Business Licences and Permits in Singapore: What You Need Before You Start

Last Updated: June 2026

Most businesses in Singapore do not need a business licence beyond registering the company with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). A business licence is activity-specific: you only need one if your company carries out a regulated activity, such as running a food shop, retailing liquor, operating an employment agency, or providing financial services. If your activity is regulated, you apply for the licence after the company is registered, usually through the GoBusiness Licensing portal.

This guide covers who actually needs a business licence in Singapore, which activities are regulated and by which agency, how to apply on GoBusiness, and roughly what it costs. The short version: register the company first, then obtain any activity licence before you start operating.

Key Takeaways

• Most Singapore businesses need no licence beyond ACRA registration; licences are activity-specific, not required of every company.
• A business licence is an authorisation from a government agency to carry out a particular regulated activity, such as food and beverage or financial services.
• Common licensed activities include food and beverage (SFA), liquor retail, employment agency, childcare (ECDA), private education, travel agency, financial services (MAS), import and export (Singapore Customs), and telecom and media (IMDA).
• Register the company with ACRA first, then find and apply for any required licence on the GoBusiness Licensing portal.
• You must hold the required licence before you start operating that activity, not after.
• Licence fees vary widely by activity and agency, so always check the specific licence on GoBusiness.

Do You Need a Business Licence in Singapore?

For most businesses, the answer is no. Once you register your company with ACRA and obtain your Unique Entity Number (UEN), you can legally start trading in the great majority of activities without any further licence.

The exception is activities regulated for public health, safety, consumer protection, or financial integrity. So the right question is not whether your business needs a licence in general, but whether your specific activity is regulated. A consulting firm, a marketing agency, a software company, or an online retailer of ordinary goods typically needs nothing beyond ACRA registration. A restaurant, a recruitment agency, or a money lender does.

This is why you should sort out your business structure and registration first, then check licensing. Most licences are issued to a registered entity with a UEN, so chasing them before the company exists just wastes time.

What Is a Business Licence?

A business licence is a formal authorisation from a government agency that allows your company to carry out a specific regulated activity. It is separate from company registration: ACRA registration creates the legal entity, while a licence permits a particular activity that entity wants to do.

Different activities are overseen by different agencies, and each sets its own conditions, requirements, fees, and renewal cycles. A food business is licensed by the Singapore Food Agency, an employment agency by the Ministry of Manpower, and a financial services firm by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The licence is the agency confirming your business meets the standards for that activity before you serve the public.

Some activities need permits or approvals rather than a full licence, for example signage approval, fire safety clearance, or import permits for controlled goods. The principle is the same: the activity, not the company itself, triggers the requirement.

Which Businesses Need a Licence in Singapore?

A licence is required when your activity is regulated. The most commonly licensed activities, and the agency responsible for each, are set out below. The two-panel chart then shows these regulated activities alongside the order of steps to apply on GoBusiness.

• Food and beverage: a food shop or food stall licence from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to run a restaurant, cafe, or any food establishment.
• Liquor retail: a liquor licence to sell or supply alcohol, on top of any SFA food licence.
• Employment agency: an employment agency licence from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to recruit or place workers.
• Childcare: a licence from the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to operate a childcare centre.
• Private education: registration or a licence to run a private school or training centre.
• Travel agency: a travel agent licence to sell tours or travel services.
• Financial services: a licence or recognition from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for payments, fund management, lending, insurance, and similar regulated finance.
• Import and export: registration and permits from Singapore Customs to bring goods in or out, with extra controls for restricted items.
• Telecom and media: a licence from the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) for telecommunication, broadcasting, and certain media services.

If your activity is not on a regulated list, you almost certainly need nothing beyond ACRA registration; when unsure, check your specific activity directly, which the next section covers. Even an online or e-commerce business follows the same rule: selling ordinary goods online needs no special licence, but selling regulated goods or services online does.

How Do You Apply for a Business Licence?

You apply in a clear order. The key point is that you register the company first, then apply for any licence, because licences are issued to a registered entity.

