What licences might I need for a home-based business in Singapore?

Beyond ACRA registration, check whether your activity requires additional licences. Food businesses need an SFA licence. Childcare requires ECDA registration. Tuition centres require MOE compliance. The GoBusiness Licence portal at licence1.business.gov.sg helps you check what applies to your specific activity.

How to Start a Home-Based Business in Singapore Legally

Thousands of Singapore businesses start from home. Here is how to do it legally and set yourself up for growth from day one.

Is it legal to run a business from your HDB flat?

Yes — under HDB's Home Office Scheme. The key rules: no employees or clients visiting the flat, no external business signage, and your business must not cause excessive noise, smell, or foot traffic. Private property owners are governed by URA's Home Office rules, which are generally more flexible.

What types of businesses are allowed?

Permitted home businesses include freelance services, online retail, tutoring, consultancy, and most service-based businesses that do not require walk-in customers. Not permitted: businesses requiring customers to visit, food businesses requiring a licence (unless SFA-approved), and manufacturing or industrial activity.

Home-based food businesses

Selling home-cooked or home-baked food is a special case. The Singapore Food Agency allows home-based food businesses under specific conditions — you must register with SFA, sell directly to end consumers only (not through retailers), and follow food safety guidelines. Check sfa.gov.sg for current requirements before taking orders.

Register with ACRA

Even operating from home, register with ACRA if you are trading under a business name. You can use your home address as your registered business address. This gives you a UEN — needed to open a business bank account and apply for grants.

Business bank account

Once ACRA-registered, open a separate business bank account. DBS, OCBC, and UOB all offer SME accounts. Digital banks like Aspire and Airwallex offer lower fees and faster setup — worth comparing before committing.

Licences to check

Beyond ACRA registration, check whether your activity requires additional licences. Food: SFA licence. Childcare: ECDA registration. Tuition centres: MOE compliance. The GoBusiness Licence portal at licence1.business.gov.sg helps you check what applies.

When to move out of home

When you need staff on-site, when clients need to visit, or when your volume outgrows your space. Most successful Singapore businesses started at home. Start lean and scale when the revenue supports it.