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Business Licences in Singapore: How to Check What Your Company Needs
A practical licence-checking guide for Singapore SMEs before they start operations or add a regulated activity.
Registering a company with ACRA does not always mean you can start operating immediately. Some business activities need a licence, permit, approval or registration before you sell, import, advertise, hire, serve food, train students, handle health matters or run regulated services.
The practical rule is simple: check the activity before you spend money on rent, renovation, stock, staff or advertising. A licence issue discovered late can delay opening, affect cash flow and create compliance risk.
If you are still at the setup stage, pair this guide with our company registration guide and startup cost breakdown.
Licence check at a glance
Use this table before launch, before adding a new service, or before signing a lease for an activity that may be regulated.
Business activity | Why licence checks matter | Owner action |
|---|---|---|
Food, beverage or retail premises | Premises, hygiene, signage and operating approvals may apply | Check licences before lease and renovation |
Import, export or trading | Moving goods across borders can require Customs permits | Set up Customs and permit workflow early |
Education, training or childcare | Sector approvals may apply depending on audience and service | Confirm agency requirements before marketing |
Health, beauty or wellness | Some services, products and premises are regulated | Check licence scope and staff qualifications |
Employment, finance or professional services | Regulated advisory or agency work may need approval | Confirm whether the activity is controlled |
Start with the exact activity, not the business name
A licence is usually tied to what the business actually does. A company named “ABC Services Pte Ltd” may still need very different approvals depending on whether it provides cleaning, employment agency work, food services, tuition, import trading or financial advice.
- List your revenue-generating activities in plain language.
- Identify where the activity happens: home office, shop, warehouse, customer site or online.
- Check whether goods, people, food, health, education, finance, manpower or public safety are involved.
- Use GoBusiness e-Advisers to narrow the likely licence or permit route.
When should you check?
Do the licence check before expensive commitments. ACRA’s post-registration guide says companies may need additional licences or permits before they start operations, and points owners to the GoBusiness Licence e-Advisers.
Before incorporation
Check whether the proposed business name, SSIC code and activity point to a regulated sector. This helps you avoid incorporating a company that later cannot operate the way you planned.
Before lease, renovation or hiring
For shopfront, F&B, education, warehousing and regulated services, licence issues can affect premises layout, operating hours, staff credentials and inspection timing.
Before adding a new service
A company can become regulated after launch if it adds a new activity. For example, an admin service business that starts employment agency work may need a different compliance check.
Common mistakes
- Assuming ACRA registration is enough: incorporation creates the entity, but activity-specific licences may still apply.
- Checking too late: lease and renovation costs can be hard to unwind.
- Using the wrong SSIC code: a vague code can hide the true activity from your own planning.
- Ignoring imports: goods crossing Singapore’s borders may need trade permits and Customs setup.
- Relying on another company’s experience: small differences in premises, products or target customers can change requirements.
Official references
- ACRA: post-registration guide for local companies
- GoBusiness: licences and permits
- Singapore Customs: quick guide for new traders
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Singapore businesses need a licence?
No. Many businesses can operate after registration, but regulated activities may need licences or permits before operations start.
Where can I check business licences in Singapore?
Use GoBusiness Licence e-Advisers and the relevant agency pages. ACRA’s post-registration guide points companies to GoBusiness for licence checks.
Should I check licences before or after incorporation?
Check before incorporation if the activity may be regulated, then confirm again before lease, renovation, hiring or launch.
Can my SSIC code affect licence checks?
Yes. The SSIC code should describe your real activity. A mismatch can make planning harder and may point you to the wrong checks.
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