To register a business in Singapore as a student, you apply online through ACRA's BizFile portal using your Singpass, pick a structure (usually a sole proprietorship), reserve a name, and pay the fees. You must be at least 18 and a Singapore citizen or permanent resident to file it yourself.
If you are a Singaporean student running a tuition side gig, a small e-commerce store, or a freelance design service, you do not need a lawyer or an accountant to get started. The whole thing can be done in an afternoon once your paperwork is in order. This guide walks through every step, the exact fees as of June 2026, and the parts that trip up students specifically: age, national service, and international-student rules.
Do you actually need to register?
Not every student who earns a bit of money needs to register a business. Under the Business Names Registration Act, you generally must register once you carry on a business under a name that is not your own full name. So if you freelance strictly under your personal legal name and nothing else, registration may not be required. The moment you trade as "Studio Nova" or "BrightMinds Tuition", you need to register that name with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.
Registration also becomes worthwhile once you want a business bank account, want to sign contracts under a company name, or want to look legitimate to clients and suppliers. If you are still testing an idea, read our guide on how to start a side hustle as a student in Singapore before you commit to a formal entity.
Sole proprietorship vs company: which one
Most students start with a sole proprietorship because it is the cheapest and simplest to run. A private limited company (Pte Ltd) costs more and carries heavier compliance, but it is a separate legal entity that protects your personal assets and can raise investment later. Here is the practical difference.
| Factor | Sole proprietorship | Private limited company (Pte Ltd) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Not separate from you | Separate legal entity |
| Personal liability | Unlimited (your assets are exposed) | Limited to what you put in |
| Tax | Profits taxed as your personal income | Taxed at the corporate rate |
| Setup difficulty | File yourself in minutes | Needs a company secretary and more filings |
| Best for a student | Freelancing, tuition, small online shop | A venture you plan to grow and fund |
For a first business while you are still studying, a sole proprietorship is almost always the right call. You can convert to a company later once the income and risk justify it. The official comparison lives on the ACRA how-to guides and the GoBusiness start-a-business portal.
What you need before you file
Get these ready first so the application does not stall halfway:
- A valid Singpass. This is how you log in to BizFile and sign the application.
- At least three name options, in case your first choice is taken or blocked.
- A local business address. For a home-based business, your residential address can be used if you meet the Home-Based Business Scheme conditions.
- A short description of what your business does, which maps to an SSIC activity code you pick during the application.
- Payment via credit card or the accepted online methods.
You also need to be 18 or older. Anyone under 18 cannot register a business in their own name in Singapore, so a Secondary or JC student under 18 would need a parent or another eligible adult to hold the registration.
Step-by-step: registering on ACRA BizFile
The registration itself is done entirely online. As of June 2026 the flow looks like this.
- Go to the BizFile portal linked from the ACRA website and log in with Singpass.
- Apply for your business name and pay the name application fee. ACRA usually processes an approved name almost immediately; some names that need referral to another authority take longer.
- Once the name is approved, complete the registration form: your particulars, the business activity (SSIC code), the address, and how long you want the registration to run.
- Pay the registration fee for a one-year or three-year term.
- Register as a self-employed person with the CPF Board so your Medisave contributions are tracked. Self-employed people in Singapore must keep Medisave contributions current.
- Receive your business profile once approved. This is the document banks and clients ask for.
Setting up a company follows a similar path but adds steps like appointing a director, a company secretary within six months, and issuing shares. The ACRA guide to setting up a local company covers those.
The fees, as of June 2026
ACRA fees are fixed and paid at the point of filing. These are the figures to budget for.
| Item | Sole proprietorship / partnership | Private limited company |
|---|---|---|
| Name application | 15 SGD | 15 SGD |
| Registration / incorporation | 100 SGD for 1 year or 160 SGD for 3 years | 300 SGD |
| Typical starting total | 115 SGD | 315 SGD |
| Ongoing | Renew before the term expires | File an annual return each year |
Confirm the current amounts on the ACRA site before you pay, since fee schedules are updated from time to time. A sole proprietorship is genuinely low-cost to start, which is why it suits a student testing a real idea with real customers.
National service and the international-student rules
If you are an NSF or have national service ahead of you, there is no law stopping you from owning or registering a business. The practical limit is time. Full-time national service is demanding, so many NSFs keep the business dormant or hand day-to-day operations to a trusted partner during their service and pick it back up after. If your business could create a conflict with your NS duties, check with your unit before you commit. If you are figuring out what to build after you ORD, our overview of options after NS is a good starting point.
International students on a Student's Pass face a different situation. A Student's Pass generally restricts you from running a business or doing paid work outside the specific conditions your pass allows, and registering an entity does not override immigration rules. If you are not a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, you also cannot self-file a sole proprietorship without an authorised local representative who is ordinarily resident here. Speak to your school's international student office before you attempt anything.
What happens after you register: tax and renewals
Registering is the start, not the end. For a sole proprietorship, your business profit is treated as your personal income and reported in your own income tax filing with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Keep clean records of what you earn and spend from day one, because you will need them at tax time. Our guide on how to declare side income for tax in Singapore breaks down the filing side, and the official rules for the self-employed are on the IRAS self-employed and partnerships page.
A few other things to stay on top of: renew a sole proprietorship before its one-year or three-year term expires or it lapses; a company must file its annual return; and if your business turnover crosses the GST registration threshold of one million SGD in a year, you must register for GST. Most student businesses never get near that, but it is worth knowing.
Frequently asked questions
Can a student register a business in Singapore?
Yes, as long as you are at least 18 and a Singapore citizen or permanent resident. Being a student is not a barrier on its own. If you are under 18 or an international student on a Student's Pass, there are restrictions, and you may need an eligible adult or an authorised local representative to hold the registration.
How much does it cost to register a business as a student?
A sole proprietorship costs 15 SGD for the name application plus 100 SGD for one year or 160 SGD for three years, so about 115 SGD to start, as of June 2026. A private limited company costs 15 SGD plus 300 SGD to incorporate. Check ACRA for the current figures before you pay.
Do I need to pay tax on money my student business makes?
Yes. Profit from a sole proprietorship counts as your personal income and is reported to IRAS in your own tax filing. Keep records of income and expenses so you can report accurately. A company is taxed separately at the corporate rate rather than through your personal return.
Should I start with a sole proprietorship or a company?
For a first venture while studying, a sole proprietorship is usually the better choice because it is cheap, fast to set up, and simple to run. Move to a private limited company later, once your income and the risk you carry make the extra cost and compliance worth it.
Registering is the easy part. Building something people actually pay for is the hard part, and it is a lot less lonely with people who have done it. The free FINternship apprenticeship pairs students, NSFs, and fresh grads with mentors who have started real businesses in Singapore. If that is where you are headed, apply here and get your idea in front of someone who can pressure-test it.