Singapore’s home-based business scene has grown far beyond a few people selling homemade cookies or cakes to friends and neighbours.

Today, entrepreneurs are preparing specialty coffee, whisking matcha, baking desserts and offering services from their homes. For some, these ventures provide extra pocket money. For others, they have become a serious alternative to conventional employment.

But an important question remains: Can a home-based business in Singapore realistically replace a full-time salary?

Recent reports from CNA, Mothership and The Straits Times suggest that it is possible. However, they also show that turning a passion into a sustainable livelihood requires much more than simply having a good product.

From a side hustle to a full-time business

In January 2026, Mothership reported the story of Calista Wong, a former Singapore Airlines cabin crew member who left her job at the end of 2025 to focus on her home-based bakery.

Wong had started Huarantine with her mother during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a baking project continued alongside her flying career before eventually becoming WKND Bakes.

After six years with Singapore Airlines, she decided to pursue the business full-time.

The decision was not without uncertainty. Wong acknowledged that leaving a stable income meant accepting financial and professional risks. She also described the demanding reality of managing baking, orders, deliveries and marketing herself.

Her story demonstrates that a home-based business can evolve into a full-time occupation. However, the report did not establish that her bakery’s profits had already matched her former salary.

Source: Mothership, 22 January 2026. Read the original story. Mothership

Some home-based businesses are already supporting families

Another example comes from CNA’s January 2025 investigation into Singapore’s home-based business industry.

The report featured Heni Sugiyarti, who started Heni Bakes in 2020 to supplement her household income after her husband became unable to work.

Her home-based baking business eventually attracted a customer base of approximately 600 people, and she became the primary breadwinner for her family of seven.

CNA also interviewed Fairuz Almuddin, who operated an Indonesian-style meatball noodle business alongside a parcel collection service from home.

She reported monthly income of approximately S$8,000 during festive periods, falling to around S$2,000 during slower months. Importantly, these figures included income from her parcel collection service and were not identified as net business profit.

These cases illustrate two important points. A home-based business can make a meaningful contribution to household finances, but earnings may vary significantly between months.

Source: CNA, 3 January 2025, updated 6 November 2025. Read CNA’s investigation. CNA

Revenue is not the same as take-home income

One of the biggest mistakes an aspiring entrepreneur can make is confusing sales revenue with personal income.

Consider a hypothetical home-based baker selling brownies at S$25 per box.

Monthly performance	Amount
100 boxes sold at S$25	S$2,500
Ingredients and packaging	−S$800
Marketing, utilities and other costs	−S$200
Illustrative operating profit	S$1,500

Even with S$2,500 in monthly sales, this example leaves only S$1,500 before personal taxes, any additional business obligations and compensation for the owner’s labour.

To earn S$4,000 in monthly operating profit at a 40% profit margin, a business would need approximately S$10,000 in monthly revenue.

That is a substantial target for someone producing, packaging, marketing and fulfilling orders largely on their own.

The figures above are hypothetical illustrations, not industry averages. Actual margins depend on the product, pricing, ingredients, delivery arrangements and operating model.

Why many owners still keep their day jobs

Not every home-based entrepreneur wants to turn their business into a full-time career.

In a CNA Lifestyle feature about 10 home-based businesses in Tengah, only three were operating full-time. The others balanced their businesses with employment, family responsibilities or weekend schedules.

For these owners, running a small business was often about pursuing an interest, meeting neighbours or earning additional income without giving up financial stability.

One featured baker, Meredith Sim of MehMeh Bakes, continued working in a corporate role while managing approximately 10 orders a month.

This suggests that success should not be measured solely by whether someone resigns from their job. A profitable weekend business that fits comfortably around other commitments can also be a worthwhile achievement.

Source: CNA Lifestyle. Read the Tengah HBB feature. CNA Lifestyle

The hidden challenge: Being your own boss also means doing everything yourself

Running a home-based business may eliminate the need to rent a shop, but it does not eliminate the work.

A small business owner may need to handle product development, purchasing ingredients, preparing orders, packaging, customer enquiries, marketing and bookkeeping.

The Straits Times highlighted this challenge in its reporting on young home-based entrepreneurs. Kaydon Lim, who helped establish Coffee by the Porch, described spending considerable time preparing for a business that generally opened only once a week.

