Many of you would have heard of fellow mummies baking treats from their homes to sell, especially during the Chinese New Year period. But fear not, they aren’t running an illegal business as the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA), the organisation in Singapore that governs the usage of spaces and land in our country, allows for small businesses to be run out of the home.
If you are a baking enthusiast and thinking of selling some of your yummy bakes, the good news is that you can, as long as you adhere to the some rules that have been put in place. And these guidelines apply to both HDB and privately owned homes.
- No advertising of your business on the premises of your home is allowed
Unlike traditional shops where their signboard is crucial to their survival as it shouts out about their business, you can’t do so if you are running your business out of your home. What you can do instead is to use social media to promote or do it the old school way — by word of mouth.
- The employees comprise of you and your family members
The laws don’t allow you to employ anyone else who doesn’t stay in the residential home to work for you. Thus, if you are looking to scale up your business, you will probably have to move your business out of the home. Do note that if you want to stock your wares at other shops, you will be required to have a licence from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, and this license is not granted to residential homes.
- Ensure that you don’t disrupt the daily activities of your neighbours
Your residence is primarily supposed to be for living and a place that people go to unwind after a long day at work. If your business disturbs your neighbours, they could go to URA or Housing Development Board (HDB) to make a complaint and shut you down.
For more information, click here for more comprehensive guidelines from URA and click here for a guide to setting up a food business by Bakerro. If you are looking for more help to bake more from your home, visit homebakee.com
Want to support some mummy home bakers, click here to find out where you can get some homemade goodies.
