Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Opening A Company in Singapore

03-09-2022

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Singapore is a popular offshore country that is a popular destination for those who want to operate overseas. The article will summarize the most frequently asked questions businesses have when requesting for a company formation in Singapore.

Why should businesses open a company in Singapore?

  • Internationally Recognized
  • Low Tax Regime
  • Able to open a bank account anywhere in the world
  • Tax exemption for offshore business & income
  • Obtained many recognition around the world (Incl. Forbes, World Banks, and Global Economic Boards)
  • Vehicle to do business with Asian Countries & the U.S
  • Ranked #1 as the most politically stable country in Asia

Read more: What Makes Singapore’s Reputation As A Startup Paradise?

Singapore Offshore Company: All You Need To Know

Can foreigners open a company in Singapore?

The answer is yes. According to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore (ACRA), foreigners need to register a company in Singapore through the company formation service. The reason is that they do not have SingPass accounts to be able to register their own businesses.

Can foreigners own a business in Singapore?

Entirely possible. A Singapore company can be 100% owned by foreign shareholders.

What kind of company should I open in Singapore?

Most entrepreneurs choose to set up a private limited liability company in Singapore. This type of company has a separate legal status. Members have limited liability. This type of company can also apply for a variety of special tax incentives. Compared to other types of businesses, a private limited liability company offers the most benefits to you.

What are the minimal requirements for opening a company in Singapore?

You need to meet at least the following requirements:
  • There is a director settled in Singapore
  • There is a company secretary
  • Have at least one shareholder
  • Have a registered address in Singapore

How can I open a company in Singapore without being a Singaporean?

If you use CorpAgent’s services, you can register a Singapore company through the following 5 steps: (i) get expert advice, (ii) choose a service package, (iii) make payment, (iv) provide us with the necessary documents, (v) receive the results within 1 day.

What types of documents should I prepare to open a company in Singapore?

In general, you will need to prepare the following information and documents:

  • Company name (must not be the same as registered business names)
  • Description of the business
  • Details of directors and shareholders

CorpAgent will assist you with other documents: details of the appointed director, company secretary, office address and set of company regulations.

How to incorporate in Singapore?

Step 1

Singapore Private Limited Company Formation (Pte. Ltd), initially Our Relationship Managers team will ask You have to provide the detailed information of the Shareholder/Director’s names and information. You can select level of services you need, normal with 3 working days or 2 working days in urgent case. Furthermore, give the proposal company names so that we can check the eligibility of company name in Singapore Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) system. Our services included Local Secretary who is local Singapore citizen.

Step 2

You settle the payment for Our Service fee and official Singapore Government Fee required. We accept payment by Credit/Debit Card Visa Visa Discover American  Paypal or Wire Transfer to our HSBC bank account HSBC bank account 

Step 3

After collecting full information from you, Offshore Company Corp will send you a digital version (Certificate of Incorporation, Register of Shareholder/Directors, Share Certificate, Memorandum of Association and Articles etc.) via email. Full Singapore Offshore Company kit will courier to your resident address by express (TNT, DHL or UPS etc.).

Step 4

You can open bank account for your company in Singapore, European, Hong Kong or other other jurisdictions supported offshore bank accounts! You are freedom international money transfer under your offshore company.

Your Singapore Pte. Ltd formation completed, ready to do international business!

What kind of name can I give to my new company in Singapore?

Your company name must be unique and must not coincide with business names registered with ACRA. You can check if your company name is available by sending us an inquiry to admin@corpagent.asia.

What kind of name can I NOT give to my new company in Singapore?

While you can easily register for a new business in Singapore, you should be careful when choosing your company name. It is advisable to perform a name check to make sure that your company name can be approved for registration by the Singapore Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) in the first place. Here are the applicable restrictions for a new company name in Singapore.

