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Step-By-Step Guide On How To Convert Your Sole Proprietorship or LLP To Pte Ltd In Singapore
Introduction
Converting a sole
proprietorship or limited liability partnership (LLP) to a private limited
company (Pte Ltd Company) in Singapore is a relatively straightforward process.
It requires the business owners to go through the necessary legal and
administrative steps, such as registering with the Accounting and Corporate
Regulatory Authority (ACRA), acquiring the necessary licenses, and setting up
the company's bank accounts. This guide will provide an overview of the steps
that need to be taken in order to successfully convert your business from a
sole proprietorship or LLP to a Pte Ltd in Singapore.
Definition Of Pte Ltd And
LLP
Pte Ltd and LLP are two of
the most common business structures in Singapore. Pte Ltd stands for Private
Limited Company and LLP stands for Limited Liability Partnership. Both of these
business structures have their own advantages and disadvantages.
A Pte Ltd is a private
company that has limited liability, meaning that the company shareholders are
not personally liable for any debts incurred by the company. It also has a
separate legal entity, meaning that it can own property, enter into contracts,
and sue or be sued in its own name. This makes it a preferable option for
businesses looking to raise capital from investors or take on debt financing.
An LLP is a business
structure where two or more partners share profits and losses equally while
having limited liability protection from each other's debts. This means that
each partner is only liable up to the amount they have contributed to the
partnership, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs who don't want to
risk their personal assets in case of a financial loss or lawsuit against the
partnership. If you are interested in starting an LLPS, you should speak with a
legal professional first to ensure that it is the best structure for your
company.
Benefits Of Converting To
Pte Ltd
Converting to a private
limited company (Pte Ltd) offers numerous benefits to businesses. It allows
businesses to protect their assets and reduce their personal liability. It also
provides them with access to more capital, as well as the opportunity to expand
their business operations and attract investors.
Additionally, it offers
greater flexibility when it comes to taxation, allowing companies to save on
taxes (tax benefits) by taking advantage of certain exemptions. Finally,
converting to a Pte Ltd also makes it easier for businesses to establish
themselves as a legitimate company entity and gain trust from customers.
The concept of a separate
legal entity is an important one for businesses in Singapore. Under the
Companies Act, private limited companies are considered to be independent legal
entities that are distinct from their owners. This means that the business and
its owners are treated as two separate personalities, with each having its own
assets and liabilities. This separation provides protection for the business
owners from any financial, criminal, or fiduciary duty issues that may arise
from the business’ activities.
Having a separate legal
identity also allows shareholders to make decisions on behalf of the business
without taking personal considerations into account. This helps to ensure that
all decisions made by the company are based solely on what is best for the
company itself and not influenced by any personal interests of its owners.
Steps For Seamless
Conversion
In Singapore, a Limited
Liability Partnership (LLP) is great as in nature of business for SMEs and
start-ups. However, as the business grows, it may be beneficial to convert an
LLP into a Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd). To do so, there are certain
eligibility criteria that must be met. We will also look at the various steps
involved in the process for conversion and the advantages of making such a
change.
What Do I Need To Consider
When Converting From LLP To A Pte Ltd?
To be eligible for company
conversion, the following criteria must be met:
The company has been set up
in Singapore for at least 3 years.
The company must have
possession of the Certificate of Incorporation.
The company's name will not
change during the conversion process. This is because this process is only
applicable to firms that were previously called LLP's but are now looking to
switch their status and become a Pte Ltd.
The private limited liability
companies registered with Company Registrar who wish to convert cannot contain
any letters other than those in the company's name. A company cannot be
registered with Company Registrar as its sole director, but can act through a
Limited Liability Partnership or a General Partnership.
What Steps Are Needed To
Prepare:
Requirements After Conversion
First Step: No Objection
Letter (*if you want to retain the business name and also state whether the
companies are owned by the same person)
As the sole proprietor/ partners,
writing a letter expressing no objection to a private limited company using
your business name is the initial step. After completion of the process, the
sole proprietorship/LLP business will be terminated.
Second Step: Memorandum and
Articles of Association (when incorporating a Singapore company)
The next step is to
incorporate the current business as a private limited company with the same
name as the sole proprietorship. This new company must include:
- A minimum of one resident
director;
- A minimum of one shareholder;
- A minimum of one corporate
secretary is required;
- A starting capital of at least
SGD1;
- A physical address in Singapore
that has been registered.
