To start a coffee brand in Singapore, pick your operating model (e‑commerce beans, café retail, or roastery) and lock in the mandatory licences early. Register a Private Limited with ACRA on BizFile+ (UEN in 1 day; S$315), then secure: SFA Food Shop Licence for cafés, SFA Food Manufacturing Licence for roasting/packing, and SFA registration as a Trader for importing beans; submit import permits via TradeNet and budget for 9% GST on CIF. Choose an F&B-zoned site (URA/HDB), plan exhaust and grease management (roasters may require industrial B2 space and NEA emissions control), and obtain SCDF clearance for LPG or electrical loads. Before inspection, fit washable surfaces, floor traps, handwash basins, calibrated thermometers, pest control, and cold storage logs; ensure all handlers pass WSQ Food Safety Course L1 and appoint an FHO if required. For packaged coffee, comply with labelling: product name, ingredients, net weight, country of origin, best‑before date, allergens, and local name/UEN; nutrition panel only if making claims. Decide make vs OEM: a toll‑roast partner lets you launch fast—negotiate MOQ, per‑kg rates, roast curves, cupping protocols, and exclusivity. File trademarks with IPOS (Class 30 beans, Class 43 café). Register for GST at S$1m turnover; report packaging if >S$10m revenue.
