Registering a Food and Beverage Business in Singapore: Essential Steps

2. Register Your F&B Business with ACRA

Businesses in Singapore generally need to register with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).

For a company, you will first reserve the proposed business name through Bizfile before incorporating the entity.

As of 2026, the government fees for setting up a company are:

For a sole proprietorship or partnership, the business name application is S$15 and business registration is S$100.

After registration, the business receives a Unique Entity Number (UEN), which will be used for government transactions and licence applications.

3. Determine Which F&B Licences You Need

Registering the company does not automatically give you permission to prepare or sell food.

The specific licence depends on your business model, premises, products, and activities. Singapore Food Agency (SFA) states that food businesses generally need to be licensed when preparing and selling food to consumers, particularly where the operation presents higher food-safety risks.

Common F&B Licences in Singapore

The exact licence required should always be checked against your proposed operation before signing a long-term lease or beginning renovations.

4. Understand the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) Requirements

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is one of the most important regulatory authorities for anyone entering Singapore’s F&B industry.

SFA regulates food safety and administers licences for different types of food retail, manufacturing, storage, import and export activities.

For a typical restaurant or café, the relevant approval will usually be the Food Shop Licence.

Food shops covered by SFA requirements include restaurants, bakeries, canteens, coffee shops, food courts, standalone kiosks, takeaway food carts and other qualifying food establishments.

How to Apply for an SFA Food Shop Licence

The application is made through GoBusiness using SingPass or CorpPass.

The process generally involves:

1. Submitting the application and layout plan. The layout should clearly show dimensions and relevant kitchen infrastructure and equipment.
2. SFA reviewing the application. Applicants should ensure all required information is complete to prevent delays.
3. Setting up or renovating the premises. The premises should correspond with the submitted and approved plans.
4. Completing the applicable pre-licensing checks. Depending on the application, this can involve inspection arrangements or photographic submissions.
5. Obtaining final approval and paying the licence fee.
6. Starting operations only when the applicable approval and payment requirements have been satisfied.

The Food Shop Licence currently costs S$195 and is valid for one year.

Do Not Start Operating Before Licensing Is Complete

This is an important distinction for new business owners.

Incorporating your company with ACRA does not mean your restaurant or café can immediately start serving customers. SFA states that businesses requiring a food retail licence should apply before commencing operations and that operating a food establishment without the required valid licence is an offence.

5. Secure Suitable Premises Before Renovating

Location is one of the largest investments for an F&B business, but operators should look beyond rent and foot traffic.

Before committing substantial renovation expenditure, check whether the premises are appropriate for your intended food business and whether the proposed layout can satisfy the relevant licensing requirements.

For a Food Shop Licence application, SFA requires a layout plan showing information such as:

• Metric dimensions and scale
• Kitchen equipment
• Exhaust systems where applicable
• Sinks and wash basins
• Relevant food preparation areas
• Boundaries of refreshment areas where applicable

SFA reviews the application and layout as part of the licensing process.

This makes regulatory due diligence particularly important before investing heavily in renovations.

6. Make Sure Food Handlers Meet Training Requirements

Food safety obligations continue after the business receives its licence.

Depending on the operation and role, food handlers must meet the applicable food safety training requirements. SFA requirements include WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1 training or retraining requirements for relevant food handlers.

Businesses should therefore factor staff training into their pre-opening schedule instead of leaving it until immediately before launch.

7. Check Whether Additional Licences Apply

A Food Shop Licence may not be the only regulatory approval your business needs.

Additional licences, registrations or approvals can depend on what your business actually does. For example, importing food products, manufacturing food, storing certain products, operating a supermarket, or participating in temporary fairs can trigger different SFA requirements.

For businesses importing food, the requirements can vary considerably by product category. For example, SFA currently charges S$84 per year for a licence covering the import/export/transhipment of meat and fish products and S$378 per year for the import/transhipment of fresh fruits and vegetables, while registration for importing processed food products is free.

This is why an F&B company should map its complete operations before applying for licences rather than assuming that one general food licence covers every activity.

