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Singapore splits food licences by the kind of outlet. A restaurant, cafe or caterer needs a Food Shop Licence from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) at S$195 for one year. A stall inside a food court or coffeeshop needs a Food Stall Licence at S$32. The company or business that holds the licence is registered separately with ACRA. Checked .
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com does not issue SFA licences and does not work for SFA, ACRA or any government body. It is a guide that passes requests from its form to providers, who may pay us for the referral.
Which SFA licence does your outlet need?
SFA's own page sorts food retail by outlet type.
| Outlet | Licence | Fee | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant, caterer, coffeeshop, canteen, mobile wagon with full kitchen | Food Shop Licence | S$195 | 1 year |
| Stall in a food court or coffeeshop | Food Stall Licence | S$32 (S$64 for 2 years) | 1 year |
| Hawker or canteen stall in a school or junior college | Food Stall Licence | S$13 | 1 year |
| Supermarket under 200 sqm | Supermarket Licence | S$250 | 1 year |
| Supermarket over 200 sqm | Supermarket Licence | S$500 | 1 year |
A supermarket needs a licence if it sells raw meat or seafood or prepares food on the premises. Hawker stalls in publicly managed centres normally go through NEA, not a separate SFA application.
Who does not need a licence?
SFA says home-based and online food businesses do not currently need a licence, though food safety standards still apply. Since , market stalls selling lower-risk food such as pre-packed items need none either. If you sell cakes from home, that may fit. Check the SFA page before you rely on it, since the list can change.
What is the order of steps?
- Register your business with ACRA. A private limited company is the usual choice for a restaurant with staff and a lease. A sole trader can use a sole proprietorship.
- Secure the premises and a registered address. See registered address.
- Apply to SFA through GoBusiness. SFA reviews the application within 7 working days.
- Book the pre-licensing inspection at least 5 working days ahead.
- Pay within 28 days of approval, by GIRO, AXS or GoBusiness.
SFA closes an application as invalid if the documents are not in within 2 months of applying. Time your lease, fit-out and application together, because rent runs while you wait.
What does SFA require from staff?
SFA requires a food hygiene officer for certain licensed establishments. The officer must pass the WSQ Food Safety Course Level 3, a one-time certification, then retrain within 5 years of passing it and again within 10 years after that if they still handle food. The licensee registers food hygiene officers on GoBusiness before applying or renewing. Food workers need Food Safety Course Level 1.
What happens if you break the rules?
SFA runs a Points Demerit System. Major offences carry 4 points and serious ones 6. After 12 points in 12 months the shop is suspended for 2 weeks. A second round brings 4 weeks, and a third means revocation. Alongside this SFA grades food establishments A, B or C under its SAFE framework, with new ones starting at NEW. A poor record means more inspections.
What are the fixed government costs?
Only the fees below are published by the agencies, so only these are listed. Rent, fit-out, equipment and wages are yours to price.
| Item | Body | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Company name application | ACRA | S$15 |
| Company registration | ACRA | S$300 |
| Food Shop Licence, per year | SFA | S$195 |
| Food Stall Licence, per year | SFA | S$32 |
A cafe that registers a company and takes a Food Shop Licence therefore pays S$315 plus S$195 in government fees for the first year. Providers add their own charges for the company work.
Which business structure suits a food outlet?
A private limited company keeps your personal assets apart from the lease and supplier debts. That matters in a trade with heavy fixed costs. A sole proprietorship is quicker and cheaper to file, but you carry every debt personally. Your choice also affects hiring, tax and how a landlord sees you, and it is easier to start as a company than to convert later.
What should you check before signing the lease?
- Whether the unit can be licensed as a Food Shop. Ask SFA before you commit rent.
- Whether the landlord accepts the company as tenant.
- Whether the registered address will be the shop itself or a separate address service.
- Whether the licence conditions suit your kitchen. SFA publishes conditions of licensing, updated .
Can a foreigner open a restaurant?
A foreigner can own the company if a corporate service provider registers it and a locally resident director is appointed. The EntrePass is not available for food businesses, according to MOM. That matters for founders who planned to live here on that pass. Read EntrePass and register a company as a foreigner.
What about staff costs?
Hiring staff brings CPF contributions and payroll duties. See CPF for employers. This guide does not quote wage rates for kitchen or service staff, because it has no verified source for them.
Where does a provider help?
A provider can register the company, supply the address and open the bank file. SFA licence work, the lease and the fit-out remain with you. Use the quote form and we pass your request to suitable providers.
Sources
- SFA, application process and fees: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-retail/licence-permit/application-process-fees-for-licence-permit-for-food-retail (fees, timelines)
- SFA, businesses that need a licence or permit: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-retail/licence-permit/businesses-that-need-licence-permit-for-food-retail
- SFA, food hygiene officers: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-handler-hygiene-officer/requirements-for-food-handler-hygiene-officer/requirements-for-food-hygiene-officers
- SFA, Points Demerit System: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/regulatory-standards-frameworks-guidelines/food-safety-management/understanding-the-points-demerit-system-pds
- MOM, EntrePass eligibility: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/entrepass/eligibility