After meeting all the
requirements, the business can be registered as a private limited company in
Singapore. Gather needed and other supporting documents and fill out the
application form, then wait for ACRA's approval.
Third Step: Amending
Business Assets To A Newly Incorporated Company After Approval
After the application for a
private limited company is approved, transferring any assets from the sole
proprietorship/ partnership entity - such as contracts, licenses, and bank accounts - must be done
through official channels.
Assets - Before
transferring net assets to the new Pte Ltd, any unpaid debts of
the sole proprietor/partnership must be paid and resolved first.These net assets
subsequently become part of the paid-up capital for the Singapore business, and
are not counted as its income.
Bank Accounts - Upon
incorporation of a private limited company, the bank accounts associated with
the sole proprietorship must be transferred to the new company within three
months. The prior account should be closed and all future payments and bank
transfers should be made out to the new business.
Contracts - All existing
agreements for the sole proprietorship should be transferred to the private
limited company in addition to signing new contracts with the private limited
company.
Licenses - Government
licenses cannot be transferred, so the private limited company will need to
reapply for them once their incorporation is finalized.
Final Step: Business
Closure As A Sole Proprietorship
To complete the total
conversion, the termination of the sole proprietorship must be legally
acknowledged. Once the incorporation is verified by ACRA, they will inform that
the sole proprietorship has officially been registered as a Singapore private
limited company and is no longer in operation.
Requirements Before Conversion
If you are a sole proprietor, partner, or member of a limited liability partnership (LLP) in Singapore, you may want to convert your business to a private limited company (Pte Ltd) for various reasons such as limited liability protection and easier access to funding. However, there is no direct conversion process, and you will need to set up a new Pte Ltd and "port" your business over to the new entity. The requirements for conversion steps are as follow.
- Obtain approval from all partners
Before starting the conversion process, you need to obtain approval from all partners in the LLP to convert the business to a Pte Ltd. This is necessary to ensure that everyone is on the same page and agrees to the conversion.
- Reserve a company name
Next, you will need to reserve a company name for your new Pte Ltd. You can do this through the BizFile+ portal of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). You should choose a name that is unique, easy to remember, and reflects your business's nature and values. ACRA will typically take one to two working days to process your name reservation application.
- Prepare the incorporation documents
Once you have reserved a company name, you will need to prepare the incorporation documents for your new Pte Ltd, including the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Form 45. The Memorandum and Articles of Association outline the company's objectives, powers, and rules, while the Form 45 is the application for registration of a company. You can use a professional services firm or a legal service provider to prepare the documents for you, or you can do it yourself if you have the necessary expertise.
- File the conversion application
Once the incorporation documents are ready, you can file the conversion application with ACRA through the BizFile+ portal. You will need to submit the application along with the necessary documents and pay the conversion fee, which is currently SGD 50. ACRA will typically take three to five working days to process your conversion application.
- Obtain the new business registration number
After ACRA approves your conversion application, you will receive a new business registration number for your Pte Ltd. You can use this number to register for GST, CPF, and other relevant schemes.
- Update licenses and permits
Finally, you will need to update any licenses and permits associated with your business, including your GST registration and other relevant licenses. You should also update your business contracts, agreements, and other legal documents to reflect the new entity. Additionally, you may need to notify your customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders of the conversion and update your marketing materials and branding accordingly.
Conclusion
Converting your sole
proprietorship or LLP to Pte Ltd is an important step for businesses that want
to grow and expand. It offers more flexibility when it comes to ownership
structure, capitalization and taxation, i.e. one of the major incentives. Furthermore,
having the “Pte Ltd” suffix can help with branding and positioning the company
in the market.
Overall, the decision to
convert from LLP to Pte Ltd is one that should be taken seriously as there are
several legal, financial and operational implications involved. It is important
for businesses to seek professional advice before making this decision so they
can make an informed decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What
is the difference between an LLP and a sole proprietorship?
When it comes to
compliance, a private limited company is subject to more regulations compared
to a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), which has fewer requirements to
follow. On the other hand, a sole proprietorship, also known as a one-person company
(OPC), is easy to set up but is subject to high tax rates. Meanwhile, both a
partnership company and sole proprietorship have unlimited liability, making
them less suitable for multiple business owners.
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