To start a company in Singapore, a local, resident company secretary must be appointed. A company also requires a local registered office address.

Of the many legal entities permissible in Singapore, the majority of entrepreneurs wishing to start a company in Singapore do so through an LLC. The government fee to register an LLC is S$300.

Through an LLC, an entrepreneur starting a company in Singapore can i) open a corporate bank account ii) obtain local residence and employment visas  (such as the Singapore Entrepreneur Pass) and iii) lease office or factory premises.

Singapore company law is outlined in the Singapore Companies Act 1963 and starting a company in Singapore is controlled by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). Through ACRA companies are registered and administered, corporate compliance and disclosure requirements are monitored, and statutory audits by public accountants are regulated.

Also established via ACRA, a Singapore Branch Company retains the legal identity of its foreign parent. The Singapore Branch must adopt the same name as its parent, and is required to file audited financial statements (relating to its Singapore operations) annually with the IRAS.

After starting a company in Singapore, company details are available for public viewing via ACRA’s online public register. Available details include shareholders and directors information, date of incorporation, share capital and registered address.

Entrepreneurs using this entity must register through International Enterprise Singapore. The fee for setting up a Representative Office is S$2,600 (US$1,700).

After starting a company in Singapore, it is necessary to submit audited accounts (relating to its Singapore operations) annually with the  Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

Introduced in 2005, a Singapore Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) requires at least two partners, who can be individuals or companies of any nationality. Because partner liability is limited, it is attractive to some investors starting a company in Singapore. An LLP is also attractive because there are no obligations to submit audited financial statements or annual tax returns. An LLP is also required to appoint a local manager, whose primary obligation is to make an annual solvency/insolvency declaration to ACRA

A Singapore Branch requires two Singapore resident individuals to act as agents. The Branch must have a registered office in Singapore. It is taxed as an LLC in Singapore. The government fee to register a Branch of a foreign company is S$300 if the company has a share capital, and S$1,200 for a foreign company without share capital.

Because of the restrictions on activities placed on a Singapore Representative Office, this entity is the least preferred option by foreign investors starting a company in Singapore. A Singapore Representative Office is useful for entrepreneurs wishing to conduct preliminary market surveys and feasibility studies before making a long-term investment commitment to Singapore. Because it conducts no business in Singapore and is not permitted to issue invoices, a representative office generates no profits and is therefore not subject to Singapore tax.