How to Start a Business in Singapore from India: A Complete Guide

How to Start a Business in Singapore from India

For ambitious Indian entrepreneurs, the question is no longer if you should expand globally, but where. With its strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and unparalleled business environment, Singapore stands out as the ultimate launchpad for your global vision.

But how do you navigate the process from India? Is it complex? What are the requirements?

This is your definitive, step-by-step guide. We’ll walk you through the entire journey, from initial planning to launching your Singaporean company, ensuring you are structured for success and profitability from day one.

Monuments in in India, representing Indian entrepreneurs expanding their business to Singapore through Counto’s business registration services.

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Why Singapore is the #1 choice for Indian businesses

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s reinforce the “why.” Singapore isn’t just another foreign country; it’s a strategic tool for growth.

The India-Singapore DTAA:

This is your most powerful financial advantage. The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement ensures your profits aren’t taxed twice. Crucially, once your Singapore company pays its low corporate tax, you can repatriate profits to India as dividends with zero withholding tax. This is a level of efficiency few other jurisdictions can offer.

Read our expert guide on the DTAA

Gateway to ASEAN

Position your business at the heart of a 650-million-strong consumer market.

Global Credibility

A Singaporean entity (Pte. Ltd.) carries a badge of trust and stability, making it easier to attract international clients, talent, and investors.

Ease of Doing Business

The entire incorporation process is digital, efficient, and can be completed without ever leaving India.

The 5-Step Process to Register Your Company from India

We’ve streamlined the entire journey. Here’s what it looks like.

Choose Your Business Structure

For Indian entrepreneurs, the clear choice is a Private Limited Company (Pte. Ltd.) — it allows 100% foreign ownership, provides limited liability, and offers credibility for global growth. We focus on this structure because it’s the best fit for your expansion.

Fulfill the Core Requirements

Every Singapore Pte. Ltd. needs the following. We handle each item for you:

A unique company name — we check availability and reserve it.
One resident director — Counto provides a qualified nominee director.
Qualified company secretary — included from day one.
Registered Singapore address — with digital mail scanning.
Paid-up capital — start from just S$1.

Prepare Your Documents

A simple checklist from your side:

Passport copies of directors/shareholders
Proof of residential address
Brief description of planned business activities

Digital Registration with ACRA

Once your documents are ready, we prepare and submit them online to ACRA. Approvals are often granted within 24 hours.

Post-Incorporation Setup

Your company is registered! We guide you in opening a corporate bank account and completing post-incorporation compliance.

Singapore skyline symbolizing a global business hub, highlighting company incorporation opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs expanding with Counto’s expert services.

Let’s Start Your Incorporation Process

The 5-Step Process to Register Your Company from India

We’ve streamlined the entire journey. Here’s what it looks like.

Choose Your Business Structure

For Indian entrepreneurs, the clear choice is a Private Limited Company (Pte. Ltd.) — it allows 100% foreign ownership, limited liability, and credibility for global growth.

Fulfill the Core Requirements

Every Pte. Ltd. needs a unique company name, one resident director, a company secretary, a registered Singapore address, and a minimum paid-up capital of just S$1.

Prepare Your Documents

Simple checklist: passport copies, proof of residential address, and a brief description of your planned business activities.

Digital Registration with ACRA

Once your documents are ready, we file everything online with ACRA. Approvals are often granted within 24 hours.

Post-Incorporation Setup

After incorporation, we guide you through opening a corporate bank account and handling post-incorporation compliance.

Let’s Start Your Incorporation Process

Common Pitfalls for Indian Founders (And How to Avoid Them)

Learn from the most frequent mistakes—then sidestep them with the right setup.

Pitfall #1: “Cheap” service with hidden fees

Low sticker prices often exclude essentials like a nominee director or annual filings—costs add up quickly.

How to avoid it: Choose a provider with a transparent, all-in-one package so you know the full cost upfront.

Pitfall #2: Ignoring long-term compliance

Incorporation is just the start—ACRA and IRAS require annual accounts and tax filings. Missed deadlines mean penalties.

How to avoid it: Pick a plan that includes annual accounting and tax compliance from day one.

Pitfall #3: Weak advice on repatriating profits

Misunderstanding the India–Singapore DTAA and FEMA can lead to avoidable taxes and delays when sending money home.

How to avoid it: Work with experts who understand both DTAA and FEMA, and who set up your structure correctly from the start.

Talk to one of our experts for free

What Comes Next? Running Your Singapore Company

Incorporation is just the beginning. Counto sets you up for long-term success by handling ongoing obligations—here’s what to expect.

Annual Tax Filings

File your corporate tax return each year with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). Singapore’s headline corporate tax rate is a flat, competitive
17%, with significant exemptions for new startups.

The Counto Advantage:
Our Foreigner Package offers an add-on for a full year of accounting and tax filing—so you can stay compliant from day one.

Ongoing Compliance

Hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and file your Annual Return with ACRA on time each year.

The Counto Advantage:
A dedicated corporate secretary—included in our package—manages all deadlines and filings for you.

Hiring Employees

Singapore has clear rules for hiring local and foreign talent, plus payroll and statutory contributions to follow.

The Counto Advantage:
Get free payroll software and expert guidance to set up hiring and payroll correctly as you scale.

Why Counto is the clear choice for value and service

We invite you to compare. Our all-in-one Foreigner Package is designed specifically for Indian entrepreneurs, providing more value, better support, and greater peace of mind.

