The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) is the foremost business chamber. Established by the Singapore Business Federation Act on 1 April 2002, the chamber represents and serves in Singapore and abroad the interests of Singapore’s business community in trade, investment, and industrial relations. The Singapore Business Federation subscription is compulsory for some companies in regard of their share capital.
Who needs to subscribe to the Singapore Business Federation?
The Singapore Business Federation Act provides that all Singapore-registered companies with a paid-up capital or authorised share capital of SGD 500,000 and above will automatically become members of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF). However, the subscription becomes voluntary for Singapore-registered companies with a paid-up capital or authorised share capital of less than SGD 500,000.
There are three types of membership for companies:
1. Statutory Members are the local or foreign company registered in Singapore with a paid-up capital or authorised share capital of SGD 500,000 and above. They are entitled to vote at every SBF’S General Meeting.
The annual subscription fee for statutory members varies depending on the paid-up capital or authorised share capital as follows:
| Paid-up Capital / Authorised Share Capital | Annual Fees (inclusive of GST) |
| From SGD 0.5 million to less than SGD 1 million | SGD 324 |
| From SGD 1 million to less than SGD 5 million | SGD 432 |
| From SGD 5 million to less than SGD 10 million | SGD 648 |
| From SGD 10 million and above | SGD 864 |
2. Constituent Members are local or foreign organisation in Singapore (chambers of commerce and industry, foreign business groups or communities carrying business in Singapore. They are entitled to vote at every SBF’S General Meeting.
The annual subscription fee for a Constituent Member is SGD 864 inclusive of 8% GST.
3. Associate Members are the local or foreign company with a paid-up capital or authorised share capital under SGD 500,000 as well as associations, chambers and societies registered in Singapore, whose application has been successfully approved by the SBF. However, Associate members have no voting rights at SBF General Meetings.
The annual subscription fee for an Associate Member includes an additional one-off entrance fee, and varies depending on the category of the member as follow:
| Types of Members | One-off Entrance Fees (inclusive of GST) | Annual Fees (inclusive of GST) |
| Companies with less than SGD 500,000 paid-up / authorised share capital | SGD 324 | SGD 324 |
| Associations / Chambers / Societies registered in Singapore | SGD 324 | SGD 324 |
| Other categories (including sole-proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), etc.) | SGD 324 | SGD 540 |
Please note that the application is voluntary. Then, an Associate Member can terminate their subscription anytime upon a one-month prior notice in written.
Membership Advantages of the SBF
Members of the SBF (except Associate Member) are entitled to vote at SBF’s Annual General Meetings. As benefits, members received:
- briefings on Government policies and changes,
- invitation to seminars, dialogues, surveys,
- overseas business missions,
- networking and
- business matching sessions with incoming delegations.
The membership to SBF is a convenient way to create connections and network with local companies as well as to understand the latest regulations and be able to raise questions and business concerns.
Membership exemption
However, there is an exemption to the annual subscription fees for the membership upon successful exemption application with the SBF Council.
Companies that prove that they did not have any employee from the date of its incorporation or during the previous calendar year, are exempted of subscription fees and cease to be a member of the SBF.
The exemption application will have to be submitted yearly. After three years of submission, during which the company did not have any employees, the exemption will continue with no need to renew it.
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