The business provided an opportunity to experiment with a future café concept, but it also revealed the realities of thin margins and high operating costs in the food and beverage industry.

Source: The Straits Times. Read the report. The Straits Times

Can a home-based business keep growing?

There is another challenge specific to Singapore: home-based businesses must remain small-scale operations.

Under HDB’s Home-Based Business Scheme, eligible residents can operate certain businesses without prior approval, provided their homes remain primarily residential and their activities do not disturb neighbours.

The scheme also restricts non-resident employees, unsuitable equipment, large-scale storage and excessive customer traffic.

For food businesses, the Singapore Food Agency currently does not require a licence for eligible small-scale home-based food operations. However, food safety requirements still apply, and activities such as catering and supplying food to licensed food retailers are restricted.

These conditions mean that an entrepreneur cannot necessarily increase production indefinitely from a residential kitchen.

For a successful business, the next stage might involve moving into a licensed commercial kitchen or other suitable premises. But expansion brings additional expenses, making profitability even more important.

Sources: HDB Home-Based Business Scheme and SFA food business requirements. HDB+1

What should aspiring entrepreneurs consider before going full-time?

The Singapore examples suggest that a gradual transition is generally more prudent than relying on a few successful sales periods.

Before depending entirely on a home-based business, owners should consider whether they have consistent repeat customers, sufficient profit after expenses, enough savings for slower months and a manageable workload.

It is also worth asking whether demand can be maintained outside festive seasons, viral social media moments and promotional periods.

Most importantly, owners should calculate how much they actually earn for every hour spent running the business.

A business generating S$3,000 in monthly profit might appear attractive, but if it requires 250 hours of work, that amounts to just S$12 per hour before personal taxes and other considerations.

So, can it really replace a full-time salary?

Yes, but it is not guaranteed, and it may not be the right goal for every home-based entrepreneur.

Singapore has documented examples of individuals leaving conventional employment to pursue home-based businesses, as well as families depending on income generated from home.

However, there is insufficient comprehensive data to determine what proportion of Singapore’s home-based businesses consistently earn enough to replace a full-time salary.

The strongest lesson from these stories is that starting small can be an advantage. Lower overheads allow entrepreneurs to test products, understand customers and develop their brands before committing to larger expenses.

For some, the journey may eventually lead to a full-time business or physical shop. For others, maintaining a modest but sustainable side income may be the better outcome.

At SGKaki.sg, we believe every home-based business deserves an opportunity to be discovered, whether it is a weekend passion project or the beginning of something bigger.

Explore Singapore’s growing community of home-based entrepreneurs at SGKaki.sg.

Discover Local. Support Home-Based.

Singapore is known for its incredible food scene. From bustling hawker centres to neighbourhood cafés, there is always something new to discover.

But beyond the familiar food establishments, another community of food entrepreneurs is worth exploring: home-based food businesses (HBBs).

Across Singapore, home-based entrepreneurs are preparing everything from freshly baked cookies and cakes to matcha drinks, homemade noodles and creative party treats.

Many operate on a smaller scale, taking orders through Instagram or other direct channels. Unlike conventional food establishments, these businesses may not have physical shopfronts, making them harder to discover.

So, where can you find home-based food businesses in Singapore?

That’s where SGKaki comes in.

What Is a Home-Based Food Business?

A home-based food business is a small business that prepares and sells food from a residential home.

In Singapore, home-based food businesses can operate under the applicable home-based business rules and food safety requirements.

These businesses offer a wide variety of products, including:

• Homemade cookies, brownies and cakes
• Matcha, coffee and specialty drinks
• Traditional desserts and pastries
• Homemade noodles and savoury meals
• Party snacks and customised treats

Many home-based entrepreneurs use social media platforms such as Instagram to showcase their products, announce new menus and communicate with customers.

However, discovering these businesses can sometimes be challenging, especially if you do not already follow their social media accounts.

1. Discover Home-Based Bakers in Singapore

If you enjoy freshly baked treats, Singapore’s home-based baking community is a great place to start.

From chocolate chip cookies to experimental bakes, home-based bakers are creating products for different tastes and preferences.

Over in eastern Singapore, hmm? mmh. is another home-based baking business worth discovering.

Currently focusing on chocolate chip cookies, including mini chocolate chip cookies, the business is also exploring the possibility of introducing more baked creations in the future.

