Light regulation, one hard requirement
Professional Consultancy Setup in Singapore
Most consultancy in Singapore needs no licence. It still needs a resident director.
GCC business setup specialists
Unregulated, with sharp exceptions
Management, marketing, IT and most advisory work requires no licence. Financial advisory, legal practice, accountancy and architecture are regulated. Either way, the resident director requirement applies.
- Regulated or not, established on day one
- Resident director arrangement settled first
- Audit exemption position confirmed
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
Black Swan Business Setup Services•Black Swan Business Setup Services•Black Swan Business Setup Services
Know which you are
Regulated and unregulated advisory
The distinction is binary and decides the timeline.
| Field | Typically | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| Management consultancy | Unregulated | Incorporation only |
| Marketing and media | Unregulated | Incorporation only |
| IT and software | Unregulated | Incorporation only |
| Financial advisory | Regulated | Monetary authority licensing |
| Legal practice | Regulated | Law society admission |
| Public accountancy | Regulated | Professional registration |
Which fields are regulated is set by Singapore law and changes. Yours is checked before any application. Incorporation and corporate secretarial filings in Singapore are made through a registered filing agent, and a foreign applicant must use one. We co-ordinate your engagement with a registered Singapore agent and manage the process end to end; the regulated filings are made by them.
How it works
Setting up the consultancy
Simple for unregulated fields, once the director is settled.
01
Confirm the field and director
Whether your advisory work is regulated, and who the resident director will be.
02
Incorporate
Company incorporated through a registered filing agent with the appropriate SSIC code.
03
Set up to operate
Secretary and registered office arranged, bank introduction made, GST position assessed and the filing calendar set.
- A precise description of what you advise on
- Whether you advise on investments or insurance
- Whether you handle client money
- Confirmation of the resident director
- Identity documents for directors and shareholders
- Proof of address for each
- Proposed company name
- Shareholding split
- Intended SSIC code
- Financial year end preference
- Professional indemnity insurance arrangements
- Qualification evidence where the field is regulated
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Assessment of whether your field is regulated
- Honest confirmation where no licence is needed
- Resident director options explained
- Incorporation through a registered filing agent
- Company secretary and registered office arranged
- Register of controllers established
- Audit exemption assessment
- Corporate bank account introduction
Not included, quoted separately
- ACRA and IRAS fees, paid at cost
- Monetary authority licensing, quoted separately
- Professional body admission
- Nominee director services, quoted separately
- Professional indemnity premiums
- Annual audit where not exempt
- Accounts preparation, quoted separately
- Office premises
Verify independently
Official Singapore authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)Ministry of ManpowerCentral Provident Fund BoardSingapore CustomsSingapore Food Agency
Questions
Singapore consultancy — FAQs
Do I need a licence to consult in Singapore?
For management, marketing, IT and most advisory work, no. Incorporation is sufficient.
What makes financial advisory different?
Advising on investments or insurance is regulated by the monetary authority, with a substantial licensing process assessing the firm and its representatives.
Do I still need a resident director?
Yes. The requirement applies to every Singapore company including a one-person consultancy.
Will my consultancy need an audit?
Most small consultancies meet the exemption criteria. We confirm rather than assume.
Can I advise clients outside Singapore?
Yes, and most consultancies do. Where income arises can affect the tax position, which we assess.
Careers
Apply for a role
Tell us which role you are applying for and what you have done that is relevant. If you have UAE or GCC experience, say which jurisdictions and authorities you have worked with.
Connect with us
Request a setup assessment
For founders and business decision-makers considering paid business services. Not for job applications, employment searches or personal visa-only requests.
Talk to a consultant
At Black Swan Business Setup Services, our mission is simple: to empower entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes to establish and expand their presence in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and beyond.
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