How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate a Company in Singapore? (2026)

One of the first questions founders ask when considering Singapore is: "what does it actually cost?" The good news is that Singapore is one of the world's most cost-effective jurisdictions for incorporation. The government fee is a flat S$315, and with a professional filing agent, you can have a fully incorporated company for under S$1,500. But the full picture includes more than just the one-time fee — here's the complete cost breakdown.

One-Time Incorporation Costs

ACRA Government Fee: S$315

This is the mandatory fee paid to ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) upon filing your incorporation application. It covers:

• Company name reservation
• Company registration
• Issuance of your UEN (Unique Entity Number)

This fee is the same regardless of your company name, structure, share capital, or number of shareholders. It is non-refundable even if ACRA rejects the application.

Filing Agent / Incorporation Service Fee

Unless you are a Singapore Citizen or PR filing directly through BizFile+, you must use a registered filing agent. Even for local founders, most use a professional service to ensure accuracy and receive a complete set of incorporation documents.

Ongoing Annual Costs

Incorporation is a one-time event, but running a Singapore Pte Ltd involves annual professional service costs. Here's what you should budget for:

Corporate Secretarial Services: S$350 – S$1,500/yr

Every Singapore Pte Ltd must appoint a qualified company secretary within 6 months of incorporation. The corporate secretary:

• Maintains the statutory registers (directors, shareholders, charges)
• Files the Annual Return with ACRA
• Prepares board resolutions and AGM minutes
• Handles changes in directors, shareholders, or registered address
• Issues share certificates

Budget S$350–S$500/yr for a basic package (small company, no changes during the year) and S$800–S$1,500/yr for an active company with corporate changes.

Nominee Director (Foreign Founders): S$1,800 – S$3,500/yr

If you're a foreign founder without Singapore residency, you need a nominee director. This is the single largest ongoing cost for foreign founders. See our complete nominee director guide for details on what to look for and how to protect yourself.

Accounting and Bookkeeping: S$900 – S$3,600/yr

Singapore companies must maintain proper financial records. The cost depends entirely on your transaction volume:

• Under 50 transactions/month: S$900–S$1,500/yr
• 50–150 transactions/month: S$1,500–S$2,500/yr
• 150+ transactions/month: S$2,500–S$5,000+/yr

Corporate Tax Filing: S$300 – S$800/yr

Includes ECI filing (within 3 months of FYE) and Form C-S preparation and submission (due by 30 November of the YA). Many accounting firms include tax filing in their all-in package, so confirm what's covered.

Registered Address: S$0 – S$600/yr

Your company needs a Singapore registered address for official correspondence. Most corporate secretarial packages include a registered address. If yours doesn't, standalone packages cost S$200–S$600/yr.

ACRA Annual Return Filing Fee: S$60/yr

This is the mandatory fee paid to ACRA when filing your Annual Return each year (within 5 months of your financial year end). It's a fixed S$60 — a trivial cost, but if it's late, the penalty starts at S$300.

First-Year Total Cost Comparison

Ongoing Annual Costs (from Year 2)

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For

Some providers advertise very low incorporation fees but then charge separately for items that should be included. Ask upfront about:

• Digital company documents: Some providers charge extra for the digital Certificate of Incorporation, Constitution, and Share Certificates.
• Corporate seal / common seal: No longer legally required in Singapore since 2017, but some firms charge for one anyway.
• ACRA Bizfile searches: Reputable firms include name searches in the incorporation fee.
• Nominee director documentation: The Nominee Director Agreement and Deed of Indemnity should be included, not charged as extras.
• Annual Return filing: Confirm whether your corporate secretarial fee includes Annual Return filing or if it's a separate charge.
• GST registration: If you need to register for GST, check if this is included or extra.

Karman vs DIY ACRA: Is It Worth Using a Filing Agent?

Conclusion

Singapore incorporation is genuinely affordable. For a local founder, the all-in first-year cost with a professional filing agent runs around S$2,300–S$2,500. For a foreign founder needing a nominee director, budget S$5,000–S$6,000 for the first year. From year two, ongoing professional services for a lean startup cost S$1,600–S$2,800/year (local) or S$4,100–S$5,300/year (foreign with nominee director).

Use our free Cost Calculator to get a personalised estimate based on your specific situation, or speak to Karman's team for a no-obligation quote.