Names
Setting up a company in Singapore
A Singapore private limited company is registered with ACRA through Bizfile, usually within a day. Words such as bank, finance, university or law are sent to a referral authority, which can add weeks or lead to rejection.
- Legal suffix
- Pte. Ltd.
- Domains
- .com and .com.sg
- Corporate tax
- 17% headline, with partial exemptions for new companies
- Name check
- ACRA Bizfile
What it costs
| Formation | S$15 for the name application and S$300 to incorporate through Bizfile. |
|---|---|
| Every year | S$60 to file the annual return. |
| Registered agent or local requirement | At least one director must live in Singapore. Nominee director packages cost around S$2,500. You also need a company secretary within six months and a local registered address. |
| Online portal | Yes. Bizfile handles filings, business profiles and certificates. |
Certificates (good standing, incumbency and similar)
| Business profile | S$5.50 |
|---|---|
| Certificates | From S$11 |
Estimates checked October 2026. Government fees change and service providers charge on top, so confirm with the registry before you budget. Sources: ACRA Bizfile.
Naming rules in Singapore
ACRA rejects names identical to existing ones, and some words go to a referral authority. The generator flags these words with an orange or red tick:
- Needs approval Bank, Banking, Insurance, Insurer, Assurance, Reinsurance, Securities, Exchange, Fund, Funds. Regulated financial term. Needs approval from the financial regulator in most countries.
- Needs approval Finance, Financial. Needs approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
- Needs approval Academy, College, Institute, University, National. Referred to the Ministry of Education. 'National' is usually rejected.
- Needs approval Law, Legal, Counsel, Chamber, Advocate, Solicitor. Referred to the Ministry of Law.
- Needs approval Singapore, Merlion, ASEAN, Military, Defence, Architect. Needs approval from a referral authority, and is often rejected.
These checks are a quick screen based on published guidance, not legal advice. The registry has the final say.
Jurisdictions at a glance
| Jurisdiction | Legal suffix | Domain | Headline corporate tax | Typical setup cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE Mainland | LLC, Sole Establishment | .ae | 9% corporate tax on profit above AED 375,000 | About AED 11,500–14,000 |
| UAE Free Zone (DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ…) | FZ-LLC, FZCO, FZE, DMCC | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | From about AED 6,000 |
| DIFC (Dubai) | Limited, Ltd | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | About AED 100,000 year one |
| ADGM (Abu Dhabi) | Ltd, Limited | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | About US$6,300 |
| Saudi Arabia | LLC | .sa | 20% on foreign-owned profit, 2.5% zakat on Saudi and GCC shares | About SAR 15,000 in fees |
| Qatar (QFC) | LLC | .qa | 10% on locally sourced profit | US$500 application |
| Bahrain | W.L.L., S.P.C. | .bh | No general corporate tax (oil and gas and large multinationals aside) | About BHD 250–450 in fees |
| United Kingdom | Ltd, Limited | .co.uk | 19% to 25% corporation tax | £100 |
| Ireland | Limited, DAC | .ie | 12.5% on trading income | €50 |
| Estonia (e-Residency) | OÜ | .ee | 0% on retained profit, 22% on distributed profit | €265 + e-Residency |
| Netherlands | B.V. | .nl | 19% up to €200,000, then 25.8% | €500–1,500 notary |
| Germany | GmbH, UG (haftungsbeschränkt) | .de | About 30% combined corporate and trade tax | About €600 + capital |
| Cyprus | Ltd, Limited | .com.cy | 15% corporate tax (from 2026) | Low registrar fees |
| USA: Delaware | Inc., LLC, Corp. | .us | 21% federal, no Delaware income tax if you don't operate there | $109–110 |
| USA: Wyoming | LLC | .us | 21% federal, no state income tax | $100 |
| Singapore | Pte. Ltd. | .com.sg | 17% headline, with partial exemptions for new companies | S$315 |
| Hong Kong | Limited | .com.hk | 8.25% on the first HK$2 million, then 16.5% | About HK$3,900 |
| British Virgin Islands | Ltd, Limited, Inc. | .vg | 0% | $550 + agent |
| Cayman Islands | Ltd | .ky | 0% | About $5,000 with a provider |
How to choose a company name that gets approved
- Check the register first: names identical or very close to an existing company are refused.
- Avoid regulated words such as Bank, Insurance, Capital or Trust unless you hold the licence.
- In the Gulf, avoid religious, royal or government terms and place names such as Dubai or Emirates.
- In the UK, sensitive words such as British, Royal, Charity or Institute need prior approval.
- Secure the .com and the country domain on the same day you reserve the name.
The rule checks are a quick screen based on published guidance, not legal advice. The registry has the final say.
Information only. CorpNameCheck does not give tax, legal or company-registration advice. Costs, rules and tax rates are simplified estimates that change over time. Many activities need a licence or regulatory approval, and only the relevant registry or regulator can confirm what applies to you. Check name availability and trademarks with the official bodies before you register or buy a domain. Full disclaimer