FutureWork
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Menu Menu
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Freelancing in Singapore

Freelancing in Singapore

July 20, 2020/1 Comment/in Job Seeker Advice

Self-employment and freelancing in Singapore account for approximately 8.8 percent of the workforce in the city. Any individual with skills currently in demand can work as a freelancer. Expats experience more difficulty since employment must be secure prior to living in the city for the long-term.

The Difference Between Self Employment and Freelancing

Freelancers

Although freelancers are classified as self employed, there is a difference between the two. A freelancer is an independent contractor. In most cases, a freelancer makes a living by offering services including:

  • Photography
  • Video editing
  • Writing
  • Cleaning
  • Music lessons

Self-Employment

Self-employment is when the individual is running a business as opposed to working for a company owned by someone else. Self employment often means the individual is selling goods or service, with numerous buyers or clients. The individual makes all decisions regarding the business including what is sold, whether to rent space or work from home, and the number of hours worked per week.

A self-employed individual is often referred to as an entrepreneur. Examples of self employment include:

  • Property agents
  • Owners of restaurants
  • Freelance writers
  • Drivers for private-hire

Is Self-Employment Possible for Foreigners in Singapore?

Only citizens or permanent residents can be self-employed legally in Singapore. All self-employed workers are required to make contributions to their Medisave account, and pay income tax. Medisave is used by citizens and permanent residents as a medical savings program. Foreigners are unable to work prior to receiving an S-Pass, Employment Pass or a Work Permit.

Options for Freelancing in Singapore

There are two options for getting around the stipulations for freelancers. The first is establishing a local business. The second option is applying for an Entrepass. The minimum requirement for establishing a local company is having a resident of Singapore as a director. Qualifying for an Enterpass involves raising minimum funding, and incorporating the company. Partnerships can be established with approved organizations.

Is Freelancing Legal When the Spouse or Resident is a Singapore Resident?

If the individual is living in Singapore with a Dependant’s Pass or a or Long Term Visit Pass, working is illegal without a Letter of consent, S-Pass, Work Permit or Employment Pass. The employer must apply for one of the above options through the Ministry of Manpower for the individual to legally work.

The Letter of Consent is not as straightforward of an option as the others. DP and LTVP holders are accommodated through this letter when living in Singapore because of the EP of their spouse. Once the EP expires, the Letter of Consent becomes invalid.

Freelance in Singapore

Do Freelancers Require a Business License to Work?

Although a license is not a requirement for freelancing, a business license is required for specific trades. Running a real estate agency mandates a CEA or Council of Estate Agents license, and licensing is necessary from the LTA or Land Transport Authority when driving for a ride-sharing service. The services and trades requiring the individual to receive a licensed include:

  • Taxi drivers and private car drivers
  • Insurance agents
  • Real estate sales
  • Food stall hawkers

There are generally no licensing requirements for technical or creative services. Despite this, the requirements should checked for the services the individual wants to provide.

Are Freelancers Required to Register?

In most instances, registration with the government is not required for freelancers. As described above, certain services and trades are required to have a license prior to beginning work.

Can Freelancers Working in Singapore Receive Coverage for Health Insurance?

In order for both citizens and residents of Singapore to receive health insurance, contributions must be made to Medishield. Medishield is national health insurance mandatory in Singapore. The yearly premium is affordable, and covers the cost of expensive inpatient hospitalization and medical treatments. Foreigners can eliminate the expense of paying out of pocket for an expensive medical treatment by purchasing expat insurance.

What do Freelancers Need to Know About Obtaining Health Insurance?

A lot of the workers in Singapore obtain health insurance from employers, including expat employees. When an individual does not have a proper employer, health insurance must be purchased separately. There are differences between the health insurance an employer provides, and the health insurance purchased by freelancers. One of the advantages of group health insurance, or insurance provided by an employer is pre-existing conditions are often covered.

When health insurance is purchased by an individual, any pre-existing medical conditions are usually excluded from the benefits of the plan. The downside of belonging to a group plan for health insurance is the choice for specific benefits is generally limited. A good example is an employer not providing coverage for maternity care, vision or dental to decrease the costs. When the plan is selected by the individual, the coverage and benefit levels can be chosen.

Another important difference is self-employed workers do not receive coverage through worker’s compensation insurance. This kind of insurance is usually provided by the employer. This means if the individual is unable to work, there will not be any income available. Protection for income loss is available in Singapore. Business Interruption insurance does provide the individual with some protection when income is lost for the long-term.

If the individual is unable to continue working for any reason, this kind of insurance is often a life saver.

Share on Twitter - Jobs in SG

Where Can Freelancers Get Work in Singapore?

They are three main options for getting clients. These are:

  1. Referrals: Client recommendations are received through word of mouth.
  2. Inbound: Potential clients are attracted to the business through different methods including search engine optimization and content marketing.
  3. Outbound: The individual responds to job ads, or sends out cold emails to attract potential clients.

Three Ways to Obtain Clients

The most appealing of the three options are referrals, followed by inbound, then outbound. When a client is satisfied with the service received, the result is often a referral. This means the individual does not need to find the client. When a freelancer first begins, the chances of either referral or inbound work are fairly slim. This is because time is necessary for the freelancer to gain a good reputation and authority within their industry.

The chance of a new freelancer sitting at a desk during their first day and having an inbox filled with jobs is almost nonexistent. During the short-term, new freelancers need to place their focus on securing outbound work. This can be accomplished in several different ways including:

  • Looking at every job available in the industry on job boards. There are also websites offering freelance jobs to help the individual get started.
  • Telling every individual the freelancer is acquainted with they are now offering freelance work.
  • Sending out cold emails to all potential clients offering freelancing services.

