This checklist is a practical starting point for setting up a local company in Singapore. It summarises current ACRA guidance and is general information, not legal, tax or regulatory advice.
Before you register
- Choose the entity and reserve the name. Follow ACRA’s current registration guidance and complete name reservation before registering a local company.
- Prepare company details. Have the approved-name details, financial year end, company email, office hours and registered-office information ready for Bizfile.
- Confirm position holders and ownership information. Check ACRA’s current eligibility requirements and provide the required shareholder, controller and contact details.
- Prepare or adopt a constitution. ACRA allows a local company to adopt the applicable model constitution or submit a customised constitution.
During registration
- Use Bizfile’s Register new business entity service after name reservation.
- Enter the company, position-holder, shareholder, controller, share-capital and constitution information required by the service.
- Review declarations and submitted information before completing the filing.
After successful registration
- Set up required company registers. For companies that are not exempt, ACRA’s current guidance requires a Register of Registrable Controllers; companies registered from 16 June 2025 provide relevant information during Bizfile registration.
- Appoint key officers on time. A company secretary must be appointed within six months of successful registration. An auditor must be appointed within three months unless exempt from audit requirements.
- Check licences and permits before operations. Use the GoBusiness Licence e-Advisers identified in ACRA guidance. If no additional licence is needed, ACRA says the business may start after registration.
- Keep company information current. Use ACRA’s current guidance for changes to company information, officers, shareholders and registers.
