SINGAPORE Business Setup

Tax Efficiency

Low Corporate Tax: Flat corporate tax rate of 17% (one of the world's lowest).

Startup Tax Exemption (SUTE): New companies may enjoy up to 75% tax exemption on the first S$100,000 of chargeable income for the first three consecutive years (subject to conditions).

No Capital Gains Tax: Profits from the sale of capital assets are generally not taxed.

Global Access

Strategic Location: Gateway to the fast-growing Asia-Pacific markets.

Extensive DTA Network: Over 80 Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) prevent your income from being taxed twice, facilitating international trade.

Credibility & Trust

Strong Legal Framework: Renowned for its transparent, corruption-free, and stable political and legal environment.

International Reputation: A company registered in Singapore holds a high level of international business credibility.

Limited Liability

Asset Protection (Pte Ltd): Personal assets of shareholders are protected from the company's debts and losses.

Ease of Setup & Operations

Fast Incorporation: The process is fully digital and can often be completed within 1-2 business days (once documents are ready).

100% Foreign Ownership: Foreigners can own 100% of the shares in a Singapore Private Limited Company.

Legal Status

Separate Legal Entity (Distinct from its owners)

Not a separate legal entity

Separate Legal Entity (Distinct from its partners)

Liability

Limited Liability (Shareholders' personal assets are protected)

Unlimited Liability (Owner is personally responsible for all business debts)

Limited Liability (Partners are not liable for the LLP's debts or wrongful acts of other partners)

Ownership

1 to 50 Shareholders (Individuals or Corporate)

One owner only

2 or more Partners (Individuals or Corporate)

Taxation

Subject to Corporate Income Tax (17% flat, with startup exemptions)

Profits taxed as the Owner's Personal Income (Progressive tax rates)

Partners' profits taxed as Personal Income (Progressive rates) or Corporate Tax (if partner is a company)

Statutory Compliance

Highest (Mandatory annual filings, appointment of a resident director and qualified Company Secretary)

Lowest (Annual renewal of registration)

Moderate (Annual declaration of solvency, registered manager)

Perpetual Succession

Yes (Business continues regardless of changes in ownership/directorship)

No (Ceases to exist if the owner dies or ceases the business)

Yes (Business continues regardless of changes in partners)

Best Suited For

Startups, Foreign Investors, SMEs seeking growth, funding, and asset protection.

Freelancers, small-scale businesses with minimal risk.

Professionals (Lawyers, Accountants) and partners seeking a formal structure with personal asset protection.

High Operating Costs

Singapore is a globally recognized financial hub, which translates to a higher cost for office rent, labor, and expatriate living expenses compared to many other regional countries.

Stringent Compliance

A Private Limited Company is subject to rigorous regulatory and statutory compliance, including mandatory annual filings with ACRA and IRAS. This often necessitates professional help.

Local Director Requirement

Foreigners must appoint a Resident Director. If you do not have one, you must hire a professional Nominee Director (a paid service), adding to annual operational costs.

Competitive Market

The open and business-friendly environment results in high competition across many sectors, especially technology, finance, and trade.

Need for Professional Services

Foreigners cannot self-register a company and must engage a corporate service provider (like us) to submit the application on their behalf via the BizFile+ portal.