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SME financing in Singapore: the big picture
A map of how Singapore SMEs fund themselves: where the money comes from, who lends, the main types of financing, and where to start.
Read the big pictureIn this guide
All guides, big to small
Five groups, from big to small.
Start with the big picture, then read the group that fits what you need. 8 guides are drafted and checked against official sources, pending final review. Two more are coming soon.
Start here
The big picture, who lends, and the two broad types of business financing.
SME financing in Singapore: the big picture
A map of how Singapore SMEs fund themselves: where the money comes from, who lends, the main types of financing, and where to start.
Read guide →Types of business lenders in Singapore
Banks, digital banks, finance companies, licensed moneylenders, fintech lenders, business lending companies, and the brokers and consultants between them: what each one is, how they differ, and how to check who you are dealing with.
Read guide →Types of business financing in Singapore: unsecured vs secured
The two broad types of business financing: unsecured (working capital term loans, trade financing) and secured (property-backed), how they differ, and the questions to ask.
Read guide →Unsecured financing
Financing with no property or other asset pledged. Lenders often still ask directors for a personal guarantee.
Working capital loans: how they work, what lenders ask for
The common forms of working capital financing, how repayment works, and what banks usually look at.
Read guide →Invoice financing in Singapore, explained simply
How businesses turn unpaid invoices into cash sooner, what recourse means, and what it really costs.
Read guide →Invoice financing sits here because no property is pledged. The invoices themselves are usually assigned or pledged to the provider.
Secured financing
Financing backed by property or another asset that the lender can sell if the loan is not repaid.
Property-backed business financing
Buying, refinancing or borrowing against business property: how it works, what is involved and the risks.
Not written yetLeasing vs hire purchase for equipment
Two common ways to pay for an asset over time, and how they differ.
Not written yetUntil these guides are written, our types of financing guide explains property-backed financing and its risks. [TO CONFIRM: leasing and hire purchase grouped under secured, as the asset backs the deal]
Government-supported schemes
EnterpriseSG shares part of the lender's risk. A scheme, not a type of financing: it runs across loan types.
Costs and preparing
How to compare what offers really cost, what to prepare, and the red flags.
Flat rate vs effective interest rate (EIR)
Why a 4.5% flat rate is not 4.5% a year, with a worked example you can check yourself.
Read guide →Preparing to apply: documents and red flags
What to gather before you speak to a lender, and the warning signs of a loan scam or a bad deal.
Read guide →At a glance
What does each guide cover?
| Guide | What it covers | Group |
|---|---|---|
| SME financing in Singapore: the big picture | How Singapore SMEs fund themselves: who lends, the key players, the main types of financing and where to start. Plain English. Not a lender. | 1 · Start here |
| Types of business lenders in Singapore | Banks, digital banks, finance companies, moneylenders, fintech lenders, business lending companies and brokers: what each one is and how to check. | 1 · Start here |
| Types of business financing in Singapore: unsecured vs secured | The two broad types of business financing in Singapore: unsecured (working capital term loans, trade financing) and secured (property-backed), compared. | 1 · Start here |
| Working capital loans: how they work, what lenders ask for | What a working capital loan is, the common forms (term loan, revolving credit, overdraft), how repayment works and what lenders usually ask for. | 2 · Unsecured financing |
| Invoice financing in Singapore, explained simply | How invoice financing and factoring work in Singapore, recourse vs non-recourse, what it costs and what providers ask for. General information only. | 2 · Unsecured financing |
| The Enterprise Financing Scheme (EFS), explained | What Singapore's Enterprise Financing Scheme is, what EnterpriseSG risk share means, who can apply, the loan types and the 2026–27 enhancements. | 4 · Government-supported schemes |
| Flat rate vs effective interest rate (EIR) | Why a flat rate looks cheaper than it is, how EIR works, a worked example and how to check a repayment schedule yourself. Uses MoneySense guidance. | 5 · Costs and preparing |
| Preparing to apply: documents and red flags | The documents Singapore lenders usually ask for, what else to have ready, and the warning signs of loan scams and unlicensed moneylenders. | 5 · Costs and preparing |
Terms used across the guides are defined in the SME financing glossary.
General, never a sales pitch
Our guides explain types of financing, not specific lenders or products. Riverell is not a lender and does not provide financial advice. Always check terms with the provider directly.