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Singapore Restaurant Guide

How to Open a Restaurant in Singapore

Launch your F&B business in Asia's culinary capital with world-class infrastructure

Singapore Restaurant Market Overview

S$14 billion

Market Size

5.2%

Annual Growth

8,500+

Restaurants

1,200+

New/Year

S$680,000/year

Avg Revenue

180,000

Employed

Startup Costs in Singapore

Estimated investment ranges based on restaurant size and concept (in SGD)

Small

S$100,000 - S$250,000

Small cafe or hawker stall

Medium - Most Popular

S$250,000 - S$600,000

Casual dining restaurant (30-60 seats)

Large

S$600,000 - S$2,000,000

Fine dining or large venue (60+ seats)

Required Licenses & Permits

Essential permits you'll need to legally operate a restaurant in Singapore

Food Shop Licence

Required for all F&B establishments from SFA

Authority: Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

S$195/year

2-4 weeks

Liquor Licence

Required to serve alcohol after 10:30pm

Authority: Singapore Police Force

S$110 - S$2,000/year

4-8 weeks

Food Hygiene Officer Certificate

At least one certified officer required

Authority: SFA Approved Training Providers

S$150 - S$300

2-3 days training

URA Change of Use Approval

Required if premises not zoned for F&B

Authority: Urban Redevelopment Authority

S$500 - S$2,000

4-8 weeks

Fire Safety Certificate

Required before commencing operations

Authority: Singapore Civil Defence Force

S$300 - S$1,000

2-4 weeks

Typical Operating Costs

RentS$5,000 - S$50,000/month (extremely high in prime areas)

Labour Cost25-30% of revenue

Food Cost30-35% of revenue

UtilitiesS$1,500 - S$5,000/month

InsuranceS$2,000 - S$8,000/year

Tax Information

Sales Tax / VAT

GST: 9%

Corporate Tax

17% Corporate Tax

Employment Tax

CPF: 17% employer contribution

Key Regulations to Know

Important compliance requirements for restaurant operators in Singapore

Environmental Public Health Act compliance

SFA food safety requirements

NEA environmental regulations

Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (work permits)

Fire Safety Act compliance

PDPA for customer data protection

Halal certification (if applicable)

Market Opportunities

Affluent consumer base
Food tourism hub
Strong delivery infrastructure
Government F&B grants available

Key Challenges

Very high rental costs
Labour shortage (foreign worker quotas)
Intense competition
Small market size

🍽️Popular Cuisines in Singapore

Local/Hawker

Chinese

Japanese

Korean

Western

Indian

Thai

Top Locations to Consider

Orchard Road

Marina Bay

Clarke Quay

Chinatown

Tiong Bahru

Holland Village

Dempsey Hill

Official Resources

Government and industry resources to help you get started in Singapore

Singapore Food Agency

Official food licensing authority

Enterprise Singapore

Business grants and support

Restaurant Association of Singapore

Industry association

ACRA

Business registration authority

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