Oxaide Research • 25 Sep 2026
ACRA business profile: what is free vs S$5.50
The BizFile business profile costs S$5.50 per company. But half of what buyers need is free. This page shows the exact free-vs-paid field split, how to buy as a guest in five minutes, and when to stop reading it yourself and pay S$49 to have it read for you.
Free search vs S$5.50 profile: the field split
Run any name or UEN through the free BizFile entity search and you get the identity layer. Pay S$5.50 and you get the accountability layer. The people, the money, and the lenders.
| Field | Free search | S$5.50 profile |
|---|---|---|
| Registered name + UEN | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live / struck-off status | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entity type + registration date | ✓ | ✓ |
| Registered address + SSIC activities | ✓ | ✓ |
| Directors, secretary + appointment dates | — | ✓ |
| Shareholders + share capital / paid-up | — | ✓ |
| Charges (assets pledged to lenders) | — | Separate extract at checkout. Confirm options before paying |
| Financial statements + filing history | — | Separate extracts at checkout. Confirm options before paying |
Shortcut: our free UEN lookup returns the whole free layer. Name, status, type, incorporation date. From a register snapshot of 2.1M ACRA entities, refreshed monthly. Use it to confirm you have the right UEN before spending S$5.50, because ACRA gives no refunds for incorrect purchases.
How to buy a business profile in five minutes
- Go to bizfile.gov.sg and search the exact UEN (not just the name. Lookalike names are how buyers purchase the wrong profile).
- Open the entity, choose Buy Information, then Business Profile.
- Check out as guest or logged in. Guest is enough for a one-off check. Fee: S$5.50.
- The PDF arrives as a download link in your email. Save it with the quotation so any later name change is visible.
Per ACRA's own buying guide, there are no refunds for incorrect purchases. The single most common S$5.50 mistake is buying the profile of a similar trading name instead of the entity on the invoice.
How to read the profile once you have it
Buyers usually stop at page one (Live, correct name) and miss the three signals that actually predict payment risk:
- Officers: who the directors are, when each was appointed, and whether the person chasing your deposit is even listed. A brand-new director just before a large invoice changes the deal structure.
- Capital + shareholders: paid-up capital is not cash in the bank, but tiny paid-up capital plus a big upfront deposit means little buffer if the job goes wrong. Layered corporate shareholders mean slower recovery.
- Charges: assets pledged to lenders. One working-capital charge is normal; multiple fresh charges over all assets mean your deposit ranks behind secured lenders if the company fails.
Then cross-check outside ACRA: GST registration on IRAS (only GST-registered businesses may issue tax invoices), the bank payee name against the registered name, and reviews for deposit/refund patterns. The full routine is in how to check if a company is legitimate.
When S$5.50 of data needs a S$49 read
The profile gives you facts; it does not give you a verdict. Order a cited read when money moves before delivery and any of these hold: officers changed recently, charges exist, shareholders are layered companies, filings have gaps, or the GST name, ACRA name and bank payee do not all match exactly.
The S$49 quick check answers one focused question. Is this the right counterparty for this invoice. Cited, in about 5 minutes. For officers, shareholders, capital and charges read line by line, the ACRA files review returns an entity-by-entity table with page and confidence per line.
Frequently asked questions about the ACRA business profile
How much does an ACRA business profile cost?
S$5.50 per profile on BizFile, via Buy Information. Guest checkout works; the PDF arrives by email. No refunds for incorrect purchases. Confirm the UEN first with the free UEN lookup.
What information is free on BizFile?
Registered name, UEN, Live status, entity type, registration date, registered address and SSIC activities. Officers, shareholders, capital and charges need the paid profile.
Do I need SingPass to buy a business profile?
No. ACRA sells the profile to guests as well as logged-in users. SingPass only matters for filings, not for buying information.
Is the business profile enough to check a supplier before paying?
It proves identity and standing, not honesty or solvency. Match name and UEN against invoice and bank payee, read officers and charges, verify GST on IRAS, or order a S$49 cited read before the deposit.
Research, not advice. Price and purchase flow per ACRA's published buying guide; confirm at BizFile checkout before paying.