Winning a government grant is only the beginning. Many Singapore business owners focus so much energy on the application process that they are caught off guard by the obligations that follow — detailed record-keeping, claims submission, progress reporting, site inspections, and the ever-present risk of clawback if something goes wrong. This guide explains exactly what happens after your Singapore government grant is approved, and how to meet your post-approval obligations for the most common grants: the EDGE Grant (EDG, PSG, MRA), the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC), and other Enterprise Singapore programmes.

For an overview of available Singapore grants and how to choose between them, see our multi-grant stacking strategy guide. For the broader Singapore company compliance picture, see our Singapore Company Compliance Calendar.

What Happens Immediately After Your Grant Is Approved?

When Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) or another grant-administering agency approves your application, you will typically receive:

  • An approval letter setting out the approved activities, the funding quantum (typically 50%–70% of qualifying costs), the claim period, and any conditions attached to the grant.
  • A Letter of Offer (LOO) for larger grants (especially EDG): a formal document you must sign and return to EnterpriseSG to formally accept the grant terms before commencing activities.
  • A grant reference number for all future correspondence and claims.

Before spending a cent on the approved activity, read the LOO carefully. It specifies what costs are claimable, the start and end dates of the eligible activity period, reporting requirements, and the consequences of non-compliance. Proceeding on assumptions that differ from what the LOO states is the most common source of grant problems.

The Claim Period: What You Must Do During the Project

Commence Activities Within the Approved Timeline

Most grants have a window within which the approved activity must commence and be completed. For PSG (now EDGE Grant), this is typically tied to the vendor’s implementation timeline. For EDG projects, this can range from 6 months to 2 years depending on project complexity. Failing to commence activities within the approved window can result in partial or full revocation of the grant.

Keep All Receipts, Invoices, and Contracts

This is the most important habit to establish from day one. For every qualifying cost — consultant fees, software licences, training fees, equipment purchases — retain:

  • The original invoice from the vendor.
  • Proof of payment (bank statement or transaction receipt showing the amount transferred and the payee).
  • A copy of any contract or agreement with the vendor.
  • For manpower costs: timesheets, employment contracts, and payroll records.

EnterpriseSG auditors require these documents to verify that costs were actually incurred and paid, and that they correspond to the approved activity. Missing documentation is grounds for disallowing the cost — even if the work was genuinely done.

Document Project Progress

For EDG projects in particular, keep records of project milestones, meeting notes with your external consultant, deliverables received, and any changes to the project scope. If the project deviates from the original proposal, you must notify EnterpriseSG in advance — undisclosed changes discovered during a site inspection can result in claw back of the entire grant.

How to Submit a Grant Claim

Step 1: Access the Business Grants Portal

All grant claims for EnterpriseSG programmes are submitted via the Business Grants Portal (BGP) at businessgrants.gov.sg. Log in using Corppass to access your company’s active grants and claim submissions.

Step 2: Prepare Your Supporting Documents

Before starting the claim, gather:

  • Invoices and receipts for all qualifying costs incurred during the claim period.
  • Bank statements or payment confirmations showing that all costs have been paid (not merely incurred).
  • For EDG: a progress/completion report describing what was done, the outcomes achieved, and any outcomes metrics (e.g. productivity improvement, new markets entered).
  • For PSG: vendor completion documentation confirming that the pre-approved solution has been implemented.
  • For manpower costs: CPF statements and employment records.

Step 3: Submit the Claim on BGP

Upload the documents on the BGP portal and complete the claim form, which asks you to break down the qualifying costs by category. For EDG grants with milestone-based disbursement, you may submit multiple partial claims throughout the project period.

Step 4: Respond to Queries and Attend Inspections

EnterpriseSG claims officers may request additional documents or clarification, or may arrange a site inspection to verify that the grant-funded activity was genuinely carried out. Respond promptly and accurately — delays in responding can delay your disbursement or result in the claim lapsing.

