The verdict in three sentences
A brokerage website in Singapore has to be an account acquisition tool first, not a brochure: without online account opening with KYC, prospects drop off before the first conversation. On the Singapore market, such a project is an order of magnitude of SGD 50,000 to 90,000 and 10 weeks of delivery, with MAS compliance and data protection weighing as much as design. A target of 300 pre-applications per quarter is realistic if the flow takes under 10 minutes on mobile and every file reaches operations complete.
What the website must include
The CEO of a Singapore broker holding a Capital Markets Services licence targets two very different audiences. Retail investors, local and expatriate, want to understand fees, see markets and open an account without visiting an office. Institutions (family offices, insurers, fund managers) look for research, execution capabilities and proof of a robust operation.
| Module | Content | Budget share (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery, content and design | Retail and institutional journeys, 25 to 35 pages | SGD 9,000 to 16,000 |
| Delayed SGX quotes | Securities and index feed, stock pages, charts | SGD 7,000 to 14,000 |
| Pre-account opening and KYC | Step form, Myinfo retrieval via Singpass, document upload for foreigners | SGD 15,000 to 25,000 |
| Regulatory disclosures area | Licence details, fee schedule, risk disclosures, terms | SGD 4,000 to 8,000 |
| Savings simulator | Monthly contributions, horizon, hypothetical return with warning | SGD 4,000 to 9,000 |
| Research and market notes | Analyst publishing, email subscription | SGD 4,000 to 8,000 |
| Security, testing, launch | Penetration test, encryption, backups | SGD 7,000 to 10,000 |
Total: SGD 50,000 to 90,000 depending on KYC depth and the number of data feeds. At Kolonell, a financial website of this kind belongs to our institutional practice and is priced on quote, after a scoping workshop with compliance.
MAS compliance, AML/CFT and personal data
A licensed broker communicates under supervision. The site must not promise returns, show past performance without warnings or suggest that an account is open before the file has been approved.
| Requirement | What the site must do | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Firm identification | Licence number, registered office, key officers in the footer | MAS licensing requirements |
| Risk disclosure | Warning on every performance page and the simulator | MAS guidelines on fair dealing |
| Fees | Downloadable commission and custody fee schedule | Fee transparency |
| KYC and AML/CFT | Identity data, source of funds, politically exposed person status | MAS Notice SFA04-N02 |
| Personal data | Consent, purposes, retention, data protection officer contact | Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) |
| Complaints | Procedure and complaints contact | Investor protection expectations |
| Hosting and security | TLS encryption, logging, offsite backups, MFA | MAS Technology Risk Management Guidelines |
Online pre-opening does not replace the broker's decision: it collects a complete file, which then goes through compliance approval and the signing of account terms, usually by e-signature. Singpass Myinfo pre-fills verified data for Singapore residents in seconds. For foreign investors, plan for document upload with selfie liveness check and a first deposit by bank transfer.
The 10-week plan
Weeks 1 and 2: scoping with management, compliance and operations, mapping of the KYC file. Weeks 3 and 4: design and copy, reviewed by compliance. Weeks 5 to 8: build, connection of the SGX feed, Myinfo integration, secure document storage and e-signature. Week 9: penetration test and acceptance testing with 20 dummy files. Week 10: launch and operations training on handling pre-applications.
Mini case study
Wei Ling, CEO of a brokerage in Singapore, targets 300 pre-applications per quarter. At a 40 % conversion rate into funded accounts, that means 120 accounts a quarter, or 480 a year. If each account earns an average of SGD 400 a year in commissions and custody fees (estimate), the broker adds 480 × 400 = SGD 192,000 of recurring annual revenue.
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For a SGD 80,000 website, payback comes in about 5 months of new accounts. Operations must absorb 25 files a week: at 15 minutes of checks per complete Myinfo-backed file, that is about 6 hours a week, against more than double for incomplete paper files.
FAQ
Can we display real-time SGX prices?
Real-time data requires a market data licence and a recurring fee. Most brokers show 10 to 20 minute delayed prices or closing prices on the public site, enough for 90 % of visitors.
Can foreign investors open an account fully online?
Yes if the broker accepts remote identity verification and e-signature. A complete file is processed in 48 to 72 hours on average.
Do we need a data protection officer listed on the site?
Under the PDPA every organisation must designate a DPO and make their business contact information available. Identity documents and financial data justify encrypted storage and logged access.
Is a savings simulator a regulatory risk?
It is acceptable with explicit assumptions, for example 6 % a year, and a clear warning that returns are not guaranteed. Compliance should approve the copy before launch.
How long until launch?
Ten weeks for the full scope, 6 to 7 weeks without online KYC. Compliance review is the milestone to plan from day one.
Let's scope your project. We work with your management and compliance team to define the pre-opening flow, SGX feeds and disclosures area, for a launch in 10 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
