First-year cost of a Singapore Pte Ltd
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Verdict: An incorporation price is only part of the budget. Add any unbundled secretary, address, accounting, filing and resident-director costs. A complete first-year total is unknown until the provider confirms scope and tax treatment. Refundable nominee deposits also increase the cash needed upfront.
Provider figures below come from this directory's dated price snapshot. Official filing rules and fees are linked separately. These are published examples, not a market-wide price range or a personalised quote.
Local vs foreign founder budget
The local column assumes an eligible resident director is already available. The foreigner column assumes the founder needs a paid nominee. A foreign founder who already has an eligible resident director may not need that service. A company must appoint at least one locally resident director at registration. ACRA registration requirements.
| Cost | Local founder | Foreign founder needing a nominee |
|---|---|---|
| ACRA name application | S$15 ACRA | S$15 ACRA |
| ACRA company registration | S$300 ACRA | S$300 ACRA |
| Incorporation service, excluding government fees | Example: 3E Accounting S$100, or S$109 with GST provider | Included in 3E's published foreign setup package; separate foreign service charge unknown provider |
| Company secretary | 3E includes the first year with incorporation; subsequent annual fee S$300, or S$327 with GST setup, secretary | 3E includes the first year with incorporation; confirm the renewal scope provider |
| Registered office service | 3E's first-year address is S$100 before GST within its setup total provider | The same address component appears in 3E's foreign setup total; confirm mail handling and renewal provider |
| Accounting, financial statements and tax preparation | unknown; obtain a quote for the company's activity and filing scope | unknown; confirm any compulsory accounting bundle |
| Nominee director service | Not needed under this scenario | 3E: S$2,000 per annum, or S$2,180 with GST provider |
| Refundable nominee deposit | Not needed under this scenario | 3E: S$2,000, separate from the service fee provider |
| ACRA annual return filing | S$60 per filing; add only if not bundled ACRA | S$60 per filing; add only if not bundled ACRA |
A Singapore registered office is required; buying an address service is a separate choice if you already have a compliant address. ACRA address requirements. Budget for the annual return, but confirm when it falls due for your financial year rather than assuming the payment falls within the initial calendar year.
Published setup totals, with the gaps visible
| Example | Published setup amount | What remains outside a verified full-year total |
|---|---|---|
| 3E local setup | S$515 before GST; S$533 with GST, including the first-year address and secretary provider | Accounting, tax preparation, annual return inclusion and non-routine charges: unknown |
| 3E foreign setup | S$2,515 before GST; S$2,713 with GST, plus S$2,000 refundable deposit provider | Accounting, filing inclusions, additional due diligence and deposit release terms need confirmation |
| Osome local setup plus address | S$600 setup + S$300/year address = S$900 calculated subtotal provider | Accounting and GST treatment of this subtotal: unknown; check current bundle conditions |
The Osome subtotal is arithmetic from the listed components, not a provider quote. Do not add government fees or secretary fees again when the selected package already includes them. Do not combine the cheapest component from different providers and assume they sell that combination.
Ask for a complete written budget
Request a quote separating setup, recurring services, GST, government fees, refundable deposits and optional work. Specify accounting activity, shareholders, nominee duration and whether you need visa assistance. Ask what happens when a promotional or short nominee term ends.
Full-year service cost: confirmed setup and recurring charges, plus excluded filing/accounting/tax work. Upfront cash: amounts payable now, plus refundable deposits. The missing components above remain unknown, not free. Operating expenses, tax liabilities, payroll and business-specific licences also need a separate budget.
Compare published secretary prices, foreigner packages and Osome vs 3E Accounting.