How to Start a Food Business in Singapore

Start a food business in Singapore and profit from this multibillion-dollar industry.

Singapore has a rich and vibrant multicultural society, and this is reflected in the variety of cuisines from all parts of the globe. The food and beverage industry in Singapore is a melting pot of restaurants, bistros, cafes, hawker stalls, pubs and bars. Setting up a food business in Singapore is not complicated, thanks to government support for entrepreneurs and the national pastime of Singaporeans, which is eating. As long as you prepare everything you need and stick to all the rules and regulations, your business will be operational in no time at all.

Instructions

1. Incorporate your business. There are different types of business that you can register in Singapore. The majority of Singaporean companies are registered as private limited liability or private limited businesses. Only Singaporeans or Singapore Permanent Residents are allowed to register a company, so if you are not one, you must hire a third-party firm or Singaporean individual to register one in its or her name.

2. Find a location for the business. This is required before you can apply for operating licenses because the licensing agencies will need to carry out site inspections of the property prior to issuing any permits. Obtain layouts and plans of the property or premises, tenancy agreements and approvals from whichever agency is responsible for the area, such as the Housing Development Board, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, or the Building and Construction Authority. In some cases, more than one approval may be required.

3. Obtain a Food Shop License and other permits. The government's Environmental Public Health Act requires all establishments wishing to retail food and/or beverages to hold a Food Shop License, which can be obtained from the National Environment Agency. This can be done online and will take up to two weeks to complete. If you wish to offer food for Muslims, you must obtain a Halal certificate from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, and you must also satisfy their very strict requirements. To offer liquor, get a Liquor License from the Liquor Licensing Board; and to buy ingredients or food products from international suppliers, you must also obtain an import license from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore.

4. Find employees to run the restaurant. Note that you may be allowed to hire both local as well as foreign workers, but all staff must possess valid employment visas (such as a Work Permit or S Pass).

5. Register for the Goods and Services Tax (GST). All restaurant businesses which make profits over S$1 million will need to obtain GST registration and pay taxes on their revenue. This is about 7 percent of the cost of the product and must be paid annually to the taxation authorities (Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore).

References

• Business.gov: Entrepreneurs' Guide to Planning, Starting and Running a Business in Singapore
• Guidemesingapore.com: How to Open a Restaurant in Singapore
• Sgentrepreneurs.com: 8 Tips to Setting Up Your Food and Beverage Business in Singapore
• Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
• Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singpore

Resources

• Spring Singapore: Entrepreneurship