Renting an office in Singapore: 3 optimal options (2025)

Serviced offices in Singapore are an ideal choice for startups and small-medium sized businesses. With full facilities, reasonable costs and flexible rental terms, these centres provide a professional working space right in the bustling commercial areas.

Businesses can easily find and rent offices with sizes ranging from 1-10 people, depending on their needs. In addition, serviced offices are also a flexible solution for companies in transition or wanting a prestigious business address in Singapore.

Amenities typically included with serviced offices include fully equipped meeting rooms, secretarial services, high-speed internet access, and other support services, allowing businesses to focus on their core business without worrying about infrastructure issues.

Serviced offices in Singapore are an ideal choice for startups thanks to the following advantages:

• Ready to use: Fully equipped, from IT infrastructure to reception services, to get your business up and running right away.
• Flexible: Short term lease, easy to expand or shrink space as needed.
• Cost effective: No need for large initial investment, share the cost of office equipment.
• Prestige: Business address in class A buildings, creating a professional impression.
• Convenient location: Located near public transport stations, convenient for employees and customers.

With this model, startups can focus on growing their business without worrying about logistical issues.

Renting a traditional office often allows businesses to proactively design and manage their workspace, but requires a lot of time and initial resources.

This is a suitable choice for large-scale companies that want to optimize long-term costs with monthly rental costs often lower than serviced offices. Traditional offices in Singapore have the following advantages:

• Traditional offices with long-term leases and stable prices allow businesses to focus on growing their business without worrying about changing locations or increasing costs.
• High flexibility allows businesses to customize workspaces according to actual needs, thereby improving work performance and creating a comfortable working environment for employees.
• The diversity of locations in Singapore makes it easy for businesses to find a location that suits their company's size and characteristics.
• Although the initial investment cost may be higher, this is a profitable investment in the long term, helping businesses save operating costs and build a professional brand image.

The variety of private commercial buildings in Singapore makes it possible for you to locate office space that suits your rental needs in most areas in Singapore including prime locations.

Office rental rates in these buildings will vary depending on the location and age of the building. If you are interested in leasing a privately owned facility, be cautious by seeking an agent to assist you in surveying the site and negotiating the key terms of the lease.

Virtual office is a service provided by most of the companies that provide office rental services in Singapore. A typical representative office package in Singapore will provide the business with ownership and use of a company business address, dedicated fax/telephone number, personal phone answering, mail handling, private office, meeting room based on the needs that arise.

Use of representative office services is on a "pay as you go" basis.

Representative office is a suitable choice for:

• Foreign-based businesses that need a business presence in Singapore but do not employ employees.
• Businesses operate from home but need an official address to increase credibility.
• Small start-up companies need a prestigious business address to create an ideal image for the company.

Working from home is a popular choice for many entrepreneurs and freelancers in Singapore. The Singapore government has issued specific regulations to govern home office operations, ensuring a balance between the rights of home workers and the interests of the community.

Subjects and conditions:

• Appropriate for: Those who own or rent residential properties in Singapore, including HDB flats and private homes, can register to operate a home office.
• Condition:
  • Small Scale: Home offices are for small businesses only.
  • Employee restrictions: Only a maximum of 2 employees are allowed to work from home (not residing there).
  • No nuisance: Business operations must not cause noise, odors, or negative impacts on the surrounding living environment.
  • No signs allowed: Advertising outside the home is not allowed.
  • Not on the list of prohibited industries: Activities such as food processing, school business, or maid services are not allowed.
• Registration process: To register your home office, you need to contact the Housing & Development Board (HDB) or the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) depending on your type of housing.
• Benefits:
  • Flexible: You are free to arrange your working hours and workspace.
  • Cost savings: No need to rent an office, reducing travel costs.
  • Focus: A quiet working environment helps you focus on your work better.

The biggest disadvantage of this option is that it does not guarantee security and privacy because customers and others can know where you live.

