How to Open a Cafe in Singapore: 2026 Timeline, Budget & Permit Playbook

Whether you're chasing the third-wave specialty crowd in Tiong Bahru, planning a brunch cafe in Holland Village, or testing a mall kiosk in Bugis — opening a cafe in Singapore in 2026 takes 10-14 weeks, S$120K-S$250K total cost, and 5 regulatory approvals. This guide walks through every step from lease selection to soft launch, with real costs FixMove sees daily from running F&B fit-outs.

Quick Answer: The Cafe Opening Reality Check

• Total cost (ex-rent): S$120,000-S$250,000
• Timeline from signed lease to soft launch: 10-14 weeks
• Renovation alone: S$50K-S$150K (see cafe renovation Singapore)
• Equipment: S$25K-S$50K (espresso machine, grinder, fridges, dishwasher)
• Licences: S$3K-S$8K (SFA, NEA, URA, fire safety)
• Initial inventory + marketing + reserve: S$40K-S$80K
• Break-even monthly revenue target: S$45K-S$70K (3-4 covers per hour over 12-hour day)

Step 1: Pick Your Concept Before You Pick Your Lease

The single most expensive mistake we see: signing a lease before knowing what kind of cafe you're building. The four common concepts each have very different cost profiles:

Pick your concept first because it dictates everything downstream

• Kitchen extent → exhaust requirements → ceiling design → permit complexity
• Seating count → square footage needed → rent budget → break-even revenue
• Concept aesthetic → finishing budget → designer fees vs design-and-build

Step 2: Find the Right Lease (Week 1-3)

Lease selection in Singapore is brutal — most landlords expect 12-24 month commitment with 3-month deposit. Before signing anything:

Critical lease checks

1. Approved use class — must allow F&B. If it's currently retail/office, you'll need URA Change of Use (2-4 weeks).
2. Exhaust route — verify there's a path to roof or back-lane for kitchen exhaust. No route = no hot food.
3. Power supply — minimum 30-40 kVA for compact cafe; 60-100 kVA if heavy kitchen. SP upgrade adds S$5K-S$15K and 4-8 weeks.
4. Water and drainage — espresso machine needs dedicated line; floor traps for prep area.
5. Previous tenant condition — old F&B unit can save 20-30% if exhaust, grease trap and basic plumbing still work.
6. Fit-out period — most leases give 4-8 weeks rent-free for fit-out. Negotiate 8-12 weeks if mall has heavy approval queue.

Lease zones in Singapore and what they cost

Step 3: Stack the Permits (Week 2-5, In Parallel With Design)

Singapore F&B permits are layered. You don't apply for them sequentially — you stack them parallel to construction. Five regulators touch a typical cafe:

The 5 cafe permits you'll need

• URA Change of Use — only if approved use isn't already F&B. 2-4 weeks.
• SFA Food Establishment Licence (Class A) — required for any food prep. Submitted after fit-out inspection-ready. 2-4 weeks.
• NEA Hot Works / Exhaust — only if you have a kitchen with cooking. Grease trap sizing matched to menu. 2-3 weeks.
• SCDF Fire Safety — required for any unit with partitions affecting escape routes or assembly capacity. 3-6 weeks.
• HDB Renovation Permit / Landlord Fit-Out Approval — for HDB shophouses, plus landlord or mall management approval for mall lots. 1-3 weeks.

A good contractor like FixMove prepares submission-ready drawings for all five in parallel — letting you start construction while SCDF reviews and SFA is pre-aligned. F&B fit-out specifics live here.

Step 4: Renovation & Equipment (Week 3-10)

The biggest line item. Three sub-budgets:

Renovation breakdown (S$50K-$150K)

• Demolition + hacking: S$3K-$8K
• Plumbing (water + drainage + grease trap): S$5K-$12K
• Electrical (DB upgrade + circuits): S$8K-$18K
• Exhaust hood + ducting (if kitchen): S$10K-$25K
• Custom bar counter: S$6K-$15K
• Flooring + ceiling + walls: S$10K-$25K
• Furniture build + install: S$8K-$20K
• Signage + lighting + branding: S$5K-$15K

Equipment list (S$25K-$50K)

• Espresso machine (2-group commercial): S$8K-$15K
• Grinder x2 (espresso + filter): S$3K-$6K
• Refrigeration (undercounter + display): S$5K-$10K
• Dishwasher: S$2.5K-$5K
• Ice machine: S$2K-$4K
• Water filter + softener: S$1K-$2K
• POS system + payment terminals: S$1K-$2K
• Smallwares (cups, knock-boxes, pitchers, etc.): S$2K-$4K

Pre-launch (S$8K-$15K)

• Initial coffee bean inventory (first month): S$2K-$4K
• Food + dairy + syrups initial: S$3K-$6K
• Branding (logo, menu, uniforms): S$2K-$5K

Step 5: Hire and Train (Week 6-10)

A compact specialty cafe runs on 3-4 baristas + 1 manager. A full-menu brunch cafe needs 6-10 staff. Singapore F&B labour rules:

• Local barista: S$2,500-$3,500/month (entry-mid)
• Head barista / cafe manager: S$3,500-$5,500/month
• Brunch chef / cook: S$3,000-$4,800/month
• Service crew (part-time): S$9-$13/hour
• Foreign worker quota: F&B sector has S Pass + Work Permit caps; consult with MOM before hiring plans

Step 6: Soft Launch (Week 11-12)

Don't open hard on day one. The Singapore F&B playbook:

1. Week 1 soft launch — friends + family + neighbour invites. Test workflow, fix kinks. Discount 30-50%.
2. Week 2 community launch — Instagram/TikTok push, mailing list opens. Press kit if your concept is unique.
3. Week 3-4 ramp — normalize hours, build review count (Google + IG), optimize menu velocity.
4. Month 2-3 break-even — typical specialty cafe hits break-even by month 3-4 with steady marketing.

The 6 Hidden Costs Most Founders Miss

1. Mall fit-out deposit (S$2K-$8K) — usually returned after defect-free handover but ties up capital for 3-6 months.
2. SP Group power upgrade (S$5K-$15K) — needed if existing supply is under-rated for cafe equipment.
3. Grease trap installation (S$3K-$8K) — NEA-mandated, sized by menu. Often missed in tenant fit-out scope.
4. Two months pre-revenue rent — most cafes hit positive cashflow month 3-4. Plan for it.
5. Initial GST registration cost — if turnover projected over S$1M, GST registration is mandatory.
6. Annual licence renewals (S$500-$2K) — SFA, NEA and fire safety all renew annually.

Related Guides

• Cafe Renovation Singapore — full pricing + scope breakdown
• Restaurant Renovation Singapore — full-service restaurant build
• F&B Fit-Out Singapore — cloud kitchen and specialty F&B
• Cafe Renovation Tiong Bahru — heritage shophouse build
• Commercial Renovation Singapore — all commercial trades hub

FAQ

Published: 10 May 2026 · Updated: 10 May 2026 · By FixMove F&B Fit-Out Team · Operating across Tiong Bahru, Holland V, CBD, Bugis, Orchard and HDB heartland.