Overview

Start-up Guide

Before starting your business, it helps to have a clear idea of what you need to do. Key questions you will need to ask include:

• Do you need to register your business? If yes, what business structure?

• Where will your business be located?

• What will your business name be?

GoBusiness Start-up Guide will walk you through the questions above and more.

Register your business

If you’re starting a business in Singapore, the first question to consider is whether you need to register it.

Anybody who intends to carry out any activity for profit on an ongoing basis must register a business with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), unless you meet the following criteria for exemption:

• You use your full name, as per your NRIC, as your business name
• You and your partner(s) use your full names, as per your NRIC, as your business name

Do note that if you add descriptive words to your name (eg: Flowers by Tan Mei Ling), you must register the business. There are other exemptions from registration and the full list can be found in the Business Names Registration Act.

Ready to start your business registration?

I want to register my business

Reserve your business name and register your business entity on ACRA's BizFile+

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Apply on ACRA BizFile+

I'm not sure what to do to register a business

Get step-by-step guidance in starting a business and registering it with this e-Adviser.

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Go to e-Adviser for Starting a business

I'm not sure which business structure to choose

Use this e-Adviser to get recommendations for a suitable business structure, based on your business requirements.

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Go to e-Adviser for Business Structure

Benefits of registering a business

There are several benefits of registering a business with ACRA. Here are some of them:

• Legitimacy: The public can easily verify information about your business and its owners. It also makes it easier for customers to identify, find and transact with your business.
• Access: Your business gets access to Government funding, such as Enterprise Singapore grants. You also get to participate in government tenders and secure intellectual property or patents for new products and technology.

In addition, if you incorporate a company or set up a limited liability partnership, you enjoy:

• Limited liability: Your personal and business finances are kept separate. This means that in the event that your business is sued, your personal liabilities are limited and you do not risk losing your personal assets.

Limited liability does not apply to a sole proprietorship or partnership.

Carrying out a small-scale business from home

If you are thinking of starting a small-scale business from home, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you.

Do note that Housing Development Board (HDB) flats and private residential properties are intended for residential use, and there are conditions and guidelines that need to be followed. Most importantly, the property must still be used for residential purposes and the business activity must be kept at a small scale to avoid causing disamenities to your neighbours.

Key steps to start

Now that you know whether to register the business, here are 6 key steps to guide you:

After you’ve taken these steps, find out what you can do next to continue running and growing your business with these next steps.

Setup cost calculator

Get an estimate of how much it costs to start and run a business in Singapore with our Setup Cost Calculator.