What Business Support Can Singapore SMEs Get in 2026?

In this article, we explain:

• → The S$900 million support package
• → EFS – SME Working Capital Loan enhancement
• → EFS – Project Loan expansion
• → SME Cash Grant 2026 recap
• → Hawker and market rental support
• → Who qualifies for these business relief measures?
• → What Singapore SMEs should do right now
• → How Counto helps

To help small businesses secure operational funding, the EFS – SME Working Capital Loan (WCL) has been temporarily updated:

• Enhancement Period: 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027.
• Government Risk-Share: Increased from 50% to 70% to strengthen lender financing support.
• Maximum Loan Quantum: S$500,000 per borrower (unchanged).
• Tenure: Up to 5 years.

The EFS – Project Loan has been expanded to protect local builders from high material and energy costs:

• Enhancement Period: 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027.
• Government Risk-Share: Increased from 50% to 70% during this period.
• Domestic Expansion: Loan coverage now includes domestic construction projects for local construction firms (previously limited to overseas projects).

A direct, one-off automated cash payout scheduled for disbursement to active small businesses:

• Payout Amount: S$500 per local qualifying employee (based on highest headcount from April to June 2026), capped at S$2,500.
• Sole Proprietors and Partnerships: Flat S$500 payout if there is no local staff but the owner has a YA 2025 Net Trade Income (NTI) of S$100,000 or less.
• Tax Treatment: This grant is taxable and must be declared in income tax returns.
• General SME Size Rules: Revenue of S$100 million or less for YA 2025 (filed and assessed by IRAS as of 31 August 2026), OR no more than 200 employees as of 30 June 2026.
• Disbursement: November 2026 automatically via GIRO or PayNow Corporate. No application is needed.

Example calculation: If your company paid CPF for 2 local employees in April, 4 in May, and 3 in June, your payout is based on 4 employees (your highest month). Your payout will be 4 × S$500 = S$2,000.

To read our complete guide with detailed employee calculations and compliance timelines, view our full article on the SME Cash Grant 2026.

Direct rental subsidies for micro-businesses and self-employed operators:

• Scope: Stallholders in markets and hawker centres managed by the Government or NEA-appointed operators.
• Period: September 2026 to February 2027 (six months).
• Amounts: S$1,200 total for cooked food stalls, and S$600 total for market stalls over the six-month period (notified separately).

• SME Eligibility for EFS: Minimum 30% local shareholding (held by Citizens or PRs on an ultimate individual ownership basis) AND either a group annual sales turnover of S$500 million or less OR group employment of 200 workers or fewer.
• Domestic Contractors: Active, registered construction companies with secured domestic building contracts qualify for the expanded EFS – Project Loan.
• Owner-Operated Businesses: Sole proprietorships, partnerships, or LLPs with no local employees qualify for the flat S$500 grant if they have at least one local owner whose YA 2025 NTI is S$100,000 or less (filed and assessed by IRAS as of 31 August 2026). Partnerships are assessed based on the partner with the lowest NTI.

• ✓ Check EFS Eligibility: Confirm you meet the local shareholding requirement of at least 30% held by Citizens/PRs and meet the turnover threshold of S$500 million or less or employment threshold of 200 workers or fewer before contacting banks.
• ✓ Prepare Lender Documentation: Organize updated, clean financial accounts and cash flow projections for standard bank credit assessments.
• ✓ Complete Tax Filings: Ensure your YA 2025 tax return is filed and assessed by IRAS by 31 August 2026 if you rely on the revenue test of S$100 million or less or the sole-prop/partnership NTI test of S$100,000 or less.
• ✓ Verify with IRAS Checker: Use the online SME Cash Grant 2026 Eligibility Checker on the IRAS portal from mid-October 2026 to confirm your status.
• ✓ Setup Automated Payouts: Confirm your business has an active GIRO arrangement with IRAS or PayNow Corporate linked directly to your UEN (with no suffix).

Counto is built for exactly that.

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