Whether you’re looking for a small snack, a sweet gift or something to share with friends, home-based bakers offer plenty of options to explore.

2. Explore Homemade Matcha and Coffee Businesses

Matcha and specialty coffee are no longer limited to cafés.

Home-based beverage businesses are bringing freshly prepared drinks closer to residential neighbourhoods.

One example is TENCHA HAUS, located in Sims Drive.

This home-based business serves hand-whisked matcha made using Niko Neko Ajisai 2.0, alongside coffee favourites.

Its offerings include classic drinks, signature flavoured clouds and seasonal trio sets.

For matcha enthusiasts, discovering a home-based beverage business in your neighbourhood can provide another option beyond the usual café chains.

SGKaki features home-based beverage businesses across different parts of Singapore, making it easier to discover local drink makers.

3. Find Homemade Meals Beyond the Usual Food Options

Home-based food businesses are not limited to desserts and drinks.

Some entrepreneurs focus on preparing savoury meals, bringing familiar comfort food and new dining options to their neighbourhoods.

In Tengah, Tengah 大排档 is one such business.

Operating from Tengah Drive, the business offers a rotating weekly menu featuring dishes such as:

• Dry bak chor mee with pork collagen soup
• Bak chor mee soup
• Dumpling soup
• Dumpling noodles

The business has also shared plans to introduce Taiwanese-style braised pork rice (卤肉饭).

Its goal is to bring food options that are not yet readily available in Tengah.

For residents living in developing neighbourhoods, home-based food businesses can introduce additional food choices within the community.

4. Discover Homemade Party Treats and Desserts

Planning a birthday celebration, family gathering or party?

Home-based businesses also offer treats designed for special occasions.

Sip & Slurp SG, based in Keat Hong, specialises in colourful jellyball sticks and pudding pouches.

Its jellyball sticks come in flavours such as strawberry, blueberry, grape and lychee, while its pudding pouches offer flavours including strawberry, mango, grape and melon.

These treats are designed for birthdays, parties, gatherings and other celebrations.

For customers looking for something different from conventional party snacks, exploring home-based businesses can reveal creative alternatives.

5. Find Home-Based Food Businesses by Neighbourhood

One of the easiest ways to discover home-based food businesses in Singapore is to search by neighbourhood.

Instead of browsing countless social media accounts, you can begin with businesses located in areas that are convenient for you.

Some neighbourhoods to explore include:

Tengah

Singapore’s newer residential town is home to emerging food entrepreneurs offering homemade meals, drinks and baked goods.

Bedok and Tampines

Eastern Singapore has home-based businesses offering everything from cookies and desserts to drinks and other homemade treats.

Queenstown

Explore home-based bakers and food entrepreneurs serving residents around Queenstown and nearby neighbourhoods.

Jurong West

Discover home-based businesses offering homemade bakes, specialty drinks and other food creations.

Sembawang

Residents in the north can explore home-based beverage businesses and other local food entrepreneurs.

SGKaki organises home-based businesses by neighbourhood, helping Singapore residents discover sellers in their own communities.

6. How Do You Order From a Home-Based Food Business?

Unlike traditional restaurants or cafés, home-based food businesses may operate through preorders, limited production schedules or specific collection arrangements.

Before placing an order, it is useful to:

1. Check the business’s Instagram page. Many HBB owners announce their latest menus, availability and ordering details there.
2. Confirm ordering arrangements. Some businesses accept advance orders rather than walk-in purchases.
3. Check collection or delivery options. These vary between businesses.
4. Confirm the latest prices and menu. Home-based businesses may change their offerings depending on availability.

On SGKaki, customers can discover businesses and follow the provided contact links to reach sellers directly.

SGKaki does not process orders or charge customers commissions.

7. Why Discover Local Home-Based Businesses?

Every home-based business has its own story.

Some entrepreneurs begin by sharing their baking creations with friends and family. Others experiment with recipes, develop specialty products or identify food options missing from their neighbourhoods.

For customers, discovering these businesses means exploring food beyond familiar commercial brands.

For entrepreneurs, being discovered by more people can help introduce their products to potential customers.

Supporting home-based businesses does not necessarily require a large purchase. Following their social media pages, sharing their products or recommending them to friends can also help more people discover their work.

