← Singapore hubs Make-up Artist
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As a freelance make-up artist in Singapore, I balance the hustle of back-to-back bridal bookings with the reality of managing my own taxes and CPF. This hub tracks the essential national schemes that keep my business compliant and my personal finances stable, while state-level (local) initiatives are covered in the regional section.
Essential for managing my self-employed status and accessing business grants.
Self-Employed Person (SEP) CPF Contribution national · CPF Board
Who qualifies Singaporeans/PRs who are self-employed and earn >$6,000 annual net trade income.
What you get Mandatory MediSave contributions to ensure healthcare coverage.
What it actually costs you Annual contribution based on net trade income; requires Singpass.
Common gotcha Many freelancers forget to declare their net trade income annually, leading to late payment penalties.
SkillsFuture Credit national · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Singaporeans aged 25 and above.
What you get $500 initial credit + $500 top-up for approved courses.
What it actually costs you None; credit is pre-loaded into your account.
Common gotcha Credits expire if not used for specific certified courses; check the course directory carefully.
Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Registered businesses with at least 30% local shareholding.
What you get Funding for business upgrading, innovation, or internationalization projects.
What it actually costs you Requires a detailed project proposal and business plan.
Common gotcha The application process is rigorous; you must show how the grant creates tangible business growth.
Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Businesses registered and operating in Singapore.
What you get Up to 50% funding for IT solutions or equipment to boost productivity.
What it actually costs you Must purchase pre-approved solutions from listed vendors.
Common gotcha Funding is only for pre-approved packages; custom solutions are rarely covered.
BizFile+ Registration national · ACRA
Who qualifies Anyone starting a sole proprietorship or partnership.
What you get Legal status to operate a business in Singapore.
What it actually costs you $15 for name application + $100 for registration fee.
Common gotcha You must renew your registration annually to avoid fines.
Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) national · Ministry of Manpower
Who qualifies Employees and specific classes of contractors.
What you get Compensation for work-related injuries or illnesses.
What it actually costs you Requires medical reports and proof of employment/contract.
Common gotcha Freelancers often assume they are covered; check your specific contract status. As a freelancer, I don't have company insurance, so these are my safety nets.
MediShield Life national · CPF Board
Who qualifies All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.
What you get Basic health insurance for large hospital bills and selected outpatient treatments.
What it actually costs you Premiums paid via MediSave account.
Common gotcha It is a basic plan; many choose to buy an Integrated Shield Plan (IP) for private hospital coverage.
Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Singaporeans based on household income or annual value of home.
What you get Subsidies for medical and dental care at participating GP and dental clinics.
What it actually costs you None; just present your card at the clinic.
Common gotcha You must visit a CHAS-accredited clinic to get the subsidy.
Screen for Life national · Health Promotion Board
Who qualifies Singaporeans and PRs eligible for age-appropriate screenings.
What you get Highly subsidized health screenings for chronic diseases.
What it actually costs you Low fixed fee (usually $5 or less) at participating clinics.
Common gotcha You must check your eligibility on the portal before booking.
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 Premiums paid via MediSave.
Common gotcha It is a long-term scheme; you won't see immediate benefits until needed.
National Vaccination Programme national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Free or heavily subsidized vaccinations for recommended diseases.
What it actually costs you None at polyclinics.
Common gotcha Check if your specific vaccine is part of the national subsidy list.
Polyclinic Outpatient Subsidies national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies All Singaporeans.
What you get Tiered subsidies for consultation and medication at public polyclinics.
What it actually costs you Standard consultation fees.
Common gotcha Wait times can be long; book appointments via the HealthHub app. Freelancers have to be extra careful with tax filing and retirement planning.
Income Tax Filing for Sole Proprietors national · IRAS
Who qualifies All self-employed individuals earning income.
What you get Legal compliance and tax assessment.
What it actually costs you Requires keeping records of all business expenses for 5 years.
Common gotcha Failing to deduct allowable business expenses can lead to overpaying tax.
Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) national · Ministry of Finance
Who qualifies Singaporeans/PRs/Foreigners aged 18+.
What you get Tax relief on voluntary contributions for retirement.
What it actually costs you Money is locked until retirement age.
Common gotcha Withdrawals before retirement age are subject to a 5% penalty.
Voluntary CPF Top-ups national · CPF Board
Who qualifies All CPF members.
