← Singapore hubs Pet Sitter
Singapore English (English) $ SGD
Jason is a freelance pet sitter navigating the gig economy in Singapore, balancing his love for animals with the realities of self-employment. This hub covers everything from his mandatory CPF contributions to the small business grants he uses to keep his pet-sitting service running smoothly.
As a freelancer, I need to stay on top of my taxes and retirement savings without an HR department to help me.
Income Tax for Self-Employed national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
Who qualifies All self-employed persons earning over $20,000 annually.
What you get Legal compliance and ability to claim business expenses.
What it actually costs you Annual filing via myTax Portal; requires keeping receipts for 5 years.
Common gotcha Forgetting to deduct business expenses like pet supplies or transport costs.
MediSave Voluntary Contributions national · Central Provident Fund Board
Who qualifies Self-employed persons.
What you get Tax relief and savings for future healthcare costs.
What it actually costs you Mandatory if net trade income exceeds $6,000.
Common gotcha Ignoring the annual Notice of Computation from CPF.
Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) national · Ministry of Finance
Who qualifies Singaporeans and PRs.
What you get Tax deferral on contributions for retirement.
What it actually costs you Opening an account with DBS, OCBC, or UOB.
Common gotcha Withdrawals before age 62 incur a 5% penalty and are fully taxable.
Work Injury Compensation Insurance (Private) private · Various Insurers
Who qualifies Freelancers seeking protection.
What you get Coverage for medical expenses if injured while pet sitting.
What it actually costs you Annual premiums starting from $100.
Common gotcha Standard personal accident plans often exclude commercial gig work.
PayNow for Business national · Association of Banks in Singapore
Who qualifies Sole proprietors.
What you get Instant payments from clients using a UEN.
What it actually costs you Linked to your business bank account.
Common gotcha Mixing personal and business PayNow accounts.
SkillsFuture Credit national · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Singaporeans aged 25 and above.
What you get $500 initial credit for training courses.
What it actually costs you Singpass login required.
Common gotcha Credits expire if not used within the specific window. I don't have company health insurance, so I rely on national schemes to keep costs low.
CHAS Blue/Orange/Green national · Agency for Integrated Care
Who qualifies Singapore Citizens based on household income.
What you get Subsidies for medical and dental visits at private clinics.
What it actually costs you Application via CHAS portal.
Common gotcha Not all clinics accept all tiers of CHAS.
MediShield Life national · CPF Board
Who qualifies All Singapore Citizens and PRs.
What you get Coverage for large hospital bills and selected outpatient treatments.
What it actually costs you Premiums payable via MediSave.
Common gotcha It is a basic plan; doesn't cover private hospital luxury wards.
Screen for Life national · Health Promotion Board
Who qualifies Eligible Singaporeans.
What you get Subsidised health screenings.
What it actually costs you Small co-payment fee.
Common gotcha Only valid at participating CHAS clinics.
Polyclinic Outpatient Subsidy national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies All Singaporeans.
What you get Heavily subsidised consultation and medication.
What it actually costs you Standard registration fee.
Common gotcha Long waiting times during peak hours.
National Adult Immunisation Schedule national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Adult Singaporeans.
What you get Subsidised vaccines for flu, pneumococcal, etc.
What it actually costs you Variable co-payment at clinics.
Common gotcha Check eligibility for specific age groups.
CareShield Life national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Singaporeans born in 1980 or later.
What you get Long-term care insurance for severe disability.
What it actually costs you Annual premiums via MediSave.
Common gotcha It only pays out upon meeting specific disability criteria. I spend a lot of time on public transport to reach clients across the island.
Workfare Transport Concession national · Land Transport Authority
Who qualifies Low-income workers under Workfare Income Supplement.
What you get Discounted travel on buses and trains.
What it actually costs you Application via TransitLink.
Common gotcha Must renew eligibility every year.
SimplyGo national · Land Transport Authority
Who qualifies All commuters.
What you get Contactless payment for public transport.
What it actually costs you Standard fare rates.
Common gotcha Auto-topup requires a registered credit card.
HDB Parking Coupons/App national · Housing & Development Board
Who qualifies Drivers.
What you get Standardised parking rates at HDB estates.
What it actually costs you Hourly parking rates.
Common gotcha Using the wrong zone code in the app.
