Starting a Retail Business Here in Singapore

[GnM_Merchandising]

Hi I have an intention to bring in some merchandise (e.g. clothing, cosmetics, etc.). I wish to that via Pushcart and being a sole distributor here in Singapore and maybe in the region. But after reading lots of things about registring a business, Home Office, Home Based Small scale business... I am already Blur... I hope anyone can enlighten me with my queries:

1. I need to register a business thru ACRA if i want to import those stuff and sell it here in Singapore (pushcart, or any other means)...right?

2. Registering a business is quite straight forward...but the one that confuses me is the Business Adress. I can use my HDB home as my adress right (which will just serve as my "Office Address"...???

3. By applying for my home to be my office address, will the type of business matter??? if the business that i am venturing on is importing and selling it here (what do you actually call that, trading? Mechandising? or what?) will that contradicts to the requirement of having your home under Home Office Scheme?? What i mean i want to use my house as the office address, by the business that i am applying is into retail - not allowed under HOS (of course selling it not in my house but other place)

4. But in terms of bringing in to singapore the products...and let's say it is in Bulk...i cannot really deliver those to my HDB house as that leads to a different approval for safety blah blah blah. So meaning i will register my home as the office address, but warehouse will be rented, and selling it of course in another place...

[dingdong5770]

Hope that this helps you out

1) When you want to start a business be it a pushcart or retail, you should register your company with ACRA.

2) If you want to use your house as your business address, do take note that this housing scheme only allows you to use your house as an admin office. This means that, by right, your house is only use to do paper work and admin work which will not distrupt and make too much inconvinience or noise to your neighbours. Legally, you are not able to use your house as a place that your imported goods are delivered too. This is not allowed under the housing scheme.

3) You mention that you are going to start a business in pushcart or retail. If you initial stocks are not a lot, meaning that the items are not very big and bulky, you can always collect it yourself at the freight forwarder office and bring it back to your home. Also, if you shipment are just once per month, it is safe and alright for them to deliver to your HDB house because it is not a big scale issue. It's just like receiving a few parcels or boxes that you have purchase from overseas during your holidays. There are a lot of small time business owners who also do this. They go all the way overseas and bring the products back and store it at home.

4) As long as your neighbour doesn't complain, there is no issue at all but when your business becomes bigger and shipment becomes more frequent, you will definately need to get a warehouse or small office to receive your goods.

Good Luck!

[GnM_Merchandising]

@dingdong5770:

Thanks for the info...very helpful...

I am planning for my business name... should place "merchandising" or Trading at the end for the kind of business that probably be selling different stuff in the future..