Article from ACE
Taking the Hassle out of Applying for Business Licenses
Starting a business in Singapore can be a complicated and tedious process. This is especially so for new business entrants who are likely to have limited knowledge of the licences needed when starting a business and the requirements to meet in order to obtain these licences. Multiple licences are usually required for a particular business activity and the approval of one licence is sometimes contingent on the approval of another. The whole process can be time-consuming and cumbersome.
As part of a continuous effort to cut red-tape to foster a more pro-business environment, the Singapore government recently launched an Online License Application Service.
http://www.business.gov.sg/licences Previously, an entrepreneur has to hop from agency to agency, filling in different forms for each licence which may be requesting for overlapping information. In some cases, the entire process could take months. Worse, after expending significant time and money, an applicant may still fail to start his business, should his application for a critical licence be denied.
This new online licensing service offers one-stop convenience and integrated online licence application for businesses. Applicants only need only to complete one integrated form for many licences, instead of a series of forms. A consolidated online payment mechanism allows for one-time payment for multiple licence fees, eliminating the need to make separate payments. Because the processing of applications is done concurrently, this removes frustrations arising from lengthy waits associated with sequential approvals.
Mr Lim Kuan Yong, Business Unit Manager of Data-Sphere Pte Ltd who utilised the online application system to apply for IDA’s License is delighted with this new facility. In his view, this online service has helped radically reduce time, cost and inconvenience when applying for business licenses. Sharing his experience with ACE, Mr Lim said, “This new service has effectively shortened the transaction cycle. In the past, I had to personally visit the various government agencies to pick up hard copy forms, wasting a lot of time not to mention the hassle of looking for parking space. Now with soft copy forms, we can retire archaic typewriters. I can simply complete the forms with a word processor and submit the information online. How convenient!”
ACE is pleased with the government’s launch of a central online licensing service for business license application. Mr Ong Peng Tsin, Deputy Chairman, ACE commented, “I think the government has acted on the feedback from the business community on the need to reduce red tape in the civil service. This service will reduce the administrative hassle of starting a new business and is an initiative strongly welcomed by ACE.”
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