• Register the company with ACRA. Incorporate your company and get your UEN. You can do this yourself or through a corporate services provider, and from there set up your core business operations.
• Find the licence on GoBusiness. Use the GoBusiness Licensing portal, the one-stop government site that lets you search by activity and apply to multiple agencies in one place. Its licence directory lists every licence and the agency behind it.
• Prepare the documents. Each agency lists what it needs, such as your company details, premises information, qualifications, or floor plans.
• Submit and pay. Apply online through GoBusiness, sign in with your business CorpPass, and pay the licence fee.
• Wait for the agency review. The relevant agency assesses the application and may inspect premises before approving.
• Receive the licence, then operate. Only start the regulated activity once the licence is granted.

If your activity is not regulated, you skip all of this and simply trade after registration. Because the licence is tied to the registered company, foreign founders should also sort out setting up as a foreigner first. The same provider that handles incorporation, your accounting and compliance, and ongoing filings can also help identify and lodge the right licence.

How Much Does a Business Licence Cost?

There is no single figure. Licence fees vary widely by activity and by the agency that issues them, and many also carry a renewal fee. Some cost a modest application fee; others, especially in regulated finance, are far higher and come with capital and compliance conditions.

So do not rely on a general figure. Check the exact fee for your activity on the GoBusiness licence directory, where each licence page states the current cost and validity period, and budget for both the application and the renewal as part of your overall start-up cost. The licence fee is separate from ACRA’s incorporation fee and from operating costs such as a corporate bank account or GST registration once you cross the turnover threshold.

Get the Licence Before You Operate

The most common and most costly mistake is starting a regulated activity before the licence is granted. Operating without a required licence can lead to fines, prosecution, or being ordered to stop, and it damages your standing with the agency you will keep dealing with. Treat the licence as a gate you pass through before you open, not paperwork you tidy up later.

A clean sequence keeps you safe: confirm your activity and your SSIC activity code, register the company, check GoBusiness for any required licence, apply and obtain it, and only then start operating. Build the approval time into your launch plan so you are not stuck waiting on the agency on opening day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a business licence in Singapore?

Most businesses do not. Once you register your company with ACRA, you can trade in most activities without any further licence. You only need a business licence if your specific activity is regulated, such as food and beverage, liquor retail, childcare, or financial services. If your activity is not regulated, ACRA registration is enough.

What is a business licence in Singapore?

A business licence is an authorisation from a government agency that allows your company to carry out a particular regulated activity. It is separate from company registration: ACRA registration creates the legal entity, while a licence permits a specific activity. Different agencies oversee different activities, each with its own conditions, fees, and renewal cycle.

Which businesses need a licence in Singapore?

Regulated activities need a licence. Common examples are food and beverage under the Singapore Food Agency, liquor retail, employment agencies under the Ministry of Manpower, childcare under ECDA, private education, travel agencies, financial services under MAS, import and export under Singapore Customs, and telecom and media under IMDA. General activities like consulting, marketing, or ordinary retail usually need none.

How do I apply for a business permit in Singapore?

Register the company with ACRA first to get your UEN, then apply for the licence on the GoBusiness Licensing portal. Search by your activity to find the right licence and agency, prepare the required documents, submit and pay online using your business CorpPass, and wait for the agency to review and approve. Start the regulated activity only after the licence is granted.

How much does a business licence cost?

It varies widely by activity and agency, and many licences also have a renewal fee. There is no single figure, so check the exact cost and validity period for your activity on the GoBusiness licence directory. Budget for both the initial application and the renewal, separate from ACRA’s incorporation fee.

Where do I check what licence I need?

Use the GoBusiness Licensing portal at licensing.gobusiness.gov.sg. It is the one-stop government site where you search by your business activity to see which licences apply, which agency issues each one, and how to apply. The licence directory on the same portal lists every licence and its responsible agency.

Talk to Us About Licensing Your Business

Most businesses need nothing more than ACRA registration, but if your activity is regulated, getting the licence in the right order and before you open matters. If you would rather not work out which licences apply, talk to us and we will register your company, identify any licences your activity needs, and help you apply on GoBusiness so you can start trading with the right approvals in place.