Which of the following may not apply for a company license?

Generally, all businesses must register on BizFile+. However, some business owners may not be required to do so because they are exempted from registration.

Watch a video summary on Do I Have to Register My Business?

Who needs to register

You must register a business if you are carrying out any activity for profit on an ongoing basis unless you are exempted (see below). The minimum age for registration is 18 years old.

Benefits of registration

There are several advantages to registering a business with ACRA, such as:

• Allowing members of public to search and verify information about your business and its owners.
• Making it easier for customers to identify, find and transact with your business.
• Allowing you to participate in government tenders and secure intellectual property or patents for new products and technology.
• Giving your business access to governmental funding, such as those made available by Enterprise Singapore.

Additionally, if you choose to incorporate a company or set up a limited liability partnership (instead of registering a sole-proprietorship or partnership), your personal and business finances are separated. This means your personal liabilities are limited i.e. in case the business is sued, you are not in danger of losing your personal assets.

Exemptions from registration

Your business is exempted from registration if:

• You choose to conduct business using your full name as reflected in your NRIC.

• You choose to conduct the business with one or more partners using their full names as reflected in their NRICs.

Note: If you choose to add descriptive words before or after your name (e.g. Flowers by Tan Mei Ling), you must register the business.

The full list of exemptions is specified in Section 4 of the Business Names Registration Act.

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Apply to all capital markets services licensees, registered fund management companies and exempt capital markets services entities. 

Set out requirements relating to:

• Licensing, representative notification, and key appointments
• Fit and proper criteria
• Custody of customers’ moneys and assets
• Other conduct of business

The various Schedules of the regulations further set out the following:

• Second Schedule - Exemptions applicable for registered fund management companies, exempt corporate finance advisers, exempt futures brokers, and exempt OTC derivatives brokers
• Third Schedule - Table of fees payable to MAS
• Fourth Schedule - Product advertisement

Organisations and individuals who place job seekers with employers must get an employment agency licence to operate in Singapore, unless otherwise stated.

You must get an employment agency (EA) licence if you or your organisation does any of the following:

• Communicates with any jobseeker for the purpose of processing any employment-related application by that jobseeker.
• Collates the biodata or resume of any jobseeker for the purpose of helping the jobseeker establish an employer-employee relationship.
• Submits any work pass application on behalf of any employer or jobseeker.
• Helps place any jobseeker with an employer.

You must first be licensed before carrying out any or all of the abovementioned activities in Singapore, regardless of whether the jobseekers are placed in jobs in Singapore or overseas.

When a licence is not needed

A licence is not required when:

• Recruiting persons for the sole purpose of employing them for your own company or business.
• Outsourcing your own staff to your customers' premises or offices.

Exemptions

The following do not require an EA licence:

• Wholly web-based job portals.
• Organisations and individuals who maintain and operate any job bulletin board and who do not otherwise carry out any matching or placement.
• Organisations who submit work pass applications and who do not otherwise carry out any matching or placement.
• Recognised universities or educational institutions.
• Community Development Councils.
• Employment and Employability Institute Pte Ltd.
• SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG)

To find out more about licence exemptions, refer to the:

• Employment Agencies (Exemption) Order 2011
• Employment Agencies (Exemption) Order 2014

More on Eligibility and requirements for employment agencies