I don’t know, and I don’t think so, but I would like to find out one day.

Since young, I’ve always wanted to open up my own business. A quirky shop which has a similar concept to Naiise and Muji, selling with items from M-io gift in the past (quirky pens and stationary), in a joint donut-shop with the taste of J.Co and cronuts. In the middle of the shop will be the seats and tables. The interior is bright, with the eye-catching and cute interior design of the POV of being in a strawberry to attract the attention of customers.

On average, one needs at least $120,000 to open a food shop – $40,000 spent on renovations, another $30,000 on equipment, $20,000 rental deposit (this would have probably increased with inflation), $5,000 miscellaneous, and $25,000 to float. You even need to set up a Pte Ltd account for a retail business.

If it is just a pop-up stall, a minimum of $10,000 to $15,000 is needed. To sell ready-made items, rental will be the main cost to factor in.

Online business would also have some cost needed to survive.

This is only one aspect of a business, and it already sounds daunting. Sometimes, it is easy to overlook the hidden hard work to realise a dream, and the efforts taken by someone.

Big props to entrepreneurs who put in the hard work to get to where they are today. Because it is probably not easy and not fun at the start.

(Original post was written in 2020.)