It is a legal requirement to register a business with ACRA if you want to operate a business in Singapore.
The first step in registering a local company is to choose a company name and submit a name application via ACRA’s online business registration and filing portal, BizFile+.
Your proposed company name must not be identical to an existing name nor contain prohibited or undesirable words.
Read our guide on choosing a suitable business name and checking on its availability.
When submitting a name application, you need to specify your business activities by selecting the most relevant Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) code.
Once your application is approved, you can proceed to incorporate your company. You must complete the incorporation within 120 days of the name approval date.
Note the following before submitting your application:
Additional Approvals for Certain Company Name Applications
Your name application may be referred to other government agencies for review and approval. For example, if you plan to incorporate a real estate agency, your application will be referred to the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).
If your application is referred, it may take between 14 and 60 days to process.
Find out more about Referral Authorities.
Requirement to State Your Company Name on All Correspondences
You must state your company's name and registration number (UEN) on all business correspondence (such as business letters, statements of account, invoices, and official notices) as required under the Companies Act (CA). This requirement helps to promote transparency and prevent misrepresentation.
Difference between Company Name and Trade Mark
Registering a company name with ACRA is not the same as registering a trade mark. Your company name registration does not grant you exclusive rights or intellectual property rights to your company name. If you wish to establish a monopoly over its use, you must submit a separate application to the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS).
Registering a Domain Name
Registering a company name with ACRA does not give you ownership rights to a matching domain name. Registration of domain names is on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you want to register a domain name ending with .sg or .com.sg for your company, you can approach the registrars accredited by the Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC).