Choosing to start a business in Singapore is a decision made by an increasing number of entrepreneurs from all across the globe. This is hardly a surprise, since Singapore is a prosperous country that enables both the locals and foreigners to advance in their business endeavors.

A Guide to SSIC Codes

4 minute read

Choosing to start a business in Singapore is a decision made by an increasing number of entrepreneurs from all across the globe. This is hardly a surprise, since Singapore is a prosperous country that enables both the locals and foreigners to advance in their business endeavors.

However, before you carry on with your company operations, you need to register your company and specify your business activity. In this Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) codes guide, we will walk you through essential information such as the definition of SSIC codes, the importance of choosing the correct code, and, finally, the list of the most commonly used codes.

Here is a quick overview:

What are SSIC codes?

An SSIC code, or a Singapore Standard Industrial Classification Code, is a number provided to classify a company’s business activities that are carried out in the country of Singapore.

SSIC codes are used by the government for statistical purposes. However, they also serve the purpose of helping with the regulation and governance of companies.

The codes are reviewed and updated when and if necessary. The goal of this is to ensure that the codes:

  • Stay aligned with the changes in international standards
  • Reflect significant changes in the economy
  • Remain updated in regard to emerging activities

On top of that, the country authorities can use the codes for several other purposes.

  • ACRA can use it to determine whether any additional licenses are needed for the business activity carried out by the company.
  • IRAS can also use the SSIC code to determine whether specific tax benefits apply to the company.

Things to note when choosing a SSIC code

Naturally, when selecting your SSIC code associated with principal activities of your company, it is best to opt for a code that reflects the activities you seek a license for.

For instance, if your company is a financial holding company, it would make sense to select the SSIC code 64201. This way, you can apply for the necessary license so that you can operate within the Singaporean borders.

However, keep in mind that holding companies tend to get taxed heavily by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). Also, they are not eligible for most tax deductions.

Finally, it would be smart to write a custom description of your business activity for your business profile. This description does not have to be longer than one page. It is not required to go by the SSIC standard description, since ACRA allows writing a more accurate business activity description upon registration.

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List of SSIC codes

Here is a list of commonly used SSIC codes across various fields of business. For the complete list, you can either download the entire list of SSIC codes or do a search for SSIC codes (which may not be listed below) on ACRA’s portal.

Take note: Some SSIC codes will require licensing/permits.

Consulting

70201 MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES
70209 BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES N.E.C.
62021 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANCY (EXCEPT CYBERSECURITY)
62022 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CYBERSECURITY CONSULTANCY
71129 ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY ACTIVITIES N.E.C.
71126 ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES SUPPORTING MINING, OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION AND OFFSHORE EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES
71121 GENERAL BUILDING ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES
71122 PROCESS AND INDUSTRIAL PLANT ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES

Holding companies

64201BANK/FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES (INCLUDING INSURANCE HOLDING COMPANY)
64202OTHER HOLDING COMPANIES

Technology

62011 DEVELOPMENT OF SOFTWARE AND APPLICATIONS (EXCEPT GAMES AND CYBERSECURITY)
62090 OTHER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER SERVICE ACTIVITIES (EG DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES)
62013 DEVELOPMENT OF SOFTWARE FOR CYBERSECURITY
63120 INTERNET SEARCH ENGINES
63119 DATA ANALYTICS, PROCESSING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES N.E.C.

B2B and Finance

82999 OTHER BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICE ACTIVITIES (E.G. ADMINISTRATION OF LOYALTY PROGRAMMES)
73100 ADVERTISING ACTIVITIES
63209 ONLINE MARKETPLACES FOR SERVICES N.E.C.
78104 EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES (EXCLUDING DOMESTIC WORKER EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT AGENCIES AND ONLINE MARKETPLACES)
69202 BOOK-KEEPING SERVICES (EXCLUDING ONLINE MARKETPLACES)
66192 CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISORY SERVICES
66301 TRADITIONAL/LONG-ONLY ASSET/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
66307 PRIVATE DEBT FUNDS
66309 FUND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES N.E.C.

Retail

47721 RETAIL SALE OF COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES (INCLUDING SKINCARE PRODUCTS)
47311 RETAIL SALE OF MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT MOTORCYCLES AND SCOOTERS
47412 RETAIL SALE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE (INCLUDING HANDHELD COMPUTERS) AND PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE (EXCEPT GAMES AND CYBERSECURITY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE)
47719 RETAIL SALE OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND LEATHER ARTICLES N.E.C.
47711 RETAIL SALE OF CLOTHING FOR ADULTS

Wholesale

46900 WHOLESALE TRADE OF A VARIETY OF GOODS WITHOUT A DOMINANT PRODUCT
46541 WHOLESALE OF INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT (E.G. INDUSTRIAL CRANE)
46522 WHOLESALE OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
46592 WHOLESALE OF MEDICAL, PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND PRECISION EQUIPMENT
46639 WHOLESALE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, HARDWARE, PLUMBING, AND HEATING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES N.E.C. (EG CEMENT, SAND)
46309 WHOLESALE OF FOOD, BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO N.E.C. (INCLUDING DRIED OR CANNED)
46599 WHOLESALE OF OTHER MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT N.E.C.
46511 WHOLESALE OF COMPUTER HARDWARE AND PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT (EXCEPT CYBERSECURITY RELATED HARDWARE AND PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT)
46551 WHOLESALE OF MARINE EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES (INCLUDING MARINE NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT AND RADAR)
46424 WHOLESALE OF COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES

General services

74191INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES
82303EVENT/CONCERT ORGANISERS
43210ELECTRICAL WORKS
96099OTHER PERSONAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES N.E.C. (EXCLUDING ONLINE MARKETPLACES)
78104EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES (EXCLUDING DOMESTIC WORKER EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT AGENCIES AND ONLINE MARKETPLACES)
46100WHOLESALE ON A FEE OR COMMISSION BASIS (EXCLUDING ONLINE MARKETPLACES)
79102TRAVEL AGENCIES AND TOUR OPERATORS (MAINLY OUTBOUND)
81211GENERAL CLEANING SERVICES (INCLUDING CLEANING OF PUBLIC AREAS, OFFICES AND FACTORIES) EXCEPT HOUSEHOLD CLEANING AND ONLINE MARKETPLACES
49215RENTAL AND LEASING OF CARS WITH DRIVER (EXCLUDING STREET-HAIL AND RIDE-HAIL SERVICE PROVIDERS)
95301REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLES (INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF PARTS & ACCESSORIES)
88911CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN (INCLUDING INFANT CARE SERVICES)
61099OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES N.E.C. (E.G. PROVISION OF VOIP (VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL SERVICES))
93203NIGHT CLUBS, DISCOTHEQUES, DANCE CLUBS AND KARAOKE LOUNGES
77101RENTING AND LEASING OF PRIVATE CARS WITHOUT DRIVER (EXCLUDING ONLINE MARKETPLACES)
59111MOVIE PRODUCTION

Health and Beauty

86201 CLINICS AND OTHER GENERAL MEDICAL SERVICES (WESTERN)
96022 BEAUTY SALONS AND SPAS (INCLUDING SLIMMING, SKIN CARE AND HAIR CARE CENTRES)
86203 SPECIALISED MEDICAL SERVICES (INCLUDING DAY SURGICAL CENTRES)
86204 DENTAL SERVICES
96021 HAIRDRESSING SALONS/SHOPS (INCLUDING BARBER SHOPS)
86909 OTHER HEALTH SERVICES N.E.C. (EXCLUDING ONLINE MARKETPLACES)

Educational Support Services

85509EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES N.E.C. (EXCLUDING ONLINE MARKETPLACES)
85408TRAINING COURSES FOR MUSIC, DANCING, ART, SPEECH AND DRAMA
85407TRAINING COURSES FOR SPORTS AND GAMES

Food and Beverage

56111RESTAURANTS
56122FOOD COURTS, COFFEE SHOPS, AND CANTEENS (WITH MAINLY FOOD AND BEVERAGE INCOME)
56112CAFES
56140STALLS SELLING COOKED FOOD AND PREPARED DRINKS (INCLUDING STALLS AT FOOD COURTS AND MOBILE FOOD HAWKERS)
56200FOOD CATERERS
47219RETAIL SALE OF FOOD N.E.C.
47102MINI-MARTS, CONVENIENCE STORES AND PROVISION SHOPS
68104LETTING AND OPERATING OF SELF-OWNED OR LEASED FOOD COURTS, COFFEE SHOPS AND CANTEENS (WITH MAINLY RENTAL INCOME)

Construction/ Real Estate

41001 GENERAL CONTRACTORS (BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING MAJOR UPGRADING WORKS)
41009 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION N.E.C.
68101 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS
43301 RENOVATION CONTRACTORS
68209 REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES ON A FEE OR COMMISSION BASIS N.E.C. (EXCLUDING ONLINE MARKETPLACES)
42101 GENERAL CONTRACTORS (NON-BUILDING CONSTRUCTION)
43220 INSTALLATION OF PLUMBING, HEATING (NON-ELECTRIC) AND AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS
68201 REAL ESTATE AGENCIES AND VALUATION SERVICES

Shipping and Logistics

30110 BUILDING AND REPAIRING OF SHIPS, TANKERS AND OTHER OCEAN-GOING VESSELS (INCLUDING CONVERSION OF SHIPS INTO OFF-SHORE STRUCTURES)
50021 SHIPPING COMPANIES, INCLUDING CHARTERING OF SHIPS AND BOATS WITH CREW (FREIGHT)
52292 FREIGHT TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS
50022 OPERATORS AND CHARTERERS OF BARGES, TUGBOATS AND BUMBOATS (FREIGHT)
52226 SHIP MANAGEMENT SERVICES
52222 SHIPPING AGENCIES (FREIGHT)
52227 SHIP BROKERING SERVICES
52291 CARGO SURVEYING SERVICES

Miscellaneous

28300 INSTALLATION OF INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING WORKS
31001 MANUFACTURE OF FURNITURE AND FIXTURES OF WOOD (INCLUDING UPHOLSTERY)
32909 OTHER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES N.E.C.
63909 OTHER INFORMATION SERVICE ACTIVITIES N.E.C.

Wrap-up

You can also use ACRA’s keyword search engine to browse the full list of SSIC codes or download the complete list of SSIC codes. Alternatively, you can always reach out to us and our team will be happy to help you.

You might be interested in reading about:

Watch the full video on ‘How to start a company in Singapore

Download SSIC List:

Download the complete SSIC list for your future reference.

FAQ

An SSIC is a number provided to classify a company’s business activities that are carried out in the country of Singapore. They are used for censuses of population, business surveys and administrative databases.

An SSIC code is important for the Companies to identify their existing customers and potential customers by industry.

While registering a company in Singapore, it’s mandatory to provide an SSIC code that matches your business type.

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