SGKaki was launched on 16 September 2026 with a simple purpose: to make Singapore’s home-based businesses easier to discover.
We’re building a free directory where people can find HBBs around their neighbourhoods and, hopefully, discover something they never knew was operating close to home.
But first — what exactly is an HBB?
What is a Home-Based Business?
HBB stands for Home-Based Business.
Simply put, it is a small-scale business operated from someone’s home rather than from a conventional shop, café or commercial unit.
Under Singapore’s Home-Based Business Scheme, residents can carry out permitted small-scale business activities from their HDB flat or private residential property, provided they comply with the applicable conditions. Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Food is probably one of the most visible examples.
Since starting SGKaki, we’ve discovered home-based businesses selling everything from matcha, coffee and freshly baked cookies to tiramisu, waffles, traditional snacks and full meals.
But HBBs aren’t limited to food. The official examples of permitted activities also include certain beauty services, sewing, small-scale private tuition and freelance work such as photography and writing. Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Part of the appeal is how accessible the model can be. Someone with a recipe, craft or skill can start small from home without immediately taking on the cost of a commercial premises.
At the same time, running a business from home doesn’t mean there are no rules.
Do HBBs Need a Licence in Singapore?
For the type of small-scale food HBBs that SGKaki commonly features, the short answer is:
Home-based food businesses currently do not require an SFA licence to operate. SFA
Likewise, under the Home-Based Business Scheme, qualifying small-scale activities can be conducted without separate approval from HDB or URA, provided the business complies with the scheme’s conditions. Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
There are, however, important requirements.
For example, the home must continue to be used primarily as a residence. The business should not create problems for neighbours through excessive traffic, noise, smoke, smells or other nuisances. Non-resident employees cannot work from the residential premises, and heavy equipment not intended for domestic use is not allowed. Housing & Development Board
Food HBBs also remain subject to Singapore’s food-safety laws even though they do not require an SFA licence.
There are additional restrictions. For example, home-based food businesses cannot provide food catering, supply their home-prepared food to SFA-licensed food retailers such as restaurants and cafés, or prepare food at home for sale at temporary fairs. They are also prohibited from selling ready-to-eat raw seafood. Default
So “no licence required” does not mean “no rules apply.”
Anyone considering starting an HBB should check the latest requirements applicable to their particular activity before starting.
HDB Home-Based Business Scheme
URA Home-Based Business Scheme
SFA Requirements for Home-Based Food Businesses
Why SGKaki?
There are plenty of HBBs around Singapore. The difficult part is often finding them.
Many operate primarily through Instagram, TikTok, Telegram, WhatsApp or word of mouth. Unless you already know the business exists, you might never realise that someone a few blocks away is making exactly what you’re looking for.
That’s what we hope SGKaki can help with.
We’re bringing these businesses together in one directory and organising them by neighbourhood so that discovering something home-based and local becomes a little easier.
And for HBB owners, listing on SGKaki remains free.
We’re still at the beginning, but we hope that as more businesses join, SGKaki can become a useful place for Singaporeans to discover and support the people creating something from their own homes.
Discover Local. Support Home-Based.
SGKaki.sg
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