COE Rebate (for deregistered vehicles) national · LTA
Who qualifies Vehicle owners.
What you get Partial refund of COE upon deregistration.
What it actually costs you Administrative paperwork.
Common gotcha Only applies if deregistered before the COE expires.
AVS Pet Transport Guidelines national · Animal & Veterinary Service
Who qualifies Pet transporters.
What you get Legal compliance for transporting animals.
What it actually costs you Time to read guidelines.
Common gotcha Public transport (MRT/Bus) strictly prohibits pets except guide dogs.
Singpass national · GovTech
Who qualifies Residents.
What you get Access to all government digital services.
What it actually costs you Free, requires smartphone.
Common gotcha Losing access to the registered phone number. If business is slow, I need to know what support is available for self-employed individuals.
Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) national · CPF Board
Who qualifies Lower-income workers, including self-employed.
What you get Cash and CPF top-ups.
What it actually costs you Must declare income annually.
Common gotcha Not declaring income means you don't get the payout.
ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance national · Ministry of Social and Family Development
Who qualifies Individuals in temporary financial distress.
What you get Financial aid for living expenses.
What it actually costs you Assessment by Social Service Office.
Common gotcha Requires proof of financial hardship.
U-Save Rebates national · Ministry of Finance
Who qualifies HDB households.
What you get Quarterly utility bill offsets.
What it actually costs you Automatic if living in HDB.
Common gotcha Does not apply to private condos.
GST Voucher Scheme national · Ministry of Finance
Who qualifies Lower-to-middle income Singaporeans.
What you get Annual cash payout.
What it actually costs you Automatic based on tax filing.
Common gotcha Ensure bank account is linked to NRIC.
Silver Support Scheme national · CPF Board
Who qualifies Low-income elderly.
What you get Quarterly cash payouts.
What it actually costs you Automatic assessment.
Common gotcha Must meet CPF contribution history criteria.
NLB Membership national · National Library Board
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Free access to books and digital resources.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Fines for late returns. 1states & territories — open one to see what it offers.
Singapore新加坡 As a pet sitter in Singapore, navigating the strict HDB pet ownership rules, licensing, and professional business registration is essential for operating legally and safely.
Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) Pet Boarding Licensing 宠物寄宿执照 state · NParks / AVS
Who qualifies Anyone providing pet boarding services for a fee.
What you get Legal authorization to operate a pet boarding business in Singapore.
What it actually costs you Annual license fee, strict premises inspection, and adherence to Code of Animal Welfare.
Common gotcha Many sitters forget that residential HDB units have strict limits on the number of pets allowed.
ACRA BizFile+ Registration state · ACRA
Who qualifies Sole proprietors starting a pet sitting business.
What you get Official business registration as a legal entity.
What it actually costs you Registration fee of $15, plus $60 for annual renewal.
Common gotcha You must use your Singpass to log in; ensure your business name is not already taken.
HDB Pet Ownership Guidelines 建屋局宠物饲养指南 state · HDB
Who qualifies Residents living in HDB flats.
What you get Clear rules on which dog breeds are permitted in HDB flats.
What it actually costs you No cost, but non-compliance leads to fines or removal of the pet.
Common gotcha Only one dog is allowed per flat, and it must be from the approved small breed list.
Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS) 宠物执照系统 state · NParks / AVS
Who qualifies All dog owners in Singapore.
What you get Mandatory license for every dog owned.
What it actually costs you Annual fee ranging from $15 to $120 depending on sterilization status.
Common gotcha If you are sitting for a client, ensure their dog's license is up to date to avoid liability.
SkillsFuture Credit 技能创前程培训补助 state · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Singaporeans aged 25 and above.
What you get $500 opening credit for approved professional courses.
What it actually costs you Time spent on training; credit is government-funded.
Common gotcha Credits expire if not used, and only specific pet-related courses are claimable.
Self-Employed Person (SEP) Training Support Scheme state · NTUC / SkillsFuture
Who qualifies Freelance pet sitters registered as SEPs.
What you get Higher subsidy rates for training courses.
What it actually costs you Must provide proof of freelance income.
Common gotcha You must be a member of a relevant association or union to maximize benefits.
One honest app. Real lives, real businesses. Free for what people need, paid only for what runs a business — on our own model, our own metal.
Where we run
Bangalore + Czechia
Our own metal · GDPR · DPDPA
