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Free Singapore Company Name Check Guide 2025

Naming your business is one of the foundational steps in establishing a company in Singapore. Whether you’re launching a small enterprise or a larger operation, selecting an appropriate name is more than a creative decision — it’s a strategic one. A business name reflects the essence of your brand, aligns with your goals, and shapes how your company is perceived by clients and stakeholders alike.

Conducting a Singapore company name check is essential during this process. It helps ensure the name you’ve selected is unique, not already in use, and compliant with the guidelines set by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). This step is critical not only for regulatory approval but also for building a credible and professional image from the outset.

Here are some of the advantages of having a good company name in Singapore:

  1. It is the first and most important branding statement for every business.
  2. It sums up what exactly it (the business) stands for.
  3. It helps clients to remember your business easily.

Singapore Company Incorporation Services

How to Choose Your Company Name in Singapore?

A Company name must comply with Singapore’s business registration guidelines, reflect your brand identity, and be distinctive enough to stand out in a competitive market.

Below are the key steps to help you choose and register your business name successfully:

  1. Keep It Simple and Clear

    Choose a name that is easy to spell, pronounce, and remember. Avoid overly complex or jargon‑heavy names that may confuse your audience.

  2. Be Original and Creative

    Avoid copying existing names. A unique name enhances discoverability and avoids potential legal complications.

  3. Comply with ACRA Naming Rules
    • Uniqueness: The name must not be identical or too similar to active or reserved names. Generic suffixes like “Pte Ltd,” “Singapore,” or “Asia” are disregarded when comparing names.
    • Sensitivity: ACRA prohibits names that are vulgar, misleading, or similar to government bodies. Certain words (e.g. “bank,” “education,” “insurance”) may trigger referrals to other agencies and delay approval (processing can take between 14 and 60 days).
    • Trademark & Domain: Company name approval does not guarantee trademark protection or domain ownership. These require separate applications via IPOS or accredited registrars, respectively.

If you’re unsure whether your desired business name is available, conducting a company name check is a crucial step in registering a company in Singapore. 3E Accounting provides a free Singapore company name check and name search, in accordance with ACRA guidelines.

3E Accounting can help you to conduct a free Singapore company name check.

How to Reserve Your Company Name with ACRA?

Before completing your company registration in Singapore, you must reserve your business name with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).

  1. Name Availability Check
    Visit ACRA’s BizFile+ portal and use the Singapore company name check tool under the “Search ACRA Register” option. This helps you verify whether your preferred name is unique, available, and compliant with ACRA’s naming guidelines.
  2. Reservation
    Once ACRA approves your proposed name, it will be reserved for 120 days. During this period, no other business can register under the same name. If you don’t complete your company registration in Singapore within this timeframe, the name will automatically expire and become available to others.
  3. Referral Authorities
    Names containing restricted words (e.g. “school,” “legal,” “finance”) require special approvals. These applications may take up to 14–60 days to process.

 

What are the Next Step After Company Name Approval in Singapore?

Once your name is reserved, the steps of setting up your company in singapore are:

  1. Gather Documents: Company constitution, SSIC code, director and shareholder details, registered address (must be a physical Singapore address).
  2. Submit via BizFile+: You’ll need a SingPass login if you’re local. Foreigners may appoint a corporate service provider and a local director to handle submissions.
  3. Pay Registration Fees: S$15 for name reservation; S$315 for a typical Pte Ltd company.
  4. Receive Documents: Certificate of Incorporation, Business Profile, and UEN (Unique Entity Number), usually issued within 1–2 business days.

  

Operational & Compliance Requirements After Incorporation

After business setup, you must comply with ACRA regulations:

  • Annual Reporting: File Annual Returns within applicable deadlines (e.g. within 7 months of FYE).
  • UBO Registry: Maintain an accurate Ultimate Beneficial Owner register within 30 days of any ownership change.
  • Financial Statements: Small companies earning ≤ SGD 10m may be audit-exempt, but XBRL-format filing is mandatory starting 2025.
  • Updates: Notify ACRA within 14 days of changes in company details—e.g. address, directors, or name

 

Why 3E Accounting?

Your company name sets the tone and identity for your Singapore business. It’s critical to choose wisely, ensure compliance with ACRA guidelines, and reserve your name through the BizFile+ portal. Once approved, the incorporation process is swift and efficient—often completed within a day.

Proper naming, followed by compliance with naming, incorporation, and reporting standards, lays the foundation for a credible and successful business. Advantages with 3E Accounting:

  1. High accuracy – We guarantee 99% accuracy.
  2. Final Check – We will conduct the final check on your behalf with ACRA.
  3. Quick turnaround – We will reply within 24 hours.
  4. Free – It is free with no additional charges.
  5. Real-time basis – The company name check is based on a real-time basis.

 
Free Singapore Company Name Check

Let us help you to ease the task of naming your business! Feel free to contact us for a free Singapore company name check. For more information, please refer to the Guide to Select Your Singapore Company Names.

Secure the Perfect Name for Your Singapore Business

Get your Singapore business off to the right start by securing a perfect, regulation-compliant name with 3E Accounting.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Singapore company name check online involves using the ACRA BizFile+ portal to search your proposed name against existing entries. It ensures the name is not identical or too similar to current registrations and does not include restricted or undesirable terms.

Yes. A basic name availability check via ACRA’s BizFile+ portal is free, though reserving the name requires a nominal fee (usually S$15).

Certain names containing regulated words like “school,” “finance,” or “legal” are referred to the relevant authorities. The referral process may take 14 to 60 days before final approval.

Once approved, the business name is reserved for 120 days. If incorporation is not completed within this period, the name becomes available again.

Company names in Singapore must be unique, not identical or too similar to existing ones, and free from offensive or prohibited terms. Certain suffixes like “Pte Ltd” are ignored during similarity checks, and names with regulated words (e.g. “Bank,” “School”) may require approval from relevant authorities.

After reserving your company name, proceed with document submission in BizFile+: director details, registered address, SSIC code, constitution, and payment of incorporation fees.