Register a Business in Singapore

Important information for setting up a company in Singapore, constitution must be submitted when applying to incorporate your company in Singapore. A private limited company can have a maximum of 50 shareholders. A shareholder can either be a natural person or a corporate entity. The shareholder can be local Singapore residents or a foreigner.

1. Business Name: owners may choose any name of sole-proprietorship as long as the proposed name is not : a) undesirable (vulgar, offensive, obscene, prohibited); b)identical to the name of a business entity on the register; c)reserved under the Business Names Registration Act, the Companies Act, the Limited Liability Partnerships Act or Limited Partnerships Act; d) restricted i.e. a name which the Minister has directed the Registrar not to accept for registration e.g. Temasek

2. Address : principal place of the business and any other place where the business is carried out. However, a P.O Box address is not allowable for business address.

   Using a home address as business address

   Under the Home Office Scheme, homeowners are allowed to conduct small-scale businesses using their residential premises. This scheme applies to both HDB and private properties.

   Application for approval under the Home Office Scheme can be submitted before or after business/company registration with ACRA in Singapore.

3. Local authorised representative: The Business Names Registration Act 2014 states that where an individual proprietor or all the partners of a firm do not reside in Singapore, the individual proprietor or firm must appoint at least one authorised representative.

   Who can be appointed as the local authorised representative?

   Authorised representative must be a) a natural person; b) at least 18 years of age; c) otherwise of full legal capacity; and d) ordinarily resident in Singapore.

4. Owner and Partners

   Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents

   From 1 January 1994, all self-employed persons are required to top up their Medisave account with CPF Board before they register a sole-proprietorship or partnership, become the new partner of an existing sole- proprietorship or partnership, or renew their business registration. This requirement is only applicable to Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents.

   Foreigner

   A foreigner, who would like to register a Sole-Proprietorship in Singapore, is required to appoint a locally resident authorised representative whilst he continues to reside outside Singapore.

   If a foreigner wishes to register a Partnership in Singapore whilst he continues to reside outside Singapore, there must be a least a locally resident partner in the business firm. If all the partners are foreigners, a locally resident authorised representative must be appointed.

   Foreigners who wish to register a business in Singapore and be present in Singapore to manage its operations are strongly advised to seek approval from MOM before registration.