages
- Paid-up capital, which can be as low as S$1
Step 4: Submit Your Application via BizFile+
Once your name is reserved and details are ready, submit the incorporation application through BizFile+, ACRA’s online filing system. You’ll need a SingPass to log in. Foreigners without SingPass will need to engage a registered filing agent, such as a corporate secretarial firm, to submit on their behalf.
The registration fee is typically S$315, which covers both the name application and incorporation.
Step 5: Receive Your Certificate of Incorporation
If your application is complete and accurate, approval usually comes within 1 business day. You’ll receive an email notification along with your company’s Unique Entity Number (UEN), which you’ll use for almost everything going forward — taxes, bank accounts, contracts, and licences.
What no one tells you: some applications get referred to another government agency for review, which can add 14–60 days. This usually happens for regulated industries like education, financial services, or media.
Step 6: Complete Post-Registration Tasks
Getting your UEN isn’t the finish line. Right after incorporation, you’ll still need to:
- Open a corporate bank account
- Appoint a company secretary (if not already done)
- Register for GST if you expect annual revenue above S$1 million
- Apply for any industry-specific licences your business needs
- Set up proper accounting records from day one
Quick Checklist
- Decide on your business structure
- Reserve your company name via BizFile+
- Confirm a local director, secretary, and registered address
- Submit your incorporation application
- Collect your UEN and Certificate of Incorporation
- Handle post-registration steps: bank account, GST, licences
Final Thoughts
Registering a company in Singapore is genuinely fast if your paperwork is in order beforehand. The real time sink isn’t the ACRA process itself — it’s founders scrambling for documents or director details at the last minute. Prepare everything upfront, and you could have your company officially incorporated within a day.