What you get Higher interest rates on retirement savings.
What it actually costs you Cash outflow; non-reversible.
Common gotcha Once transferred to your Special Account, it cannot be withdrawn for business use.
GST Registration national · IRAS
Who qualifies Businesses with annual taxable turnover >$1M.
What you get Ability to charge GST and claim input tax.
What it actually costs you Strict accounting and quarterly filing requirements.
Common gotcha If your income is near $1M, monitor your turnover closely to avoid late registration penalties.
Tax Deduction for Donations national · IRAS
Who qualifies All tax-paying individuals.
What you get 250% tax deduction on qualifying donations.
What it actually costs you Donation amount.
Common gotcha Only donations to Institutions of a Public Character (IPC) qualify.
Baby Bonus Scheme national · MSF
Who qualifies Parents of Singaporean children.
What you get Cash gift and matching savings in the CDA account.
What it actually costs you None.
Common gotcha The CDA funds can only be used at approved institutions (e.g., childcare, medical). I'm always on the move for bridal shoots; transport and public services are key.
Workfare Transport Concession national · LTA
Who qualifies Low-income workers on the Workfare Income Supplement scheme.
What you get Discounted public transport fares.
What it actually costs you Requires application for the concession card.
Common gotcha Eligibility is tied to your Workfare status, which is reviewed annually.
HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) Letter national · HDB
Who qualifies Singaporeans looking to buy a public flat.
What you get Confirmation of eligibility to buy, take loans, and receive grants.
What it actually costs you Requires Singpass and income documentation.
Common gotcha You must have a valid HFE letter before you can even view or book a flat.
NLB Membership national · National Library Board
Who qualifies All citizens and residents.
What you get Access to books, digital resources, and study spaces.
What it actually costs you Free for citizens.
Common gotcha Fines apply for late returns; use the app to track due dates.
Singpass national · GovTech
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Secure access to all government and many private services.
What it actually costs you None.
Common gotcha Keep your password and 2FA secure; never share it with anyone.
LifeSG App national · GovTech
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Consolidated access to government services and benefits.
What it actually costs you None.
Common gotcha It's a portal for many services; you still need to log into specific agency sites for complex tasks.
U-Save Rebates national · Ministry of Finance
Who qualifies Eligible HDB households.
What you get Quarterly rebates on utility bills.
What it actually costs you None; automatically credited.
Common gotcha It's tied to the HDB address; if you move, update your address immediately. 1states & territories — open one to see what it offers.
Singapore新加坡 Singapore offers a unique ecosystem of SkillsFuture credits and SME grants that allow freelance make-up artists to professionalize their craft and manage business overheads effectively.
SkillsFuture Credit national · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above.
What you get S$500 opening credit plus periodic top-ups for approved vocational courses.
What it actually costs you Zero cash; requires Singpass login to book courses.
Common gotcha Credits expire if not used, and some courses are only partially claimable.
Training Allowance Grant national · SkillsFuture Singapore
Who qualifies Self-employed individuals attending specific industry-relevant training.
What you get Hourly allowance to offset the time spent away from client work.
What it actually costs you Must complete the course and submit attendance records.
Common gotcha Only applies to courses specifically tagged with the grant.
Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP) community · NTUC
Who qualifies NTUC Union members.
What you get 50% funding for course fees, capped at S$250 per year.
What it actually costs you Annual union membership fee.
Common gotcha Must be a paid-up member before course commencement.
Self-Employed Person (SEP) MediSave Contribution Relief national · CPF Board
Who qualifies Freelance make-up artists contributing to their own MediSave account.
What you get Tax relief on voluntary MediSave contributions.
What it actually costs you Requires annual tax filing via IRAS.
Common gotcha Does not apply to mandatory contributions, only voluntary top-ups.
Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) national · Enterprise Singapore
Who qualifies Registered sole-proprietorships or businesses in Singapore.
What you get Up to 50% funding for pre-approved digital booking or accounting software.
What it actually costs you Must purchase from pre-approved vendors.
Common gotcha The paperwork can be tedious for a one-person business.
Work Injury Compensation Insurance national · Ministry of Manpower
Who qualifies Self-employed persons opting for coverage.
What you get Financial protection if injured while working on a project.
What it actually costs you Annual premium based on risk profile.
Common gotcha Many freelancers skip this, but it is vital for high-end studio work.
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
