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How To Start a Restaurant or Food Business in Singapore LAST UPDATED: DECEMBER 7, 2016
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Starting a Restaurant, Cafe or F&B business in Singapore This article is a little more technical and is especially useful as a broad overview for rst time Food & Beverage entrepreneurs who want to know how to start a restaurant. For overseas investors looking to set up a business in Singapore, this guide will provide highly useful information as well. I’m speaking from the perspective of someone who has rst hand experience opening an F&B outlet before, rather than an inexperienced person who just heard how its done from someone. In 10 steps, I will show you how to execute and start a Restaurant or Food and Beverage business in Singapore. Remember, we’re covering the basic setting up of an F&B business, not the operating or running of one, which I can easily write another 100 page article about. This is pretty basic stuff that every food entrepreneur should be familiar with if you want to enter the F&B industry in Singapore.
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1. Planning Your Restaurant Business If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Always have a business plan even if it’s only 1 or 2 pages long. I would however recommend you to think through each step of the process thoroughly and come up with a more detailed plan. Your business plan should include nancial projections, budgeting, marketing strategy, pricing plan, operations, suppliers list, hiring policies, service standards etc just to name a few. Also, it denitely helps to think of your exit strategy and contingency plan for as many unexpected situations as possible. Things go wrong all the time, and you need to be ready. First time owners also tend to under budget, and you don’t want your funds to run out half way before even completing the project.
2. Raising Capital For a successful F&B concept in Singapore, it’s going to take a lot of capital. This is due to high rental rates, high labour cost and just an overall higher cost of living. Depending on the size of your establishment, it will take anything from S$50,000 – S$600,000 or more. You need to gure out where the capital is coming from, as well as leave enough for cash reserves and operating capital. A rough gauge is leaving 3 months of pure overhead expenses as reserves. If you nd that you need to scrimp and save to setup an F&B concept, I would recommend not starting one at all. Many times F&B owners cut corners by having inferior renovations/design, underpaying staff, or worst of all, getting a lousy location that has cheap rent thinking you can overcome location with your superior cuisine. Guess what, you might burn off all your cash with losses every month before people even hear about your restaurant.
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Every single factor counts to the success of an F&B business, and you need to know what you can compromise on, and what is off limits no matter what. You will denitely also want to cater a sum to invest in marketing and PR at the start as well, which is critical for any new restaurant. Lack of awareness is a huge problem from most of the clients I have consulted with, so plan for it well at the start. Related Guide: 10 Things To Know Before Starting an F&B business (http://sethlui.com/before-starting-up-singapore-food-business/)
3. Incorporating your F&B company Time to take your business legit. Just follow the appropriate links I’ve given below and in any doubt, call the appropriate hotlines. If you are a foreigner, you will rst need to apply for an Entrepass with the Ministry of Manpower (http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/passes-visas/entrepass/beforeyou-apply/pages/default.aspx). For locals, if you already have a Singpass (https://www.singpass.gov.sg), the next step is to head to Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authorities’ Bizle por tal (http://www.bizle.gov.sg). If not, get your Singpass (https://www.singpass.gov.sg) rst. Foreigners will need a Singpass also, after getting your Entrepass. Name Reservation
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At the Bizle portal, determine the type of company to register. I would recommend the ‘Local Company (Public/Private Limited) ‘ option for limited liability restricted to your business entity only. As the portal is not very int uitive, make sure to clickLocal Company tab, then click on ‘Apply for a New Company Name’. Go through the steps and make payment (S$15).
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*For information on the different types of companies, partnerships or sole proprietary, visit ACRA. (http://www.acra.gov.sg/) Company Registration
After your Company name has been approved and payment made, you will then need to pay and incorporate your company with your reserved name un der Bizle again. Registration fees cost S$50-S$600 for locals, or S$300 -S$1200 for foreigners depending on type of company.
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Personally the bizle portal isn’t very user-friendly and I hit some road bumps while registering myself. For further clarications, do give ACRA a call at +65 6248 6028 during Mondays – Fridays : 9.00am – 6.00pm.