Step 5: Receive Disbursement

Once EnterpriseSG is satisfied with the claim, the approved grant amount is disbursed via GIRO to your company’s bank account. Disbursement typically takes 4 to 8 weeks after a complete claim is submitted. Keep the disbursement confirmation for your records.

Post-Disbursement Obligations

Receiving the grant payment does not end your obligations. Most grant approval letters include conditions that continue after disbursement:

Outcome Reporting

EDG recipients are typically required to report on outcomes 6–12 months after project completion. EnterpriseSG uses these outcome reports to assess whether the grant achieved its intended purpose (e.g. productivity gains, new market entry, capability upgrade). Outcome reports are submitted via the BGP portal.

Record Retention

You must retain all grant-related financial records for a minimum of 5 years from the date of disbursement. EnterpriseSG and the Auditor-General’s Office have the right to audit grant recipients at any time within this period. If your records are incomplete, EnterpriseSG can reclaim the disbursed amount.

Notify EnterpriseSG of Material Changes

You must notify EnterpriseSG if there are material changes to your company during the grant period, including:

  • Change of company ownership (change of directors or shareholders holding more than 30%).
  • Ceasing the activity for which the grant was approved.
  • Merger, acquisition, or disposal of the business unit involved in the project.

Failing to notify EnterpriseSG of material changes may constitute a breach of the grant conditions and trigger claw back.

Clawback: When Does EnterpriseSG Recover Grants?

A grant clawback occurs when EnterpriseSG determines that the grant recipient did not comply with the grant conditions and demands repayment of the disbursed amount (or part of it). Common clawback triggers include:

  • Costs not incurred or not paid: Claiming for costs that were quoted but not actually paid.
  • Activity not completed as approved: The project deviated substantially from what was described in the application without approval.
  • Ineligible costs claimed: Claiming costs that are outside the approved categories (e.g. claiming internal staff costs when only external consultant fees were approved).
  • False declarations: Providing false or misleading information in the application or claim — this can attract criminal liability under the Penal Code in addition to clawback.
  • Company closure: If the company is wound up or struck off within a specified period (often 3 years) after disbursement, EnterpriseSG may seek recovery from the directors.

SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC): How Claims Work

For companies using SFEC to offset training and workforce development costs, the claim process differs from project grants. SFEC is applied as an offset against training programme fees at the point of payment — you pay net of the SFEC subsidy and the training provider claims the balance directly from the SWDA (formerly SkillsFuture Singapore). However, your company must meet ongoing eligibility conditions (CPF contributions, active status) to continue benefiting. Employers should verify their SFEC balance on the BGP portal before approving large training bookings.

For more detail on SFEC and related grants for workforce development, see our SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit 2026 guide.

Practical Grant Compliance Checklist

  • ☐ Signed and returned the Letter of Offer within the stipulated deadline.
  • ☐ Commenced activities within the approved start date.
  • ☐ Created a project folder to store all invoices, contracts, and receipts.
  • ☐ Confirmed all costs are being paid (not just accrued) before claiming.
  • ☐ Kept timesheets and payroll records for any manpower costs being claimed.
  • ☐ Set a calendar reminder for the claim submission deadline.
  • ☐ Noted the outcome reporting due date (if applicable).
  • ☐ Retained all records in a retrievable format for 5 years.
  • ☐ Notified EnterpriseSG of any material changes to the company or project scope.

For the latest Singapore grant updates and eligibility changes, there are useful resources to help SMEs stay current on available government support.

If you need legal advice on a grant dispute, clawback notice, or compliance issue, professional legal guidance is important to protect your company’s position.

Beyond grants, sound financial planning and investment decisions help Singapore business owners build sustainable long-term value.

For assistance with grant applications, post-approval compliance, and all your corporate secretarial and accounting obligations, Raffles Corporate Services provides end-to-end support for Singapore SMEs.

To speak with the team at Raffles Corporate Services, you can email [email protected] or call, SMS, or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133. We are happy to assist with any queries.

— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services