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 fixed and modest, and with a professional filing agent you can have a fully incorporated company within days. 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
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.
| Scenario | Service Fee | What's Typically Included |
|---|---|---|
| Local founder, basic package | Varies by provider | Name check, ACRA filing, digital documents |
| Local founder, full package (Karman) | Varies by provider | Name check, ACRA filing, company secretary (1st year), digital documents |
| Foreign founder, basic package | Varies by provider | Name check, ACRA filing, KYC, digital documents |
| Foreign founder, full package (Karman) | Varies by provider | Name check, ACRA filing, nominee director setup, company secretary (1st year), digital 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
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
A basic package suits a small company with no changes during the year; an active company with corporate changes needs a fuller package, which costs more.
Nominee Director (Foreign Founders)
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
Singapore companies must maintain proper financial records. The cost depends entirely on your transaction volume:
- Under 50 transactions/month: lowest bookkeeping fees
- 50–150 transactions/month: mid-range fees
- 150+ transactions/month: higher fees, scaling with volume
Corporate Tax Filing
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
Your company needs a Singapore registered address for official correspondence. Most corporate secretarial packages include a registered address. If yours doesn't, standalone registered address services are widely available.
ACRA Annual Return Filing Fee
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 small fixed fee, but if it's late, the penalty starts at S$300.
First-Year Total Cost Comparison
| Cost Item | Local Founder | Foreign Founder |
|---|---|---|
| ACRA government fee | Fixed government fee | Fixed government fee |
| Incorporation service fee | Varies by provider | Varies by provider |
| Nominee director (annual) | – | Varies by provider |
| Corporate secretarial (annual) | Included in package | Included in package |
| Accounting (annual, lean startup) | Varies by provider | Varies by provider |
| Corporate tax filing | Varies by provider | Varies by provider |
| ACRA Annual Return fee | Fixed government fee | Fixed government fee |
| First-Year Total (est.) | Sum of the items above | Sum of the items above |
The nominee director fee is typically the largest cost driver for foreign founders. Once you obtain an Employment Pass and can serve as resident director yourself, annual costs drop to the same level as a local founder. Many founders recoup this cost within their first year simply by the tax savings Singapore's corporate tax regime provides versus their home country.
Ongoing Annual Costs (from Year 2)
| Cost Item | Local Founder (Year 2+) | Foreign Founder (Year 2+) |
|---|---|---|
| Nominee director | – | Varies by provider |
| Corporate secretarial | Varies by provider | Varies by provider |
| Accounting (lean startup) | Varies by provider | Varies by provider |
| Tax filing | Varies by provider | Varies by provider |
| ACRA Annual Return | Fixed government fee | Fixed government fee |
| Annual Total (est.) | Sum of the items above | Sum of the items above |
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?
| DIY via BizFile+ | Karman | |
|---|---|---|
| Available to foreigners? | No | Yes |
| ACRA fee | Fixed government fee | Fixed government fee |
| Service fee | Varies by provider | Varies by provider |
| Constitution drafting | Standard ACRA template only | Custom + standard options |
| Director / shareholder consents | Self-prepared | Prepared for you |
| Company secretary Year 1 | Not included (you source separately) | Included |
| Nominee director setup | Not applicable | Available |
| Processing time | 1–3 days (if done correctly) | Same day to 1 day |
| Support if ACRA queries | You handle it | Karman handles it |
Conclusion
Singapore incorporation is genuinely affordable. For a local founder, the all-in first-year cost with a professional filing agent is modest. A foreign founder needing a nominee director should budget more, since the nominee is usually the largest recurring item. From year two, ongoing costs are mainly corporate secretarial, accounting, and tax filing, plus the nominee director where one is still needed.
Use our free Cost Calculator to get a personalised estimate, or see Karman's incorporation packages, corporate secretarial plans, and nominee director service for a full breakdown of what's included.
Official Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
The government fees to incorporate are modest. If you use a filing agent (required for most foreign founders), you also pay a professional incorporation fee. For a Singapore Citizen or PR with no nominee director needed, total first-year costs are lowest, especially when corporate secretarial services are bundled.
Key annual costs include: corporate secretarial services, accounting and bookkeeping (which scale with transaction volume), corporate tax filing, and a nominee director if applicable. A lean startup with minimal transactions keeps these professional service costs at the low end.
Yes, you save the service fee by using ACRA's BizFile+ directly - but only if you are a Singapore Citizen or PR. Foreigners cannot submit incorporation applications directly and must use a registered filing agent. Even for local founders, most choose a filing agent for the convenience, accuracy, and included company secretary setup.
As of 2026, incorporating a Singapore private limited company (Pte Ltd) via ACRA's BizFile+ portal typically takes 1–3 business days for straightforward applications. Government fees for the name application and incorporation are modest and are paid online at the time of filing. Every company must have at least one locally resident director - most foreign founders appoint a professional nominee director initially, then apply for an Employment Pass to take on the director role themselves. Understanding the total cost is a key part of planning to move your business to Singapore - beyond the government fee, the recurring annual compliance costs are what matter most.
Key Takeaways on Cost (Updated September 2026)
The government fee to incorporate a Singapore company is unchanged in 2026 and covers name reservation and ACRA registration. That number is the easy part. The real cost picture is the recurring Year 1 stack - corporate secretary, a registered office address, and, for most foreign founders, a nominee director - and those items vary with the provider and whether nominee services are needed.
When comparing quotes, look past the incorporation headline price and check what is bundled versus billed later. The items that quietly add up are nominee director deposits, unlimited resolutions versus per-item charges for corporate secretary work, accounting and annual filing, and GST registration if your turnover crosses S$1 million. A cheap incorporation fee attached to expensive per-transaction admin often costs more over a year than a slightly higher all-in package.
The ACRA government fee is the smallest part of the picture; the numbers that matter are the recurring ones from year two onward. When you compare quotes, ask which items are bundled, which are billed per resolution, and whether a nominee director needs a deposit. As of September 2026, the quickest way to get a figure for your situation is our free Cost Calculator, which accounts for your residency, nominee needs, and expected turnover. Treat any estimate as guidance rather than a formal quote.