8. Discover Home-Based Food Businesses on SGKaki

Finding home-based food businesses should not depend entirely on chance or social media algorithms.

SGKaki.sg is a Singapore-based directory created to help people discover home-based businesses by neighbourhood.

Whether you’re searching for homemade cookies in Tampines, matcha drinks around Sims Drive, savoury meals in Tengah or party treats in Keat Hong, SGKaki brings local businesses together in one place.

Our mission is simple:

Discover Local. Support Home-Based.

Explore SGKaki.sg to discover home-based food businesses across Singapore.

And if you run a home-based business yourself, you can reach out to SGKaki for a FREE listing.

Let’s make Singapore’s home-based business community easier to discover, one neighbourhood at a time.

From matcha and freshly baked cookies to pasta and pizza, Singapore’s home-based food scene is offering more than you might expect.

Imagine this.

You’re scrolling through Instagram when you come across a tray of freshly baked cookies. They look delicious. The price seems reasonable. You’re ready to order.

Then you realise something.

The seller isn’t operating from a café, bakery or restaurant. They’re making everything from their HDB flat.

Would you still buy?

For some Singaporeans, the answer is an immediate yes. For others, there might be a little hesitation.

But here’s an interesting question: Does good food necessarily have to come from a commercial kitchen?

The Rise of the Neighbourhood Food Seller

Walk around any Singapore neighbourhood and you’ll probably find more food businesses than you realise.

Not all of them have signboards.

Some operate from ordinary HDB flats, where home bakers prepare their next batch of cookies, matcha enthusiasts whisk drinks to order, and passionate home cooks experiment with dishes they hope others will enjoy.

These businesses may not have physical storefronts, but many have something just as important: a genuine interest in what they create.

And the variety can be surprising.

It’s No Longer Just Cookies and Cakes

When someone mentions home-based food businesses, the first things that come to mind are usually cookies, brownies and birthday cakes.

But Singapore’s home-based food scene has become much more varied.

Take Wild and Crust in Keat Hong, for example. This home baker works with sourdough bakes and is currently making Detroit-inspired pizzas.

Over in Tampines, Comfort Bellies prepares hearty pasta dishes, including locally inspired creations such as Laksa Pasta.

In Punggol, Lava Carrot Cake brings a modern twist to traditional fried carrot cake with its cheese-filled creation.

And in Yishun, Bui Bui Matcha offers matcha and hojicha drinks from a neighbourhood stand.

These are just a few examples of the different food businesses operating within Singapore’s residential neighbourhoods.

The next interesting food discovery might be closer to home than you think.

But What About Food Safety?

It’s a fair question.

In Singapore, small-scale home-based food businesses can operate without an SFA food retail licence, provided they comply with the applicable requirements.

However, being exempt from licensing does not mean being exempt from food safety responsibilities.

Home-based food operators must still comply with relevant food safety laws and requirements.

As customers, we should exercise reasonable judgment, just as we would when purchasing food elsewhere.

Check the seller’s information, understand how ordering and collection work, and ask questions when necessary.

Supporting small businesses and being mindful of food safety can go hand in hand.

Why Would Someone Start Selling Food From Home?

Not everyone dreams of opening a restaurant.

For some, a home-based business is a way to earn additional income while managing other commitments.

For others, it’s an opportunity to test whether people are interested in something they’ve spent years perfecting.

A person who enjoys baking might begin by selling a few boxes to friends. Someone passionate about matcha might experiment with different drinks before offering them to neighbours.

Some businesses may eventually grow into physical shops. Others may prefer to remain small.

And that’s perfectly fine.

A business doesn’t have to become a household name to be meaningful to the person running it.

The Problem? Finding These Businesses

Here’s where things get interesting.

You might live just a few blocks away from someone making excellent pastries, but never know they exist.

Many home-based businesses rely on Instagram, recommendations and word of mouth.

Unless you happen to follow the right account or know the right person, discovering them can be difficult.

That’s one of the reasons SGKaki exists.

We want to make it easier for Singaporeans to discover home-based businesses in their own neighbourhoods.

Whether you’re looking for a weekend treat, something different for dinner or simply curious about what’s available nearby, exploring local businesses can lead to unexpected discoveries.

So, Would You Buy Food From an HDB Flat?

Maybe you already do.

