ACRA Registration Guide

ACRA Registration Guide | Bestar

ACRA Registration Guide For Businesses

Singapore remains one of the most business-friendly destinations in the world. If you are planning to launch your venture in 2025, registering with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) is your first and most critical step.

This guide provides a comprehensive roadmap to navigating the ACRA registration process efficiently.

1. Choose the Right Business Structure

Before heading to the BizFile+ portal, you must decide which legal entity suits your goals. The choice affects your taxes, personal liability, and ability to raise capital.

Entity Type	Best For	Liability
Private Limited (Pte Ltd)	Startups & SMEs	Limited to share capital
Sole Proprietorship	Solo entrepreneurs	Unlimited personal liability
LLP	Professional services (e.g., Law, Accounting)	Limited to individual partner’s actions

Pro Tip: Most foreign and local entrepreneurs choose a Pte Ltd company because it is a separate legal entity, offering the best protection and tax benefits.

2. Statutory Requirements Checklist

To register a company in Singapore, you must meet these minimum criteria:

• Company Name: Must be unique and pre-approved by ACRA.

  
  

• Resident Director: At least one director must be "ordinarily resident" in Singapore (Citizen, PR, or EntrePass holder).

  
  

• Shareholders: Between 1 and 50 (can be 100% foreign-owned).

  
  

• Registered Office Address: A physical Singapore address (P.O. Boxes are not allowed).

  
  

• Company Secretary: Must be appointed within 6 months of incorporation.

  
  

• Initial Paid-up Capital: As low as S$1.

3. The Registration Process: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Name Reservation (S$15)

Submit your proposed name via BizFile+. If the name is available and doesn't contain restricted words (like "Bank" or "University"), approval is usually instant. Once approved, the name is reserved for 120 days.

Step 2: Formal Incorporation (S$300)

Once the name is approved, file the incorporation application. You will need to provide:

• SSIC Codes: Select the codes that best describe your business activities.

  
  

• Shareholding Details: Allocation of shares and capital amount.

  
  

• Constitution: You can use the ACRA "Model Constitution" or upload a custom one.

Step 3: Endorsement by Officers

All appointed directors and secretaries must log in to BizFile+ via Singpass to endorse their appointments within 60 days of the application.

4. Timeline and Fees

• Processing Time: Most applications are approved within 15 minutes after payment. If the application is referred to another agency for review, it may take 14 days to 2 months.

  
  

• Total Official Cost: Generally S$315 (S$15 for the name + S$300 for registration).

5. Post-Registration: The First 30 Days

Once ACRA sends your Business Profile and Unique Entity Number (UEN), you must:

1. Open a Corporate Bank Account: Most banks require the physical presence of directors.

   
   

2. Apply for Licenses: Check the GoBusiness portal if your industry (e.g., F&B, Travel) requires specific permits.

   
   

3. Register for GST: Only mandatory if your annual taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million.

   
   

4. Set up CorpPass: This is essential for all digital transactions with the Singapore government.

Summary of Key Compliance

To keep your company in good standing, you must file an Annual Return with ACRA and a Tax Return with IRAS every year. Failure to do so can lead to fines or disqualification of directors.

Drafting the Company Constitution

In Singapore, most new companies adopt the Model Constitution provided under the Companies (Model Constitutions) Regulations 2014. It is widely accepted by ACRA, banks, and investors because it is legally robust and balanced.

Below is a structured draft based on the ACRA Model Constitution for a Private Company Limited by Shares.

Constitution of [Your Company Name] Private Limited

1. Name and Type of Company

• The name of the company is [Your Company Name] Pte. Ltd.

• The company is a private company limited by shares.

• The registered office of the company will be situated in the Republic of Singapore.

2. Business Activities and Powers

• Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act (Cap. 50) and any other written law, the company has:

  1. Full capacity to carry on or undertake any business or activity.

  2. For the purposes of paragraph (1), full rights, powers, and privileges.

3. Share Capital and Variation of Rights

• The liability of the members is limited.

