1 - Representative Office (RO): simple but temporary entity (1 to 3 years) with no legal business structure. The only goal of a RO is to conduct market research in Singapore and Southeast Asia on the viability of setting up a permanent business entity here.
2 - Private Limited (Pte Ltd): independent legal entity with limited liability of its associates. This permanent legal entity will be able to expand the company’s commercial activities in the region.
3 - Branch: the foreign-based headquarters controls the local company and is responsible for its liabilities. It must carry out the same activities as the HQ.
4 - Sole Proprietorship: simple to set up and less costly to administer, as compared to a company. The registration has to be done every year, it is not a separate legal entity from the business owner who is is personally liable for all the debts and losses of the entity.