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LPDropshipping

Limited Partnership (LP) in Singapore — Dropshipping Formation Guide

Focus on high-margin niches or private labeling to offset rising ad costs. Ensure your chosen jurisdiction has favorable tax treaties and access to top-tier payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal.

Last verified: June 13, 2026

Corporate Tax

0.0%

State Tax

0.0%

Formation Cost

$85

Annual Fee

$22

Forming a Limited Partnership (LP) in Singapore as a Dropshipping means a total tax burden of 0.0% and an official formation cost of $85. There is no minimum capital requirement. Standard formation takes 3-5 business days, or 1-2 business days expedited. No local director is required; the process can be managed remotely. This guide covers the steps, tax breakdown, banking options, and compliance requirements — all from verified data.

First-year total cost

$3,057

Ongoing (per year)

$2,622

Detailed cost calculator →

Why Limited Partnership (LP) for Dropshipping?

A retail fulfillment method where a store doesn't keep the products it sells in stock. Instead, when a store sells a product, it purchases the item from a third-party supplier who ships it directly to the customer.

Ideal for

  • E-commerce beginners
  • Digital nomads
  • Location-independent entrepreneurs
  • Marketers testing new products

Challenges to watch

  • Low profit margins (typically 15-20%)
  • High competition and rising ad costs
  • Supplier reliability and shipping delays
  • Payment gateway holds and high chargeback rates

Key decision criteria

  • Access to global payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal)
  • Corporate tax rates and VAT/Sales Tax obligations in target markets
  • Limited liability protection against product liability claims
  • Ease of remote company management

Limited Partnership (LP) formation requirements

Minimum capital

None

Standard timeline

3-5 business days

Expedited timeline

1-2 business days

Local director

Not required

Registered office

Virtual office allowed

Notarization

Not required

A local manager (ordinarily resident in Singapore) must be appointed only if all General Partners are non-resident.

See the full guide for all documents and requirements →

Estimated breakdown (based on avg. $40,000 revenue)

Gross Revenue$40,000
Corporate Tax-$0
Formation Cost-$85
Annual Fee-$22
Net Profit$39,893

Simulate with your own revenue →

VAT / Sales Tax

Standard rate 9%. Registration threshold: 1,000,000 SGD. Foreign suppliers of digital services must register for GST under the Overseas Vendor Registration (OVR) regime if their global turnover exceeds SGD 1 million and B2C digital services to Singapore exceed SGD 100,000.

Banking & payments for Dropshipping

Opening a traditional bank account in Singapore can be challenging for non-resident founders due to strict KYC and AML regulations, often requiring an in-person visit. However, digital platforms like Aspire, Wise, and Airwallex offer fully remote onboarding and are highly recommended for foreign-owned LPs.

Supported payment gateways

StripePayPalXenditAirwallexAdyenHitPay

Remote-friendly accounts

  • Aspire

    Top choice for Singapore startups. Offers multi-currency accounts, corporate cards, and fully remote onboarding.

  • Wise Business

    Excellent for multi-currency transactions and international payments with low conversion fees.

  • Airwallex

    Great alternative for cross-border businesses needing global accounts and payment gateway integration.

Singapore incentives & advantages

Section 13OA Tax Exemption

Tax exemption on specified income from designated investments.

Section 13H Venture Capital Fund Tax Incentive

Zero tax on capital gains and dividend income from qualifying investments.

Limited Partnership (LP) formation steps

1

Choose an approved business name and reserve it via ACRA's BizFile+ portal.

2

Appoint at least one General Partner and one Limited Partner.

3

Engage a Corporate Service Provider (CSP) if all partners are foreigners without Singpass.

4

Appoint a local manager (ordinarily resident in Singapore) if all General Partners are non-residents.

5

Draft and sign the Limited Partnership Agreement (LPA) outlining profit distribution and liabilities.

6

Register the LP via BizFile+ and pay the ACRA registration fees.

7

Obtain the Unique Entity Number (UEN) and Business Profile from ACRA.

8

Open a corporate bank account (e.g., Aspire, Wise) using the UEN and Business Profile.

Dropshipping FAQ

Which country is best for a dropshipping company?

Popular choices include the US (LLC) for access to Stripe/PayPal and US customers, and the UK (LTD) for low setup costs and fast incorporation. Estonia (OÜ) is excellent for digital nomads wanting to reinvest profits tax-free.

Do I need a registered company to start dropshipping?

While you can start as a sole proprietor, forming an LLC or LTD protects your personal assets from product liability and makes it easier to get approved by major payment gateways and suppliers.

How do I handle sales tax or VAT as a dropshipper?

Tax obligations depend on where your customers are located and your sales volume. In the US, you may need to collect sales tax if you reach economic nexus. In the EU, you must comply with VAT rules (like the OSS scheme) if selling to EU consumers.

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