• The company may issue shares for which no consideration is payable.

• Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any existing shares or class of shares, any share in the company may be issued with such preferred, deferred, or other special rights or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital, or otherwise, as the directors may determine.

  
  

4. Transfer of Shares

• The directors may, in their absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of shares to a person of whom they do not approve and may also decline to register any transfer of shares on which the company has a lien.

• The directors may decline to recognize any instrument of transfer unless the instrument of transfer is accompanied by the certificate of the shares to which it relates.

5. General Meetings

• An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

• The directors may, whenever they think fit, convene an Extraordinary General Meeting.

• No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of members is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. For a private company, two members present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum.

6. Directors: Appointment and Removal

• At the date of adoption of this Constitution, the first directors shall be determined in writing by the subscribers of the Constitution.

• The company may from time to time by ordinary resolution passed in general meeting increase or reduce the number of directors.

• A director shall not be required to hold any shares in the company by way of qualification.

7. Powers and Duties of Directors

• The business of the company shall be managed by or under the direction or supervision of the directors.

• The directors may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow money, to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property, and uncalled capital, and to issue debentures and other securities.

8. Dividends and Reserves

• The company in general meeting may declare dividends, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors.

• No dividend shall be paid otherwise than out of profits.

9. Secretary

• The secretary shall in accordance with the Act be appointed by the directors for such term, at such remuneration, and upon such conditions as they may think fit.

Important Usage Notes

• Customization: If you have specific requirements—such as "Right of First Refusal" (ROFR) where existing shareholders must be offered shares before outsiders can buy them—you must add a specific clause to Section 4.

  
  

• Adoption: If you use the standard Model Constitution exactly as provided by ACRA during the BizFile+ application, you do not need to upload a document; you simply select the "Model Constitution" radio button.

  
  

• Signing: When using a custom version, the constitution must be signed by the initial subscribers (shareholders) in the presence of a witness.

List of SSIC Codes for Business Type

Choosing the correct Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) code is vital because it determines your tax incentives, eligibility for government grants, and whether you need specific licenses to operate.

As of 2026, ACRA has transitioned to the updated SSIC 2025 framework to better capture emerging industries like cybersecurity, AI, and digital marketplaces.

1. Popular SSIC Codes by Industry (2026 Update)

Most businesses select one Primary and one Secondary code. Here are the most common selections for 2026:

Technology & Digital Services

• 62011: Development of software and applications (General software/SaaS).

• 62013: Development of software for cybersecurity (New specific code).

• 62021: Information technology consultancy (Advisory and implementation).

• 63119: Data processing, hosting, and related activities (Cloud services).

• 63201: Online marketplaces for goods (Operating e-commerce platforms).

Consulting & Professional Services

• 70201: Management consultancy services (General business advisory).

• 70205: Public relations, marketing, and brand consultancy (Digital marketing agencies).

• 73100: Advertising activities (Media buying and ad placement).

• 69201: Accounting and auditing services.

• 74191: Interior design services.

E-commerce & Retail

• 47910: Retail sale via internet (Standard online shop).

• 46900: General wholesale trade (Import/Export with no dominant product).

• 47711: Retail sale of clothing for adults.

• 47742: Retail sale of handicrafts, collectibles, and gifts.

Food & Beverage (F&B)

• 56111: Restaurants (Full-service dining).

• 56112: Cafes (Limited service/Pre-payment models).

• 56130: Pubs and bars.

• 56140: Stalls selling cooked food and prepared drinks (Hawker/Food court stalls).

Holding & Investment

• 64201: Bank and financial holding companies.

• 64202: Other holding companies (General investment holding for assets/subsidiaries).

2. Understanding the SSIC Hierarchy

The SSIC code is a 5-digit number that gets more specific with each digit. Using the correct level of detail ensures your business is classified accurately for the Department of Statistics (SingStat).

3. Important "Referral" Codes

Some codes are "flagged" by ACRA. If you select these, your application will be sent to a Referral Authority for approval, which may extend your registration time from 15 minutes to 14–60 days.

