Is It Legal to Run a Home Café in Singapore? 2025 Guide for Small F&B Startups

Running a café from home sounds like a dream — low rent, flexible hours, and full creative control. But is it actually legal to operate a home café in Singapore?

The answer is: yes, but only if you follow the rules. In 2025, Singapore continues to support home-based businesses, including those exploring company incorporation, but with strict conditions to protect public safety, residential environments, and hygiene standards.

Here’s everything you need to know before turning your kitchen into a café.

1. What Is a Home Café in Singapore?

A home café typically refers to a home-based food business where individuals:

• Prepare and sell food or drinks from their HDB or private residence
  
• Operate primarily online (e.g. via Instagram, WhatsApp, or delivery platforms)
  
• Occasionally allow pick-ups or very limited walk-in customers
  

This is different from a commercial café — you cannot advertise your flat as a public dining space or operate like a retail F&B outlet.

2. Is It Legal? Yes — Under the Home-Based Business Scheme

Under Singapore’s Home-Based Business Scheme, you can legally run a home café from your flat or home without applying for change-of-use permission, as long as:

• It’s run by occupants of the home
  
• There’s no significant disturbance to neighbours (e.g. noise, smoke, foot traffic)
  
• You do not install signboards or commercial kitchens
  
• Sales are made by appointment or online only — no dine-in service allowed
  

This applies to HDB flats, private residential properties, and URA-managed homes.

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3. You Must Register with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

If your home café involves handling and selling food, you must register with the SFA — even if it’s just baked goods, coffee, or bottled drinks.

Registration is required if:

• You prepare food for sale (not resale)
  
• You store or deliver perishable food
  
• You sell via social media, e-commerce platforms, or messaging apps
  

The SFA registration is free and can be done online.

4. What You Can and Can’t Sell from Home

Commonly Approved:

• Baked goods (cakes, cookies, bread)
  
• Coffee and tea (non-alcoholic)
  
• Packaged snacks
  
• Homemade sauces
  

Not Allowed Without Special Licensing:

• High-risk foods (e.g. raw meat, dairy-based desserts)
  
• Alcoholic drinks
  
• On-site dining or café-style seating
  

If you plan to scale up or sell high-risk items, you’ll need a licensed commercial kitchen or shared facility.

5. Tax and Compliance Obligations

While starting from home is cost-effective, it doesn’t mean you’re exempt from business compliance:

• Register your business with ACRA (usually as a sole proprietorship or private limited company)
  
• Track income and expenses for tax reporting
  
• Charge GST if annual turnover exceeds S$1 million (or voluntarily register)
  
• Maintain invoicing, record-keeping, and food safety documentation
  

Summary

Yes — you can run a home café in Singapore legally, but only if you respect the regulations around food safety, residential use, and business registration. It’s a great way to test ideas, build a loyal customer base, and grow into a full-fledged F&B brand — without heavy upfront costs.

Just remember: treat your home café like a real business from day one, and the transition to scaling up will be smoother and more sustainable.

Using a Company Incorporation Service as an extension of your team

Setting up a company in Singapore can be challenging, but with professional support, it can be simple, Counto’s mission is to support your new business, take away the complexities of compliance, and save you time and money throughout the year. Speak to us directly on our chatbot, email [email protected], or use our  contact form to get started.

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