Q: I LIVE in an HDB flat and I plan to set up a small business at home providing accounting services.
What do I need to do to get started?
What are some of the rules governing businesses based in HDB flats?
A: You will need to register your business with the Accounting Corporate and Regulatory Authority (Acra) and apply for the Home Office Scheme with the Housing Board (HDB).
Both registrations can be done on the Internet via the Online Business Licensing Service at the EnterpriseOne website business.gov.sg/licences.
You may wish to note that you can have a maximum of only two non-residentsworking from your home office and that certain businesses are not allowed underthis scheme.
For more details on the policies of this scheme, please visit www.hdb.gov.sg
Any incentives for hiring older workers?
Q: I am an SME boss with plans to expand my staff pool by hiring older workers.
Are there any schemes that give incentives to small and medium-sized enterprises to employ and/or retrain older workers?
A: The ADVANTAGE! Scheme under the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) provides an incentive of up to $300,000 to employ mature workers over 40 years old, or re-employ workers above 62 years old.
WDA can also help you to recruit and screen mature workers via job matching orreferrals.
Answers provided by Spring Singapore.
For more information, please go to www.business.gov.sg. E-mail questions to a1admin@sph.com.sg.
