Unfiltered tips on starting an online business in Singapore.
Starting an online business in Singapore can feel both exciting and intimidating—especially if you are doing it alone. Whether you are planning to run your business from home, offer digital services, or build an e-commerce store, the possibilities are endless once you take the first step.
I started my online small business in Singapore in 2023 with the goal of creating time and financial freedom. If you are wondering how to start a small online business in Singapore or whether you really need to register your online business right away, you are in the right place.
In this post, I am sharing unfiltered tips from my personal journey, and what you need to know before you start a small business in Singapore. Think of this as advice from a fellow Singaporean who has been in your shoes.
Tip 1: Think Big
Singapore may be a small red dot, but your ambitions don’t have to be. I started my online business because I wanted control over my time and income—not to trade one kind of stress for another. And if you are only planning to target the Singapore market, you will need a solid strategy.
When I first started, I focused on blogging to build visibility. That laid the foundation when I launched my e-commerce store on Etsy. Blogging helped me build trust, grow traffic, and drive consistent sales internationally.
If you are set on serving the local market, here’s some advice:
- Make sure your product or service isn’t already overly saturated—you will need time and a strong USP to stand out.
- Singaporeans love free stuff (you probably do too). Consider what kind of valuable freebie you can offer, and think about how to upsell your main offerings through these.
Personally, I chose not to focus solely on the Singapore market because it didn’t align with my ideal customer profile. That said, if your offer fits the local landscape perfectly, go for it.
Just think about this – your business is already online, why limit yourself geographically?
Tip 2: Register Your Business Early
This might be controversial, but if you are serious about running an online business, I would recommend registering early. One of the biggest reasons? Taxes.
When you are investing in tools and software—especially annual subscriptions—you want those counted as business expenses. But here’s the catch: in Singapore, only expenses incurred after your business is officially registered can be claimed. So if you delay registration and start spending early, you won’t be able to include those in your tax filing later.
Disclaimer: I am not a tax professional—please do your own research or speak to an accountant to understand what applies to your business.
Some people wait to register until they are confident their business is profitable. Others delay because they are not sure if they are in it for the long haul. I get it. But here’s something that surprised me—when I finally registered my business, something shifted. My mindset became more serious. My energy changed. Suddenly, it wasn’t just a side project. It was real. And my business started growing.
Also—admin work? Really not that scary. I registered mine in under an hour. It was straightforward and 100% worth it.
Tip 3: Invest in Yourself
Starting a business from scratch can feel overwhelming, especially when you don’t have any experience. Even though I studied business, theory and real-world execution are two very different things.
If you want to move fast, invest in learning. You don’t always need to spend a lot—there are free workshops and low-ticket courses everywhere. But the right investment can help you skip the guesswork and avoid wasting time.
I learnt this the hard way. I spent five months trying to grow my blog without direction, and nothing worked. When I finally invested in a proper blogging course and applied what I learnt, I monetised within the first month.
Now, every time I want to try something new—whether it is trying out a new software, starting on a new platform, or testing out a new feature—I invest in people who have done it before me. It saves time, gives clarity, and gives me way more confidence.
Tip 4: Traffic, Traffic, Traffic
Even if you have the best product in the world, no one is going to buy it if they don’t know it exists. That’s why generating traffic should be a top priority.
At least 50% of your time should go into getting people to your landing page—whether you are selling a product or a service. Sales and marketing are the real engine of any online business in Singapore or anywhere else. Not just product perfection.
There are two main ways to get traffic:
- Organic
- Paid
Both can work well. It just depends on your budget, goals, and how fast you want results. But no matter which path you take, focus on learning how to sell and market effectively. That is the real skill set that drives long-term success.
Tip 5: SEO is Your Bestie
I am a long-game kind of person, and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is one of the best ways to build lasting, free traffic.
If you are thinking of running paid ads, that’s fine—ads can be powerful for quick growth. But they are not sustainable unless you already have strong systems in place. That’s where SEO comes in.
By doing keyword research and optimising your content or product listings, you make it easier for your ideal customers to find you. And those who discover you through search are often with high intent (ie, they are actively looking for what you offer).
So instead of spending hours shouting into the void on social media, learn how to get your website or product to rank for the right keywords. You will be surprised how much traction you can get, even as a small business.
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