Perhaps you’ve ordered cookies from a neighbour, collected a matcha latte downstairs or bought a birthday cake from a home baker.

Or perhaps you’ve never tried ordering from a home-based business before.

Either way, the next time you see an interesting food business on Instagram, take a closer look.

You might discover something worth trying, just a short walk from home.

What about you? Would you buy food from a home-based business? And what would make you comfortable ordering for the first time?

Explore home-based businesses across Singapore at SGKaki.sg.

Discover Local. Support Home-Based.

When we think of successful businesses, we often picture established brands, busy retail shops, or companies with large teams. But not every business begins that way.

Some start in a small HDB kitchen, with a home oven, a few ingredients, and someone willing to turn their passion into something more.

Across Singapore, home-based businesses are becoming an increasingly visible part of our neighbourhoods. From home bakers and dessert makers to matcha enthusiasts and small food entrepreneurs, many are building their businesses one order at a time.

But can a home-based business really grow into something bigger?

Every Business Has to Start Somewhere

Starting a business can be expensive.

Renting a commercial space, purchasing equipment, hiring employees, and managing daily operating costs can require a significant amount of capital. For someone testing a new business idea, these commitments may be difficult to justify.

A home-based business offers a different starting point.

Instead of committing to a shopfront immediately, entrepreneurs can begin on a smaller scale. They can experiment with products, understand customer preferences, improve their offerings, and gradually build a customer base.

For example, someone who enjoys baking might begin by accepting a few orders from friends and family. As word spreads, those occasional orders could develop into a regular stream of customers.

Over time, what began as a weekend hobby might become a meaningful source of income.

Growing Beyond Friends and Family

One of the biggest challenges for home-based businesses is reaching customers beyond their immediate social circles.

Friends and family may provide the first few orders, but long-term growth usually requires a wider audience.

Social media has made this easier. A home baker can showcase products on Instagram, while a small food business can share its latest menu and accept enquiries directly from customers.

However, social media also has its limitations.

With so many businesses competing for attention, even good products can go unnoticed. A business might have loyal customers within its neighbourhood but remain completely unknown to someone living just a few streets away.

This is where local discovery becomes important.

Imagine someone living in Tampines looking for homemade brownies, or a resident in Tengah searching for freshly prepared waffles. There may already be a home-based business nearby offering exactly what they want.

The challenge is connecting the two.

Growth Does Not Always Mean Opening a Shop

There is a common assumption that a successful home-based business must eventually move into a commercial space.

While opening a café, bakery, or retail shop may be the dream for some entrepreneurs, it is not necessarily the right path for everyone.

A home-based business can also grow by increasing its customer base, developing new products, improving its operations, or building a recognisable brand.

Some entrepreneurs may prefer to remain small, maintaining a manageable number of orders while balancing family responsibilities or other commitments.

Others may eventually decide to expand into commercial premises, subject to the necessary approvals and regulatory requirements.

Both paths can represent success.

What matters is whether the business is achieving the goals its owner has set.

The Challenges Behind the Scenes

Running a home-based business is not as simple as preparing a product and waiting for customers.

Many owners manage almost every part of their operations themselves.

They source ingredients, prepare products, respond to enquiries, manage orders, arrange collections, create social media content, and handle customer feedback.

All of this happens alongside their personal responsibilities.

There are also practical limits to operating from home. In Singapore, home-based businesses must comply with applicable regulations, including restrictions on activities that could cause nuisance or affect the residential environment. Food businesses must also observe relevant food safety requirements.

As demand grows, owners may need to consider whether their existing setup can continue supporting the business.

Growth therefore requires more than simply receiving additional orders. It involves planning, consistency, financial discipline, and understanding when a different operating model may be necessary.

Why Supporting Small Businesses Matters

For a large company, a single order may represent only a tiny fraction of its daily sales.

For a home-based entrepreneur, that same order can carry much greater significance.

It might be their first order from someone outside their family. It could be a returning customer who genuinely enjoys their products. Or it might provide the confidence to continue developing a business that is still finding its feet.

Support does not always have to involve spending money.

Sharing a business with friends, recommending a product, leaving genuine feedback, or following its social media page can help it reach new customers.

These small actions can make a difference, especially for businesses that do not have large advertising budgets.