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4. Looking for the Right F&B Location
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Next, you will need to nd the perfect location to setup your restaurant. The popular ways to achieve this include: Newspaper- The Strait’s Times classieds Propertyguru.com.sg (http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/) (many posts are also made by real estate agents) Spamming multiple real estate agents (http://sethlui.com/good-singaporeproperty-agent/)
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Cold calling landlords Personally, I nd getting multiple real estate agents (http://sethlui.com/good-singaporeproperty-agent/) to source locations for you to be the easiest and quickest. The down side is that certain locations will require you to pay 1 month’s rent commission to the real estate agent, like for big shopping malls. Most smaller, private landlords will however pay the commission to the real estate agent instead if the deal is done. When using real estate agents, make sure you already know your space size requirement, electrical requirements (M&E), the ideal areas in Singapore you would prefer, and the type of cuisine you are doing so that agents know what to focus on, and what to propose to the landlord. Related Guide: Guide to Rental Rates in A Shopping Mall in Singapore (http://sethlui.com/rental-rates-shopping-mall/)
5. Design and Build your Restaurant
(http://sethlui.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/02/IMG_4286.jpg) Source for a good interior designer, architect and contractor to create your dream restaurant. The interior designer usually has the contact for contractors he has worked with. A good restaurant design is the rst step to creating an impression and attracting new customers into your restaurant. Repeat business will come after being satised by the food and service. Some contractors might quote a very cheap price, but that usually means they are using cheap materials to build, which are less durable and may need to be replaced or refurbished after a year, incurring more expenses. A rough gauge is to spend around $100 – $120 per square foot of area. So for a 1000 sqf restaurant, you should be spending around $100,000 – S$120,000 on renovations and furniture (excluding kitchen equipment). Other things to note is the planning of your kitchen layout in the most optimal, efcient manner. Get a professional kitchen planner if you are unsure, as this can increase productivity signicantly.
6. Getting your Licenses and Registrations There are many mandatory license to apply for, and others depending on your concept- is it a cafe, restaurant or bar? Here are the common ones for Food & Beverage in Singapore with the appropriate hyperlinks that will lead you on the path of getting all the required licenses. Food Shop License (https://licences.business.gov.sg/SHINE/sop/WebPageHandler? p=OASIS&pn=SelectLicences&LicenceID=1002&ss=FAQ) to operate a food stall, apply only after you have signed the tenancy agreement and your interior layout plan has been nished. Basic Food Hygiene Course (http://www.wda.gov.sg/content/wdawebsite/L207AboutWSQ/L301-WSQIndustryFrameworkFoodandBeverage/WSQ_Follow_FnB_Safety_and_Hygiene_Policies_and_Procedures.html) sign up to get certied for all food handlers. Liquor License (http://www.spf.gov.sg/licence/frameset_LL.html) if intending to sell liquors/beers. There are several classes. Importing Foods (https://licences.business.gov.sg/SHINE/sop/WebPageHandler? p=OASIS&pn=SelectLicences&ss=FAQ&LicenceID=1420)through the Food Control
Division, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA). Halal License (http://www.muis.gov.sg/Services/e-services.html) if serving halal customers. Registering for Central Provident Fund (CPF) (http://www.cpf.gov.sg/) as an Employer. CPF is a social security savings plan mandatory for all Singapore employers to contribute to as a percent of monthly salary, usually at 16%. *Optional* Registering for 7% Government Service Tax (GST) (http://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/page04.aspx?id=9002). Mandatory only if your company annual turnover is over S$1 million. Also, check out a summary checklist by EnterpriseOne (http://www.enterpriseone.gov.sg/en/Resources/Howto%20Guides/Checklists%20and%20Flowcharts/chk_startRest.aspx)
7. Purchasing Kitchen Equipment
(http://sethlui.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/02/chefs-in-kitchen-1024x670.jpg) First, you need to sett le the large ticket items like your combi-oven, salamander, stoves, freezers and chillers. There are many companies that sell commercial kitchen products. Jackie’s (http://www.jackies-ent.com/) or U-Save (http://www.u-save.com.sg/) for example serve generic and common F&B equipment that you can consider. 1-for-1 FREE Restaurant Deals in Singapore You will also need to get restaurant standard utensils, rather than just using the ubiquitous Ikea cutlery. At Temple street, Sia Huat (http://www.siahuat.com/) and Lau Choy Seng (http://www.lauchoyseng.com/) are 2 of the favorite shops for restauranteurs and chefs. Catering to our local food industry specically, state that you are in the F&B business and get a 20% discount. They might require some verication though, like your name card.