8. Budget for the Cost of Starting an F&B Business in Singapore

Government registration and licensing fees are usually only a small portion of the total cost of launching an F&B business.

Typical F&B Startup Cost Breakdown

For a straightforward private limited company operating a restaurant or café, the core government fees for name registration + incorporation + one year of a Food Shop Licence would currently total S$510, before premises, renovation, staffing, equipment, professional services and other applicable licences.

Operators should therefore prepare a detailed startup budget rather than using incorporation costs as an estimate of the capital required to launch the business.

9. Complete Post-Incorporation Compliance

Once your company is incorporated and operating, ongoing corporate obligations continue.

Depending on your company and activities, these can include:

• Maintaining proper accounting records
• Filing annual returns
• Maintaining required corporate registers
• Corporate income tax compliance
• GST registration where applicable
• Payroll and employment compliance
• Renewing applicable licences
• Updating regulators when relevant business information changes

For companies, ACRA currently charges S$60 for filing an annual return.

Food retail licences must also remain valid. SFA states that these licences are generally non-transferable, meaning a change in ownership or UEN may require a new licence application rather than simply transferring the existing licence.

How Much Does It Cost to Register an F&B Business in Singapore?

There is no single figure because the total depends on the business structure and F&B activity.

For a private limited company, the basic ACRA government incorporation fees are S$315, consisting of S$15 for the business name application and S$300 for company registration.

A restaurant or café requiring a Food Shop Licence would generally add S$195 per year, bringing those core government registration and food-shop licensing fees to S$510.

However, this does not include rent, deposits, renovations, equipment, employees, food safety training, insurance, professional services, inventory or additional licences.

Start Your Singapore F&B Business on the Right Foundation

Singapore provides a structured environment for entrepreneurs looking to establish restaurants, cafés, food stalls and other F&B businesses. However, successful registration involves coordinating corporate incorporation with premises planning, SFA licensing, food safety requirements and ongoing compliance.

Planning these requirements early can help avoid expensive situations where a business has already signed a lease, purchased equipment or completed renovations only to discover that additional regulatory work is required.

Working with an experienced Singapore corporate services provider can also simplify incorporation, company secretarial requirements, accounting and ongoing corporate compliance, allowing F&B entrepreneurs to focus more of their attention on building and operating the business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a licence to start a food business in Singapore?

Generally, businesses preparing and selling food to consumers may require an SFA licence. The exact licence depends on the business model, premises and food activities. Restaurants and cafés typically require a Food Shop Licence, while stalls operating within food courts or similar premises generally require a Food Stall Licence.

How much is a Food Shop Licence in Singapore?

An SFA Food Shop Licence costs S$195 per year and is valid for one year.

How much does it cost to register a food and beverage company in Singapore?

For a private limited company, ACRA charges S$15 for the business name application and S$300 for company registration. Adding a standard S$195 Food Shop Licence gives a basic government-fee total of S$510 for a typical restaurant or café, excluding all other startup and operating costs.

Can I operate a restaurant immediately after registering my company?

No. ACRA incorporation establishes the business entity but does not replace the licences required for food operations. If your operation requires an SFA licence, you must satisfy the applicable licensing requirements before commencing operations.

Where do I apply for an SFA Food Shop Licence?

Applications are submitted through the Singapore Government’s GoBusiness portal using SingPass or CorpPass. Applicants generally need to provide the required information and layout plan and complete the applicable pre-licensing process.

Do home-based food businesses need an SFA licence?

SFA currently identifies home-based food businesses among categories that do not require an SFA food retail licence. However, operators must still comply with applicable food safety requirements and other rules relevant to their activities.

Do I need a separate licence to import food into Singapore?

Potentially. Import requirements depend on the type of food. Meat and fish products and fresh fruits and vegetables, for example, have specific licensing requirements, while importers of processed food products and food appliances must register with SFA.

Can an SFA food licence be transferred when I buy an existing restaurant?

No. SFA states that food retail licences are non-transferable. A new owner or a business operating under a different UEN must submit the appropriate new licence application.