Once the freelancer has acquired more experience, and a network and portfolio have been built, there is a good chance the individual may start receiving both referrals and inbound work. The freelancer should be continually looking for new clients whether or not they have the time for additional work. Without a steady stream of new clients, the freelancer is unable to earn living.


We invite all our blog readers to check back regularly to receive future updates about professional job opportunities and freelancing in Singapore.

Freelancing in Singapore

Related posts:

Freelance Career5 Things to Consider Before Starting a Freelance Career in Singapore What Are the Best Alternatives to Online Job Boards? Jobs in the Singapore Gig Economy - Flag and Peace SignJobs in the Singapore Gig Economy Time and Money - Your First JobHey Job Seekers! There’s More to Your First Job Than Salary
Tags: Can Freelancers Get Work in Singapore, Difference Between Self Employment and Freelancing, Do Freelancers Require a Business License, freelance Singapore, freelancing, freelancing in Singapore, Futurework, Is Self-Employment Possible for Foreigners in Singapore
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
  • Visit us on Yelp
https://futurework.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Freelancing-in-Singapore.jpg 312 820 koen https://futurework.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Future-Work-logo-transparent.png koen2020-07-20 12:33:332020-07-20 12:33:33Freelancing in Singapore
You might also like
Earn a second income Freelancing Use Your Skills to Earn a Second Income Freelancing
Freelance Career 5 Things to Consider Before Starting a Freelance Career in Singapore
Professionals in Singapore want to stay working from home, but with conditions…
Everything You Need To Know About The Cost Of Living In Singapore Everything You Need To Know About The Cost Of Living In Singapore
What Are the Best Alternatives to Online Job Boards?
Post Pandemic – Working from Home is the New Work-From-Home
1 reply
  1. Ayité D'ALMEIDA
    Ayité D'ALMEIDA says:
    August 7, 2020 at 12:42 pm

    Very good article. My situation is this I have dependent pass provided by the ministry of foreign affair because my wife is working here. I have a very nice freelance opportunity for a company based in Belgium. What do I need to do to work from here? The letter of consent has to be signed by an employer but my employer is not her only my remuneration will be paid here. So what to do? Thanks for your help.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • How Much Does a Vet Earn?Comprehensive Examination of Veterinarian Compensation: Elements Affecting Earnings and Sector DevelopmentsMarch 26, 2023 - 1:05 pm
  • Linkedin Profile PhotosEight Photos That Should Not Be on Your LinkedIn ProfileMarch 25, 2023 - 9:31 am
  • Which Industries Require Prompt Engineers Right NowWhich Industries Require Prompt Engineers Right Now?March 13, 2023 - 11:35 am
  • How Much Can an AI Prompt Engineer EarnHow Much Can an AI Prompt Engineer Earn?March 7, 2023 - 11:10 am
  • How to Leverage ChatGPT at Work for Productivity and PerformanceHow to Leverage ChatGPT at Work for Productivity and PerformanceJanuary 27, 2023 - 11:07 am
  • How Much Does an Electrician Earn? How Much Does an Electrician Earn? November 16, 2022 - 2:27 pm
  • How Much Does a Primary School Teacher EarnHow Much Does a Primary School Teacher Earn?November 15, 2022 - 11:40 am
  • How much does a lawyer earnHow Much Does a Lawyer Earn?November 15, 2022 - 10:41 am

Categories

  • Career counseling
  • Competitions
  • Developement
  • Job Seeker Advice
  • Jobs in ASEAN
  • Living in Singapore
  • News
  • Professional Salaries
  • Singapore Jobs in Demand
  • Singapore Salaries
  • Uncategorized
  • Working from Home

News Archives

  • March 2023
  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • September 2022
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017

Contact FutureWork.sg

No 2, Havelock Road, #04-20,
Havelock II, Singapore 059763

contact@futurework.sg

Latest Posts

Comprehensive Examination of Veterinarian Compensation: Elements Affecting Earnings and Sector Developments

https://futurework.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/How-Much-Does-a-Vet-Earn.png 312 820 perry https://futurework.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Future-Work-logo-transparent.png perry2023-03-26 13:05:182023-03-26 13:09:16Comprehensive Examination of Veterinarian Compensation: Elements Affecting Earnings and Sector Developments

Eight Photos That Should Not Be on Your LinkedIn Profile

https://futurework.sg/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Linkedin-Profile-Photos.png 502 990 koen https://futurework.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Future-Work-logo-transparent.png koen2023-03-25 09:31:312023-03-25 09:42:29Eight Photos That Should Not Be on Your LinkedIn Profile

Which Industries Require Prompt Engineers Right Now?

https://futurework.sg/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Which-Industries-Require-Prompt-Engineers-Right-Now.png 312 820 perry https://futurework.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Future-Work-logo-transparent.png perry2023-03-13 11:35:092023-03-13 11:35:11Which Industries Require Prompt Engineers Right Now?

About FutureWork

FutureWork is a dedicated team of bloggers whose passion is to connect job seekers with valuable career information and salary expectations.

Disclaimer

We mention and link to various courses and products.

Assume those links are affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you click and buy at no extra cost to you.

© Future Work™ 2023. All Rights Reserved. Built with Love & Money in Singapore.
Accesibility | Terms and Conditions | Sitemap | Privacy Policy

Related posts:

Freelance Career5 Things to Consider Before Starting a Freelance Career in Singapore What Are the Best Alternatives to Online Job Boards? Jobs in the Singapore Gig Economy - Flag and Peace SignJobs in the Singapore Gig Economy Time and Money - Your First JobHey Job Seekers! There’s More to Your First Job Than Salary
Use Your Skills to Earn a Second Income FreelancingEarn a second income FreelancingHow to Successfully Work an Office Job from Home
Scroll to top