8. Hiring Service Staff This is probably one of the biggest headaches in the Singapore F&B scene now. With a tight noose on foreign talent quotas and low local demand for F&B jobs, hiring labour is a goliath task. First, you need to offer above industry rates to attract good talent. Link it to prot sharing if possible for managers. Make sure to screen and interview thoroughly, and it is always better to get amiable, naturally friendly personalities rather than train them to smile. Some people are born for the service line, others are thrown in because they have no other skill set. Choose the passionate ones carefully. Advertising in the local newspaper classieds is one way to get inter views, but quite costly. Online job portals will also yield more foreign inquiries rather than locals, but still a feasible and cheaper option. The best method I’ve found to work is headhunting from other existing F&B establishments. Although questionable in ethics, this yields you the best results after you have personally seen them in action and the authentic service standards given. If you can offer a better work environment with better pay, why not?
9. Execute the F&B Marketing Plan Remember back in step one we talked about planning? Now is the time to execute your marketing strategy. Your marketing plan needs to cover these 3 basic aspects: Gaining awareness and trial purchase Repeating customers Referrals and word of mouth spreading
Many clients, as I’ve mentioned, don’t even have a basic plan to gain awareness. If customers do not know you exist, how will they buy from you? And after knowing your existence, what is it about your restaurant that compels them to give it a try? These are all questions that should be addressed and thought out way before you even open your F&B business or restaurant.
10. Get F&B Consultation If you have no experience setting up a F&B business or have never worked a restaurant oor, chances are that you are going to make loads of mistakes that will cost you tens of thousands. No experience cooking commercially? Get a chef consultant. Cooking for 40 people is very, very different from cooking for 4 people, and even if you are a home cook, scalablity comes with experience working in commercial, fast-paced kitchens. No idea how to market you food business after it launches? Get an F&B marketing specialist like myself. Good food is just one part of the equation, while good marketing is the other. It’s only logical to have a plan on how to get customers in rst, before you throw in a hundred thousand?
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Yes, you might have to spend a couple thousand upfront, but successful business owners know to look at the long run benets. Consultants can save you from wasting thousands on inexperienced purchases and decisions, as well as earn you tens of thousands more from the right business decisions. I’ve seen far too many restaurants start u p for a year, then start to panic and spend money on all sorts of useless advertising. They also make many mistakes, like using Groupon, or signing up to some ‘street directory website package’. Plan it well right from the start, and get experienced help.
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Marcus Wong · SEO Strategist at SEOGoodGuys
very informative! I also went and checked out the "street directory website package"... super not worth it man.. Like · Reply ·
1 · Aug 20, 2014 11:17pm
Gargi Jain · Studied in GSVM Medical college Kanpur.
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Gargi Jain · Studied in GSVM Medical college Kanpur.
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Kevin Vt
Very good synthesis of the main step to open a restaurant! In case you want to be different from your competitor, you can contact FuLuxe to source for premium&exclusive F&B equipment : plates, glassware, linen and kitchen uniforms. Like · Reply · Aug 18, 2015 3:45am
Gargi Jain · Studied in GSVM Medical college Kanpur.
Subscri be to our mailing list to get updates & my FREE Ebook: 26 Cooking Hacks That Will Make You a Better Chef at Home
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SHELF COMPANY IN INDIA ? Email Address
We have a selection of shelf companies for sale with various incorporation dates to suit your needs. Whether you need a company which is 6 months old or 3 years old, we will have a shelf company for you. To purchase any of the shelf companies, FORWARD AN MAIL AT
[email protected] If you would like to discuss your particular requirements with an expert, please call us on 09810139673. Purchase a Shelf Company About Shelf Company A shelf company is a company which has been registered and left with no activity for several months or even ye... See More Like · Reply · Aug 27, 2015 2:27pm
Gargi Jain · Studied in GSVM Medical college Kanpur.
ARE YOU1-for-1 LOOKING FOR SHELF COMPANY INDIA ? FREE Restaurant Deals in IN Singapore We have a selection of shelf companies for sale with various incorporation dates to suit your needs. Whether you need a company which is 6 months old or 3 years old, we will have a shelf company for you. To purchase any of the shelf companies, FORWARD AN MAIL AT
[email protected] If you would like to discuss your particular requirements with an expert, please call us on 09810139673. Purchase a Shelf Company About Shelf Company A shelf company is a company which has been registered and left with no activity for several months or even ye... See More Like · Reply · Aug 27, 2015 2:27pm
Andy Lee Tze Ern · TELECOM & Management SudParis
Very comprehensive advice for starting F&B business in SG! It'll be perfect if systems for F&B business are discussed here, as it's a critical part to ensure the whole business operation runs smoothly... I would recommend www.onplate.co if you are looking for a F&B POS system that can improve your restaurant operation efficiency and also keep your customers happy! It's the next gen POS system. Like · Reply · Jun 6, 2016 11:15pm
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