Where SGKaki Comes In

SGKaki was created with a simple idea: to make Singapore’s home-based businesses easier to discover.

Rather than focusing only on established brands, SGKaki highlights the smaller businesses operating within our neighbourhoods.

By organising businesses according to location, we hope to help residents discover what is available around them, while giving home-based entrepreneurs another way to reach potential customers.

Our listings are free because we believe that being discovered should not have to come with an additional financial burden for someone just starting out.

As SGKaki continues to grow, we hope more people will explore the businesses in their neighbourhoods and support the individuals behind them.

Small Beginnings, Big Possibilities

Not every home-based business will become a household name.

Some may grow into established brands. Others may remain small but successful businesses serving their local communities.

And some may simply provide their owners with an additional source of income, greater flexibility, or the satisfaction of creating something of their own.

There is value in every one of these outcomes.

The next time you come across a home-based business, remember that there is often a person behind it who has invested considerable time and effort into turning an idea into reality.

That business may be operating from a small kitchen today, but nobody knows where its journey might lead.

Discover Local. Support Home-Based.

Explore Singapore’s growing community of home-based businesses at SGKaki.sg.

Running a home-based business? Get in touch with SGKaki for a free listing.

If you have been browsing home-based businesses (HBBs) in Singapore recently, you may have noticed something: matcha is everywhere.

From traditional matcha lattes to strawberry matcha, mango matcha and other creative combinations, more home-based beverage businesses are building their menus around the distinctive green tea.

At SGKaki, we have noticed the same trend while discovering HBBs across Singapore. Matcha businesses have appeared in neighbourhoods from Tampines and Tengah to Sembawang, Admiralty and beyond.

So why does matcha seem particularly well suited to Singapore’s growing home-based business scene?

The answer is probably not one single factor. Instead, matcha sits at an interesting intersection of consumer demand, relatively simple preparation, menu flexibility and the small-scale nature of HBBs.

Matcha Fits Naturally Into a Small Home-Based Setup

One possible reason is the relatively accessible setup required to start serving matcha on a small scale.

At its simplest, preparing a matcha drink requires quality matcha powder, water, a whisk or similar mixing equipment, a bowl or vessel, milk and the ingredients needed for different flavours.

Coffee can certainly be prepared simply at home too, think filter coffee, cold brew or pour-over, so it would be unfair to say that a coffee business necessarily requires expensive equipment.

However, a business trying to recreate the espresso-based café experience may consider investing in an espresso machine, grinder and other equipment, while also spending time dialling in variables such as grind size, dose and extraction.

A matcha-focused HBB can potentially begin with a more compact setup.

That distinction matters for someone experimenting with a small business from their kitchen.

Singapore’s Home-Based Business Scheme is specifically designed for businesses operating on a small scale from residential premises. Home-based food businesses currently do not require an SFA licence, although they remain subject to food-safety requirements and other conditions.

In that environment, a beverage concept that can operate without a large amount of specialised equipment can be attractive.

One Matcha Base, Many Possibilities

Another advantage is just how adaptable matcha can be.

Start with a matcha latte and it does not take long before the menu begins expanding:

Strawberry Matcha. Mango Matcha. Coconut Matcha. Matcha with cream. Matcha with different milk choices.

And those are only some of the possibilities.

For a small HBB, that flexibility can be useful. Instead of maintaining an enormous menu, owners can build several creations around a core ingredient and introduce seasonal or limited-edition flavours.

It also gives individual HBB owners room to develop their own identity.

Two businesses may both sell strawberry matcha, yet their choice of matcha, milk, strawberry preparation, sweetness and proportions can produce noticeably different drinks.

That means a relatively straightforward concept still leaves plenty of room for creativity.

Matcha Was Already Having Its Moment

Of course, supply only works when there is demand.

Matcha has moved well beyond being something found mainly in Japanese restaurants or specialist tea shops. It has become part of mainstream café culture, appearing in lattes, desserts and increasingly creative beverages.

That gives aspiring HBB owners something extremely valuable: customers already understand the product.

An owner does not have to spend much time explaining what a matcha latte is. Instead, the question becomes:

What makes your matcha worth trying?

For some businesses, that may be the quality or origin of their matcha. For others, it could be unusual flavours, attractive presentation, convenient neighbourhood collection or simply a drink made exactly the way their regular customers like it.