Feature	Counto Foreigner Package	Competitor A (“Full Compliance”)	Competitor B (“Fully Compliant”)
Full Year Price	SGD 3,200 (incl. accounting)	SGD 3,950	SGD 3,690
Company Incorporation	✓	✓	✓
Nominee Director (12 Months)	✓	✓	✓
Corporate Secretary	✓	✓	✓
Registered Address	✓	✓	✓
Annual Accounting & Tax Filing	✓	✓	✓
Free BillPay & Payroll Software	✓	✗	✗
Support Model	Dedicated Manager via Phone, WhatsApp & App	In-App Chat Support	In-App Chat Support
Your Savings with Counto	Up to SGD 750	—	—

📞

Your Own CSM

Don’t settle for faceless chat queues. Get a direct line to a dedicated Customer Success Manager who understands your business. Reach your trusted expert via phone, WhatsApp, or free calls from the Counto mobile app.

🧾

Bill Pay & Payroll, On Us

Operate efficiently from day one with free Bill Pay and Payroll software—powerful, value-added tools you won’t get from competitors. Manage payables, employee salaries, and compliance seamlessly from India.

📊

India + Singapore Expertise

Our in-house accountants know both Indian and Singaporean regulations. Get strategic advice that considers remittances, tax compliance,
and the nuances of cross-border business.

🌐

100% Online Incorporation

Our automated platform streamlines the entire Singapore company registration process. Manage your incorporation and ongoing compliance from your home or office in India.

Your Global Journey Starts Here

You have the vision. We have the expertise. Take the first step towards building your global enterprise on the strongest possible foundation.

Save up to S$750 and get started with a dedicated team guiding you from India.

Start Your Singapore Incorporation

Frequently Asked Questions

Incorporating a company in Singapore is a relatively quick process.

Companies with only local directors can be incorporated within a day. Companies with foreign directors can take a couple of days due to the need to perform KYC (Know your customer) requirements of ACRA.

For Indian entrepreneurs, incorporating a Singapore company is a straightforward process. Foreigners can own 100% of the shareholding, which means you retain complete control of your business.

The key requirement is to appoint at least one local resident director (a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident). If you don’t have a local partner, you can stay compliant by engaging a Nominee Director service — something Counto provides as part of our all-in-one Foreigner Package.

As a foreigner, you are also required to use a registered filing agent like Counto to submit the incorporation application. Our team handles everything end-to-end, so you can set up your Singapore business seamlessly from India without needing to be physically present.

The Singapore Companies Act requires all Private Limited Companies to have at least one director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore. This individual is often referred to as a local nominee director, nominee director or local director.

The local nominee director does not hold any shares of the company, and is not involved in the operational or financial management of the company. He/she is there to act in the best interest of the company and ensure that everything is in line with Singapore law.

Your company can have as many directors as you want—most importantly, at least one must be local. Eventually, you may opt to replace your local nominee director with a non-local director who has obtained an employment pass from your new company (which typically takes 6 months).

A local nominee director should be:

A Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident
At least 18 years of age
An EntrePass or Employment Pass holder with a Letter of Consent (LOC) from Ministry of Manpower (MOM) before registering as a director

No, the entire process can be completed remotely from India. Our digital platform and dedicated team handle all the paperwork and submissions on your behalf, making it simple and secure.

Your can check if the name has already been registered through BizFile. Do note that once you have registered your company name, ACRA will reserve it for up to 120 days.

Company name
Local resident director
Minimum of S$1 worth of paid-up capital
Singapore registered address
Particulars of local company secretary
Brief description of company activities
Company constitution

In addition, you will need to prepare the following documents:

Singapore residents: Copy of Singapore Identity Card (IC)
Foreigners: Passport copy and proof of overseas residence (can be a bank statement, power or mobile phone bill).
Corporate entity shareholder: A copy of registration documents such as Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum & Articles of Association.

For any Singapore company, the main ongoing costs are for annual compliance, which includes the renewal of your registered address, company secretary, and nominee director services.

Separately, every company must complete its annual accounting and tax filing. This is why we offer our annual accounting service as a recommended bundle with the Foreigner package.

The S$3,200 price featured in our comparison table combines these, giving you a complete, all-in-one solution that covers all of these core services for your entire first year. From the second year onwards, our standard renewal and accounting fees will apply, ensuring you have a transparent and predictable cost with no surprises.

Singapore has a flat corporate tax rate, which applies to both local and foreign companies. The standard corporate tax rate is typically 17%. However, Singapore offers various tax incentives and exemptions for specific types of income and industries, which may result in a lower effective tax rate.

Corporate income tax in Singapore is based on the company’s chargeable income, which is derived from its total revenue and deducting allowable expenses, capital allowances, and tax incentives.

You can incorporate a company in Singapore with just one shareholder. The maximum number of shareholders allowed is 50.

Yes. Your Indian company can be the sole corporate shareholder of your Singapore private limited company. This subsidiary structure is a popular and effective way for Indian businesses to expand globally.

The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) is a major benefit. It ensures your profits are not taxed twice. It can lower the withholding tax on dividends and royalties and provides a clear framework for tax residency, saving you significant money and compliance headaches.

Once your Singapore company has paid its corporate taxes, you’re free to remit dividends back to India — there are no restrictions on the Singapore side. In India, the remittance is governed by FEMA regulations and requires standard documentation (such as Form 15CA/15CB). Our experts guide you through both jurisdictions to ensure smooth, compliant repatriation.

Singapore requires a minimum capital of S$1 to start a business.