With the trend of remote working and the need to minimize operating costs, Singapore also offers new office solutions such as:

• Coworking space.
• Virtual office.
• Rent on demand (meeting room, office by day).
• Registered business address.
• Sign up for membership to use office, desk (Membership).

The above solutions offer short-term leases, flexibility and lower upfront costs, and are therefore becoming more popular for remote working businesses, foreign business owners opening a Singapore company.

• Increased credibility: An office address in Singapore helps businesses build a more professional and trustworthy image in the eyes of partners, customers, and investors, especially in the Asia Pacific region.
• Enhanced position: Singapore is considered a developed country with a stable economy, therefore, having an office here helps businesses enhance their position and influence in the international market.

• Singapore is a bustling trading hub in Southeast Asia, giving businesses easy access to a large and diverse market.
• Having a presence in Singapore helps businesses connect with many potential business partners, expand their distribution network and enhance their competitiveness.

• Renting an office address helps businesses minimize risks when they do not want to make a large investment in a fixed office.

Raffles Place is now the preferred destination in Singapore for banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, business groups, and professional service firms looking to lease office space.

Raffles Place and its surrounding areas (Cecil Road, Robinson Road and Shenton Road) are home to the largest concentration of Grade A buildings in Singapore and are often referred to as Singapore's "Wall Street".

Office rental prices here range from SGD 10 to SGD 20 per square foot (1 square foot is equivalent to 0,09 square meter).

The Tanjong Pagar/Anson Road area is conveniently located near Raffles Place, with a mix of historic buildings and new high-rises, offering a wide range of options for businesses.

This area is home to many companies in the advertising, freight and trading sectors. In addition, it is also home to many real estate companies and Singapore Government organisations.

Key office buildings in Tanjong Pagar/Anson Road include:

• Temasek Tower - Amara Tower.
• Springleaf Tower.
• Keppel Towers.
• GE Tower and International Plaza, etc.

Located between two bustling urban areas, Raffles Place and Orchard Road, River Valley not only enjoys many amenities but has also developed strongly in recent years, becoming a prominent commercial and retail center of Singapore.

The area has many offices with modern infrastructure, along with residential, shopping and entertainment areas, making it an attractive choice for businesses.

Key office buildings in River Valley/Singapore River include:

• Central Square.
• UE Square.
• Great World City.
• Central Mall, etc.
• Orchard Road area.

Orchard Road is Singapore's retail paradise, considered the main shopping and entertainment center here. In addition, this area is also considered by many businesses to rent offices thanks to convenient transportation and quality infrastructure.

Key office buildings at Orchard Road include:

• Ngee Ann City Tower A and B.
• Wheelock Place.
• Wisma Atria.
• The Atrium@Orchard.
• Shaw House.
• Paragon Tower.
• Orchard Building.
• The Heeren and Winsland House I and II, etc.

Suntec City and Marina Bay are home to many technology companies, serviced offices and law firms.

In addition to the five iconic Suntec Towers office towers, Suntec City also houses Singapore's largest shopping mall and a premier exhibition center.

Marina Bay owns Millenia and Centennial Towers – two of the most prestigious office buildings in Singapore. This is also one of the areas with the most expensive office rents, an ideal destination for investors and businesses looking to expand in Singapore.

Marina Bay has become one of Asia's leading financial centers, attracting many large businesses and international investors.

Renting a virtual office is completely legal.

Renting a virtual office is the top choice of many foreign companies when opening a company in Singapore, the US, Canada, Hong Kong, and the UK. There are countries with high company operating costs.

Businesses can change their registered company address with ACRA. To do so, you need to contact and submit an application for such change through a registered filing agent like GLA if you need expert support.

In addition, Enterprises need to update information to relevant parties such as IRAS, banks, business partners, and customers. 

A business can not have multiple addresses for the same company. Each company or branch in Singapore is only allowed to have one legal company address.