Choose a company secretary service provider by comparing the actual scope of service, not just the annual headline fee. Check who will be appointed as your secretary, which ACRA filings and government fees are included, what costs extra, how renewals are priced, and how quickly you can reach a real person when something changes.
If you are engaging a business to provide company-secretarial and filing services, also check that it is a registered Corporate Service Provider (CSP) with ACRA. Singapore's CSP regime changed materially on 9 June 2025, so older references to choosing a “Registered Filing Agent” are no longer the right starting point.
Start with what your company actually needs
A simple owner-managed company with few changes may only need a named secretary, annual compliance support, statutory record maintenance and Annual Return filing. A company expecting share allotments, transfers, officer changes or other corporate actions will need more ongoing work.
That difference matters because two providers can advertise similar annual prices while including very different services. Before comparing quotations, list the work you expect during the year.
| What to compare | What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Return | Is preparation, filing and the ACRA filing fee included? | A low headline fee can look less attractive once mandatory annual work is added. |
| Routine corporate changes | Are officer, address, business activity or share-related changes included or separately charged? | Companies that change frequently may be better served by a broader package. |
| Statutory records | Who maintains the company's registers, minutes and resolutions? | The service should cover records as well as portal filings where relevant. |
| Renewal | What will the second year cost? | Introductory pricing is not useful if the renewal price changes materially. |
| Switching or termination | Are there transfer, resignation, handover or early-termination charges? | You should know the cost and process before you need to move providers. |
Check that the provider is a registered CSP
From 9 June 2025, the Corporate Service Providers Act 2024 requires businesses providing specified corporate services in and from Singapore to register with ACRA unless an exemption applies. Corporate services include forming entities, providing certain address and role services, and filing ACRA transactions for clients.
You can check an entity's CSP status through ACRA's Bizfile. ACRA's current CSP guidance also explains which services fall within the regime.
Know who will actually handle your company
Ask whether you will have a named contact and whether that person is also the appointed secretary or part of the team managing your account. There is nothing inherently wrong with a larger team model, but you should know how communication works before signing up.
Useful questions are simple: Can you call or email a person who knows your company? Who follows up when a filing or signature is due? If your usual contact is away, who takes over? For an SME, responsiveness can matter as much as the software behind the service.
Look beyond annual filing
A company secretary provider should be able to explain what happens when your company changes during the year. That might include a new director, a change of registered office, an allotment or transfer of shares, or updates to statutory registers.
Ask which of these are included in your plan and which are separately quoted. If you expect several changes, compare the likely annual cost rather than only the base subscription.
Check how the provider handles compliance and records
Registered CSPs operate under current ACRA requirements, including obligations under the Corporate Service Providers Act and its regulations. Depending on the services provided, this includes customer due diligence and AML, counter-proliferation financing and counter-terrorism financing controls.
For a client, the practical signs are straightforward. A provider may ask for identity, ownership or source information and may need documents before carrying out certain work. Proper checks are part of the regulated service, not unnecessary friction.
Choose a working style that suits you
Paperless documents, electronic signatures, online payment and automated reminders can make routine compliance easier. They are useful, but they do not replace access to someone who can explain what needs to happen when a non-routine issue arises.
Some businesses prefer a digital-first provider. Others value phone access and a consistent account manager. The better choice is the one that gives you both an efficient process and the level of human support your business needs.
A practical checklist before you appoint a provider
- Confirm the provider's current ACRA CSP registration.
- Get the annual service scope and exclusions in writing.
- Check whether the Annual Return filing fee is included.
- Ask what common corporate changes cost.
- Check the renewal price, not just the first-year price.
- Understand switching, resignation and handover charges.
- Know who your day-to-day contact will be and how to reach them.
- Ask how statutory records and signed documents are stored and retrieved.
What about the cheapest company secretary service?
There is nothing wrong with choosing a low-cost provider if the package genuinely matches what you need. The problem is comparing headline prices without comparing scope.
A basic package can be good value for a stable company. A broader package can be better value if you expect repeated corporate changes. Compare the total likely cost, service boundaries and support model rather than assuming cheaper or more expensive automatically means better.
Looking for a company secretary?
We provide Singapore company secretary services with clear package inclusions and direct human support. Our current Essential plan is S$328 a year and includes the S$60 Annual Return filing fee; we also publish the services that are included and separately chargeable so you can compare the scope before appointing us.
If you already have a secretary and are thinking of switching, we can help with the transition as well. Have a look at our company secretary service, or contact us if you would like to talk through what your company actually needs. We will be happy to help you work out which option makes sense.
