When Mei decided to open a boutique electronics company, she sat at her kitchen table and mapped costs on a napkin. She wanted clarity: how much to name the company, what statutory charges apply, and which extras were optional. This small exercise turned into a practical lesson that many new founders face.
Set expectations up front: the baseline statutory cost to register a standard private company is S$15 for name application and S$300 for registration via BizFile. These sums are paid to the corporate regulatory authority, while service providers usually add their own service charges.
Think about your goal: start trading, form a holding company, or expand an existing business. The cheapest route depends on that choice. Costs also change by entity type and ongoing obligations.
This short guide will map upfront statutory charges, typical service add-ons, and the checks you should run before choosing a package. For full terms, see our terms and conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Baseline statutory cost: S$15 (name) + S$300 (registration) via BizFile.
- Statutory sums go to the corporate regulator; service charges are extra.
- Costs vary by entity type; pick the route that suits your business goals.
- Check what a package includes and what is excluded to avoid surprises.
- Budget for ongoing compliance: secretary, accounting and registered address.
What you’ll pay to incorporate a Singapore company
Before you submit any forms, tally the statutory sums that actually create the company.
Name application — S$15
The first step is the name application. This reserves or proposes your chosen name in the registry system. Pay the S$15 at submission. If the name is rejected, resubmission delays time but does not change this fixed charge.
Company registration — S$300
The registration payment of S$300 completes the legal creation of the company. Once paid and approved, the entity exists. Together the two statutory sums total S$315.
Typical upfront budget beyond the registry
Plan for essentials beyond the S$315 statutory outlay. Most startups need:
- a company secretary and ongoing compliance support;
- a registered address service if you lack office space;
- initial accounting and tax set-up;
- time and possible costs to open a corporate bank account (documents, certified extracts).
Tip: compare like-for-like packages. Some providers bundle secretary and address services while charging separately for accounting. Confirm what is mandatory now versus what you need to start business operations smoothly.
acra filing fees for incorporation singapore and the statutory fees you can’t avoid
Know the unavoidable government charges before you compare service quotes. These are the sums remitted to the corporate regulatory authority via BizFile and form the baseline of any company registration cost.
Incorporation fee summary for local companies
The unavoidable statutory cost to register a local private company is S$15 (name application) plus S$300 (registration).
Foreign company registration fees
Registering a branch or foreign entity uses the same BizFile statutory charges: S$15 for name and S$300 for registration. Note that compliance duties differ after registration.
Variable Capital Company (VCC) statutory charges
VCC structures carry higher government sums. Key items include S$8,000 for incorporation and S$1,600 for the annual return. Sub-fund registration is S$400; registration of charge S$60; transfer of registration S$9,000 plus S$400 per sub-fund.
What statutory sums do not cover
- Professional advice, drafting or consulting;
- qualified company secretary support and resident director arrangements;
- registered address, minute preparation, or ongoing compliance monitoring.
| Entity | Name application | Registration / Incorporation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local company | S$15 | S$300 | Benchmark any quote against S$315 total statutory cost |
| Foreign company | S$15 | S$300 | Same BizFile charges; post‑registration obligations vary |
| VCC (fund) | S$15 | S$8,000 (incorp); S$1,600 (annual) | Model sub‑fund and charge costs before committing |
Ongoing ACRA filing and compliance costs to plan for
Once your company exists legally, regular statutory steps begin to shape ongoing costs. Plan these into your first budgets to avoid surprises.
The recurring annual return fee payable via BizFile is S$60. This is a predictable, yearly statutory cost to include in every budget year.
Extension of time to file accounts or hold AGM — S$200
An Extension of Time (EOT) to file accounts or hold an AGM costs S$200. Treat this as a contingency cost; relying on EOT to save time often raises overall costs.
Lodgement of Notice of Error (NOE) — S$60
Correcting clerical mistakes via a Notice of Error attracts a S$60 fee. Early-stage companies that change details quickly often need this one-off correction.
Changes after incorporation and financing lodgements
Some post‑incorporation steps trigger charges. Conversion within company types is S$40, while registering particulars relating to charges is S$60.
Good secretarial and accounting practice reduces the chance of extra costs. Keep your registered address current and coordinate director approvals to avoid late submissions.
| Action | Statutory amount | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Annual return | S$60 | Recurring compliance cost; budget annually |
| Extension of Time (EOT) | S$200 | Use only if unavoidable; contingency planning |
| Notice of Error (NOE) | S$60 | Fixes clerical or typographical mistakes |
| Conversion within company types | S$40 | Restructuring trigger; check before you act |
| Registration of charges | S$60 | Relevant when granting security to a lender |
For a practical comparison of start-up statutory costs and provider packages, see our company incorporation cost guide. Timely accounting and tax readiness will keep these compliance costs predictable.