  • Undesirable. Your company name will be rejected if it contains offensive or vulgar words;
  • Identical to an already available company name in Singapore
  • Identical to an already reserved company name. There are companies in Singapore that have not been incorporated but have already registered their business name as a reservation to ACRA. Business names are reserved for at least 60 days, and up to 120 days. This is why anyone who plans to set up a new business in Singapore must perform a proper company name check.
  • Prohibited by order of the Minister for Finance. The word “Temasek” is prohibited to be used as a company name. Currently, this is the only word which the Minister has directed the Registrar not to accept for registration..
  • Certain words such as “bank”, “insurance”, “university”, and “education” are not in the criteria for Singapore company name restrictions, but are strictly used under Government authorities and will require permission before you can set up a new business.

How long does it take to open a company in Singapore?

Registering a company in Singapore is quite simple and fast. Once your application has been submitted to ACRA, it only takes 24 hours for the government agency to process and return the results. However, in some cases, if your application needs to be reviewed by other government agencies, the application period can take up to several weeks.

How much does it cost to open a company in Singapore?

The cost will depend on what you already have and what you need. Our Basic plan costs $2,999. It will help you to meet all the minimum requirements to form a Singapore company. For example, if you already have a director settled in Singapore, the service fee will be reduced.

See our plans for Company Formation in Singapore

What is a Nominee Director (ND)? How can I get somebody to be my Nominee Director?

Under the Singapore Companies Act, all companies must have and maintain at least one director residing in the country. If you use the service to hire a director residing in Singapore, this person is called a nominated director. This director will not normally be involved in the day-to-day running of the company.

Companies in Singapore are required to have at least one director. A director is a person who is appointed by the shareholders to be in charge of managing the company’s daily affairs. The person must make the strategic and operational decisions of the company and is responsible for ensuring that the company meets its statutory obligations.

Every company in Singapore must have at least 1 director. Here are the basic requirements for a company director in Singapore:

  • At least 18 years old;
  • Of full legal capacity;
  • Can be of any nationality;
  • Ordinarily resident in Singapore: A Singapore Citizen, Singapore Permanent Resident or EntrePass/ Employment Pass (EP) holder.
  • An EP holder wishing to become the director of a local company must first get a Letter of Consent (LOC) from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
  • People with Foreign Identification Number (FIN) are advised to check with the relevant authorities (e.g. MOM/ ICA) on their eligibility before registering or designating (e.g. Director, Secretary).

Read more: What Is A Nominee Director And How You Navigate Around?

Can I be the Director of my Singaporean company?

You can become the sole director of the company by applying for an Employment Pass. This type of visa allows you to settle in Singapore and take on the position of director for your company. You will be recognized as an immigration director in Singapore. At that point, you don’t need to hire a designated director anymore.

How do I get an address for my company in Singapore?

A company address in Singapore may be useful for a foreign company for establishing its initial operations in Singapore. The reason for this is that it allows the foreign company to contract under its own name and take advantage of its existing reputation.

Each business is required to register a company address in Singapore where the company will receive all documents sent by the government. If you are looking to explore opportunities in Singapore with minimized cost, you may consider the option of setting up a virtual office address in Singapore. Having a virtual office address in Singapore can bring you more advantages than you can imagine, such as:

  • Minimize your costs and optimize your business efficiency.
  • Have a registered office address in Singapore to get in touch and manage your clients.
  • Transfer your calls to wherever you are.
  • Receive mailings from the local government authority, banks, etc.
  • Have an official company address in Singapore on your business cards and website.
  • Set up your local telephone number for your business in just one working day.

Check out our Virtual Office service in Singapore and all other corporate services that can help your business thrive in a new jurisdiction.

What are the next steps following the opening of my Singaporean company?

Your company will need to open a bank account to deal with customers and partners. You can entrust the company secretary to register for a CorpPass account (for government education), CPF (in case of hiring local employees), and GST (if necessary). While doing business in Singapore, your company also needs to comply with government legal requirements. Every year, it needs to send reports to the relevant government agencies.

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