PSG Grant for Digital Marketing in Singapore: What SMEs Can Claim

The PSG supports pre-approved digital solutions under IMDA's SMEs Go Digital programme. For digital marketing, this includes:

• Website design and development — new business websites, e-commerce stores, web applications
• Search engine optimisation (SEO) — on-page optimisation, content marketing, technical SEO
• Search engine marketing (SEM) — Google Ads campaign setup and management fees
• Social media marketing — Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn campaign management
• E-commerce platforms — online stores with payment integration, inventory management
• Marketing automation and CRM — tools for customer engagement and lead nurturing
• GenAI solutions (new in 2025) — AI-powered marketing, sales, and customer engagement tools

Important distinction: The PSG covers management and service fees — not actual ad spend. So your SEO retainer is covered, but the $2,000 you spend on Google Ads clicks each month is not. The grant pays for the expertise, not the media budget.

The maximum grant is S$30,000 per company per financial year (April to March). At 50% subsidy, that means up to $60,000 in qualifying solutions before you hit the cap.

You qualify for the PSG if your business meets ALL of these criteria:

1. Registered and operating in Singapore
2. At least 30% local shareholding — by Singapore citizens or Permanent Residents (based on ultimate beneficial ownership)
3. Group annual sales turnover not exceeding S$100 million — or fewer than 200 employees (this applies at the group level, not just your entity)

That's it. No minimum revenue requirement. No minimum number of employees. If you're a one-person company with $50,000 in annual revenue, you qualify — as long as you meet the 30% local shareholding requirement.

Most Singapore SMEs qualify. The main disqualifier is foreign-majority ownership (common for Singapore branches of overseas companies).

The application process is straightforward, but the order matters. Get it wrong and your application gets rejected.

1. Check your eligibility — use the GoBusiness eligibility checker to confirm
2. Browse pre-approved solutions — visit the GoBusiness portal and filter by "Digital Marketing" or "E-Commerce." Only pre-approved solutions qualify
3. Contact a pre-approved vendor — get a formal quotation. The quotation must match the pre-approved package exactly
4. Submit your application via the Business Grants Portal — log in with your company's CorpPass. Attach your ACRA business profile, vendor quotation, and company financial documents
5. Wait for approval (4–6 weeks) — you'll receive a Letter of Offer with the approved grant amount
6. THEN sign the vendor contract — only after receiving your Letter of Offer. This is critical
7. Implement the solution — work with your vendor. The solution must be used for a minimum of 30 days
8. Submit your claim — provide the signed quotation, vendor invoice, proof of full payment, and usage evidence
9. Receive disbursement — approximately 14 working days via PayNow Corporate

Note: you pay the vendor in full first, then claim the grant reimbursement. It's a reimbursement scheme, not an upfront discount. Budget for the full amount and treat the grant as a refund.

We've seen businesses lose their grant eligibility over avoidable errors. Don't make these mistakes:

1. Signing a contract before grant approval — this is the #1 rejection reason. The PSG does not support retrospective purchases. Apply first, then sign. Always
2. Choosing a non-pre-approved vendor — only IMDA pre-approved vendors qualify. Working with anyone else, regardless of quality, means zero reimbursement. Verify vendor status on the GoBusiness portal
3. Incomplete documentation — typos in your UEN, mismatched addresses between documents, missing financial statements. Triple-check everything
4. Quotation doesn't match the pre-approved package — the vendor quotation must reflect the exact pre-approved solution. No custom pricing, no prorated packages
5. Applying for a previously funded category — you can't apply for the same PSG solution category twice
6. Exceeding the cap at group level — the $100M turnover and 200-employee limits apply to your entire corporate group, not just your entity

The easiest way to avoid these mistakes: choose your vendor first and let them guide you through the application. Good vendors have processed dozens of PSG applications and know exactly what's needed.

The PSG isn't the only game in town. Depending on your business stage and goals, these grants may also apply:

Enterprise Development Grant (EDG):

• Up to 50% funding for strategic brand and marketing development projects
• No fixed cap (projects typically $40,000 to six figures)
• Covers brand strategy, marketing strategy, and digital transformation
• Higher bar: requires ~$400K+ annual turnover, 5+ employees, 3 years of audited accounts
• Best for larger SMEs doing comprehensive rebranding or marketing transformation

Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant:

• 50% funding, up to $100,000 per new overseas market
• Covers overseas digital marketing, market promotion, business development
• Best for Singapore businesses expanding internationally

IMDA CTO-as-a-Service (CTOaaS):

• Free digital health check and advisory consultation
• Covers sales and marketing technology assessment
• Good starting point if you're unsure what digital solutions you need

Not sure which grant fits? Start with the free CTOaaS consultation — it'll help you identify the right solutions and the best funding pathway.

Getting the grant is step one. Making the most of it is step two.

• Bundle services strategically — instead of applying for just a website, look for pre-approved packages that include web design + SEO + content marketing. You get more value within the same grant cap
• Choose a vendor who delivers results, not just deliverables — a pre-approved vendor who builds a beautiful website that doesn't rank or convert is a waste of your 50%. Look for vendors with measurable client results
• Plan for what comes after the grant — the PSG covers the initial setup, but digital marketing is ongoing. Budget for continued SEO, content creation, and campaign management after the grant period ends
• Stack with SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit (SFEC) — eligible businesses can use SFEC credits alongside PSG for additional savings on management fees
• Apply early in your financial year — the $30K cap resets every April. Apply early to secure your allocation

The businesses that get the most value from PSG are the ones who treat it as an investment catalyst — not free money. Use the grant to fund the right foundation (a fast, SEO-optimised website + initial marketing), then build on that foundation with ongoing effort.