Comparing entity types by cost: local company vs foreign company vs VCC
Different legal structures carry distinct upfront sums and recurring obligations that change your cash flow. Use cost and operational fit, not just the headline registration number, to pick a route.
When a Singapore‑incorporated company is the cost‑effective choice
Local company suits businesses that will operate and be managed from Singapore. Statutory sums are modest: S$15 name application plus S$300 registration, and a predictable annual return of S$60.
Benefits: simpler admin, easier bank account setup and lower recurring compliance effort if directors and managers are local.
When registering a foreign company makes commercial sense
Keeping a head office overseas can justify a foreign entity. The registry sums remain S$15 for name application and S$300 for registration, but the operational model differs.
Choose this when primary management, tax residence or core contracts sit outside Singapore and you want a branch presence without full local restructuring.
VCC costs at a glance
Variable Capital Company structures are costlier. Key BizFile charges to budget:
- S$15 — name application;
- S$8,000 — incorporation;
- S$1,600 — annual return;
- S$400 — sub‑fund registration (per sub‑fund).
“Common VCC lodgements may be S$0 in many cases, but buyers should still budget for professional services to prepare and validate submissions.”
| Entity | Key statutory sums | When to choose |
|---|---|---|
| Local company | S$15 + S$300; annual S$60 | Local management and trading |
| Foreign company | S$15 + S$300 | Overseas head office, branch presence |
| VCC | S$15; S$8,000; S$1,600; S$400/sub‑fund | Funds or collective investment vehicles |
How to judge the cheapest option: include statutory sums, recurring filings and the cost of services such as secretarial support, registered address and tax compliance. Model a 12–24 month cash view before you decide to register company singapore or switch entity type.
For practical guidance on VCCs and investor considerations, see our VCC guide. If you need a clear partner to set up and support a company, view the team at VOffice.
Choosing incorporation services: what to check before you buy
A clear buyer checklist stops surprises: compare what each package actually delivers, not just the headline price.
Company secretary requirements and ongoing support
Confirm whether the service includes access to a qualified company secretary or only administrative help. A proper secretary will manage statutory registers, prepare resolutions and submit BizFile transactions.
Ask if support is proactive — with compliance calendaring and reminders — or reactive. Proactive systems reduce missed deadlines and extra corrective charges.
Registered address and compliance basics
and maintains office‑hour records. Keeping the registered address current avoids penalties and costly corrective filings.
Accounting, tax and what to bundle
Bundle secretary plus registered address and routine filings when you want predictable monthly costs. Buy specialist accounting or tax support separately if your business has complex transactions or foreign operations.
- Verify director and resident requirements early; these affect timeline and cost.
- Request an itemised quote separating statutory payments and provider service charges.
- Confirm renewal pricing and triggers for additional charges (changes, NOE, charge registrations).
Prioritise clear scopes, response times and transparent add‑ons to protect total cost as your company grows.
Conclusion
Before you commit, tally the statutory and service sums you will pay in year one. The headline statutory start‑point is S$15 (name) + S$300 (registration) — S$315 total — and the main ongoing BizFile points are annual return S$60, EOT S$200, NOE S$60, conversion S$40 and charge registration S$60. This gives you a clear cost map to compare offers and manage cash.
Remember: the true cost of company registration is more than those numbers. Add secretarial support, a registered address, accounting and tax help when you model your business cash needs and choose a supplier.
Use this guide to shortlist providers, insist on itemised quotes, and model at least 12 months of charges. Verify what they will submit on BizFile on your behalf and pick the option that gives predictable company incorporation and reliable support for your business singapore.
FAQ
What are the basic statutory costs to register a company in Singapore?
Are the same statutory charges applied to foreign companies?
How much should I budget beyond the statutory charges at incorporation?
What are the statutory fees for a Variable Capital Company (VCC)?
What do “statutory filing fees” usually include in a service package?
What ongoing statutory compliance costs should I plan for after incorporation?
Are there fees for registering charges or security interests?
How do costs compare between a local company, a foreign branch and a VCC?
When does it make financial sense to incorporate a Singapore company rather than register a foreign branch?
What are the typical statutory figures to note for VCCs?
What should I check when choosing an incorporation service provider?
What are the company secretary requirements and typical costs?
How important is a registered address and what does it cost?
Should I bundle accounting, tax and compliance services or buy them separately?
Based in Singapore, Dean Cheong is a B2B growth consultant and CEO of VOffice who works with companies to unlock revenue through smarter sales processes and data-driven CRM adoption. Drawing on his finance training at Nanyang Technological University and years of hands-on leadership, he builds sustainable growth engines that turn strategy into measurable results.