• Schools/Education (85xxx): Referred to the Ministry of Education (MOE) or SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).

• Travel Agencies (79102): Referred to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

• Financial Services (64xxx): Referred to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

• Real Estate (68201): Referred to the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).

4. How to Search for Your Code

If your specific activity isn't listed above, follow these steps:

1. Use Keywords: Go to the ACRA SSIC Search tool and search by "Activity" (e.g., "AI," "Yoga," "Trading").

2. Check the "n.e.c." Codes: If your business is very niche, look for codes ending in n.e.c. (Not Elsewhere Classified).

3. Custom Description: ACRA allows you to write a 70-character custom description to clarify your business activity if the code is slightly broad.

How Bestar Singapore can Help

In the competitive Singaporean market, many entrepreneurs turn to a Registered Filing Agent (RFA) like Bestar Singapore to handle their ACRA registration. While you can do it yourself, a professional service provider ensures that your application is error-free, compliant with the Companies Act, and optimized for tax benefits from day one.

Here is a guide on how Bestar streamlines the ACRA registration process for you.

1. Expert Guidance on Business Structuring

Choosing between a Private Limited Company, Sole Proprietorship, or LLP isn't just a legal choice—it’s a financial one.

• How Bestar Helps: They evaluate your business goals, risk appetite, and scalability to recommend the most tax-efficient structure. For most, this is a Pte Ltd, which allows for the SME Tax Exemption Scheme (significant tax savings on the first S$100,000 of profit).

2. Seamless Name Approval & SSIC Mapping

ACRA can reject names that are too similar to existing companies or those that use "prohibited" words. Additionally, selecting the wrong SSIC code can lead to unnecessary licensing delays.

• How Bestar Helps: Bestar performs a preliminary name search to ensure high approval rates. They also map your business activities to the most accurate SSIC 2025 codes, ensuring you don’t accidentally trigger a lengthy 60-day review from "Referral Authorities" like MAS or MOE.

3. Mandatory Officer & Address Services

Every Singapore company must have a Resident Director, a Company Secretary, and a Local Registered Office Address.

• How Bestar Helps: * Nominee Director: For foreign entrepreneurs, Bestar can provide a local resident director to satisfy ACRA’s statutory requirements.

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  • Corporate Secretary: Bestar’s qualified professionals act as your named secretary, a legal requirement within 6 months of incorporation.

  • Registered Address: They provide a prestigious CBD-located address for official government correspondence, keeping your home address private.

4. Accelerated BizFile+ Submission

Filing through the BizFile+ portal requires a Singpass (for locals) or a Registered Filing Agent (for foreigners).

• How Bestar Helps: As a licensed filing agent, Bestar handles the electronic submission. They prepare the Constitution, Form 45 (Consent to Act as Director), and other technical documents, often securing company approval in as little as 15 minutes.

Why Choose Bestar Singapore for Your ACRA Registration?

Feature	Self-Registration	With Bestar Singapore
Speed	1–3 days (manual entry)	Instant (via Filing Agent portal)
Compliance	High risk of filing errors	100% compliance guarantee
Foreigners	Not possible without an agent	Full-service setup & EP assistance
Post-Setup	You manage bank & licenses	Assistance with bank opening & GST

Beyond Registration: Post-Incorporation Support

Bestar doesn't just "register and leave." They provide a 360-degree ecosystem to help your business grow:

• Corporate Bank Account Opening: Assistance with document preparation for top-tier banks like DBS, OCBC, and UOB.

  
  

• Work Pass Applications: Helping you or your team secure Employment Passes (EP) or EntrePasses.

  
  

• Accounting & Audit: Monthly bookkeeping and annual filing of Estimated Chargeable Income (ECI) with IRAS.

Final Thought: Using a professional service like Bestar transforms a complex legal hurdle into a simple, one-day administrative task, allowing you to focus on your product and customers instead of paperwork.

Would you like to send inquiry email to Bestar, or like the document list you'll need to send us to get started?