How Much Does It Really Cost to Incorporate a Company in Singapore?
Setting up a company in Singapore can be a smart move: business-friendly regulations, English as a working language, low corporate tax rates, and a stable legal environment. But it’s important to understand all the costs involved — both the government fees and the ongoing compliance and service costs. Here’s your clear, up-to-date guide (2026) on what it costs to incorporate a company in Singapore, and a useful tip on how to get professional help from WLP to make the process smoother.
Key Government Fees
When you register a company with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), there are mandatory fees that apply to almost every private limited company set-up.
- Name reservation (company name application): S$15.
- Company registration / incorporation fee: S$300.
- Total baseline government cost: ~ S$315.
- Annual filing fee (private company): S$60.
Take-away: Even for a straightforward company without extras, you’ll pay at least ~S$315 to ACRA up front. Everything else is “add-ons”.
Additional Typical Incorporation Costs
Beyond the basic fees, you’ll likely incur other costs depending on your business structure, whether you’re a foreign founder, and what services you choose.
- Corporate Service Provider (CSP) / incorporation package
Many businesses engage a specialist to handle name reservation, drafting of the constitution, filing with ACRA, company secretary appointment, registered address, etc.
- Basic packages (locals) often start from S$600-S$800.
- More full-service packages (especially for foreigners) can run S$1,200-S$2,000+.
- Company Secretary
By law a Singapore company must appoint a qualified company secretary within 6 months of incorporation.
- Annual cost: typically S$600-S$800 or more depending on directors/shareholders & workload.
- Registered Office Address
Every company must have a registered local address (not just a P.O. Box). If you don’t have your own office, you’ll need to pay for this service.
- Typical cost: S$360-S$600/year (basic virtual address) for simple setups.
- If you rent a full physical office space, costs can be much higher.
- Nominee Local Director (for foreign-owned companies)
If no local (resident) director is appointed, some providers offer nominee director services. This is especially relevant for non-Singapore residents setting up a company.
- Cost: easily S$4,000-S$8,000/year in many cases.
- Accounting, Tax & Compliance (Ongoing)
Once the company is set up, you’ll need to maintain proper accounting records, file annual returns, tax returns, etc.
- Small business (simple transactions): ~ S$600-S$1,200/year.
- Larger or more complex businesses: easily S$5,000-S$10,000/year depending on volume and complexity.
- Other potential costs
- Work visas/Employment Passes (if you or a team member will work in Singapore).
- GST registration & filings (if annual turnover > S$1 million) and associated compliance.
- Bank account minimum deposits or maintenance fees depending on bank and business.
- Industry-specific licences/permits if your business falls under regulated sectors.
Estimated Total Cost (Initial Year)
The actual cost depends heavily on your business complexity, the services you engage, whether you have local director(s), whether you need ongoing support, etc.
Why Use a Professional Service — and How WLP Can Help
While you can attempt to register a company on your own via ACRA’s portal, many founders choose to engage a professional service provider to streamline the process and avoid pitfalls. For example:
- Ensuring all documents are correct and fully compliant (to avoid delays or rejections).
- Providing registered address and company secretary services (which are mandatory).
- Handling accounting, tax filings, compliance reminders.
- If you’re a foreign founder: helping with nominee director services (if needed), bank account opening, ongoing compliance.
In particular, you may want to consider WLP for assistance. Here’s how we stand out:
- Our “Company Incorporation Fees with 1st Year Secretarial Service – From S$698”.
- We provide one-stop corporate services: accounting, tax, company incorporation, corporate secretarial work.
- Using WLP can help you avoid common mistakes, save time, and structure things correctly from the start.
Tip: Before choosing a provider, ask:
- Whether the quoted fee includes the ACRA government fees (S$15 + S$300) or excludes them.
- What exactly is included in the package (secretary, address, first year compliance, bank account assistance?).
- What ongoing annual fees will apply after the first year.
- If you’re a foreign founder: whether nominee director services are required and included.
Practical Tips to Keep Costs Down
- Use your own resident director (if you have someone eligible) instead of paying for a nominee director.
- Choose a simple service bundle for start-ups (basic incorporation, address, secretary) and add extras later if needed.
- Opt for a virtual registered address if you don’t need a full physical office yet.
- Keep your accounting simple in early years (fewer transactions) to reduce bookkeeping costs.
- Stay compliant — avoid penalties by monitoring annual filings, tax returns, etc. Late filings can add costs.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating a company in Singapore is relatively straightforward and cost-effective compared to many jurisdictions — but it’s not free. The baseline government fees are modest (~S$315), but when you factor in all the services (secretary, address, accounting, local director if needed) the real cost can quickly rise.
By planning ahead, choosing the right provider (for example WLP) and monitoring ongoing compliance, you can set up a strong foundation for your business.