Matcha Is Also Made for Social Media

There is another factor that is difficult to ignore: matcha photographs well.

Its distinctive green colour stands out immediately, particularly when layered with milk or contrasting ingredients such as strawberry and mango.

For an HBB relying heavily on Instagram, TikTok and word of mouth rather than a physical storefront, presentation matters.

A visually distinctive drink can become its own advertisement.

Someone buys a strawberry matcha, takes a photo, tags the HBB and shares it with friends. For a small operator with a limited marketing budget, that organic exposure can be valuable.

HBBs Can Experiment Differently From Traditional Cafés

Perhaps the most interesting part of the home-based model is that an owner does not necessarily need to behave like a conventional café.

There is no requirement to have a huge permanent menu.

An HBB might operate only on certain days, accept pre-orders, release drinks in limited quantities or experiment with a new flavour for a weekend before deciding whether to keep it.

That flexibility suits matcha particularly well.

An owner can start with a classic matcha latte, introduce a fruit combination, see how customers respond and continue developing the menu from there.

This does not mean running an HBB comes without responsibilities. Home-based food businesses still need to comply with Singapore’s food-safety laws and source ingredients appropriately. SFA also places restrictions on activities such as catering and supplying food to licensed food retailers.

But within the small-scale HBB model, there is considerable room for entrepreneurs to develop their own concepts.

Lower Barrier to Entry Doesn’t Mean Lower Quality

This distinction is important.

Saying that matcha can have a relatively accessible starting point is not the same as saying that making good matcha is easy.

There can be considerable differences in the quality, origin and characteristics of matcha powders. Preparation technique, temperature, ratios and ingredient combinations matter as well.

As HBB owners become more experienced, some go much deeper into sourcing, preparation and recipe development.

In other words:

The barrier to making a matcha drink may be relatively accessible. The barrier to making a matcha drink that customers repeatedly come back for is much higher.

And that is ultimately where individual HBBs differentiate themselves.

A Natural Fit for Singapore’s HBB Scene

Matcha appears to have many of the characteristics that work well for a home-based business: a relatively compact setup, strong existing consumer interest, endless possibilities for experimentation and a product that lends itself naturally to social media.

Perhaps that explains why we are seeing more neighbourhood matcha businesses appearing around Singapore.

And for customers, that growth creates something interesting.

You no longer necessarily need to travel across Singapore to a café for your next matcha fix.

There might already be someone making one a few blocks from your home.

That is precisely what makes Singapore’s HBB scene worth exploring.

Discover Home-Based Matcha in Singapore

SGKaki is building a directory of home-based businesses across Singapore, including matcha, coffee, baked goods, desserts, savoury food and more.

Explore SGKaki by neighbourhood and you might discover your next favourite drink, made much closer to home than you expected.

Discover Local. Support Home-Based.

It’s only been about 2 weeks since we started SGKaki, and something unexpected has happened.

Of all the neighbourhoods we’ve listed so far, Tengah currently has the most home-based businesses on SGKaki.

And no, we didn’t deliberately target Tengah. 😂

We reach out to HBB owners randomly without checking where they are based. It just so happens that Tengah business owners have been incredibly responsive — and the more we discover, the more we realise just how much is happening inside one of Singapore’s newest estates.

There’s Tengah Tapau, serving weekend matcha and coffee with occasional bake sales. Dimple & Dough is making small-batch artisanal focaccia. Waahfull Waffles has everything from classic waffles to Pistachio Kunafa.

Then there’s STILL Bakehouse with its small-batch brownies and cookies, Crème&Cocoa specialising in tiramisu and handcrafted desserts, and Liewtenants baking Shio Pan in flavours like Garlic Cheese and Pistachio Kunafa.

And our latest addition, SukaSugar, is bringing fudgy mini brownie bites and Party Bites to Parc Glen. SGKaki

For such a young neighbourhood, Tengah already has a surprisingly vibrant little ecosystem of people creating, baking and building businesses from home.

So for now, Tengah… you’re #1 on SGKaki. 🏆

Other neighbourhoods, time to catch up. 👀

Want to see what your Tengah neighbours are making?

👉 Explore Home-Based Businesses in Tengah on SGKaki.sg

#sgkaki #Tengah #TengahHBB #SingaporeHBB #SupportLocal

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