While some is at home with the 9 to 5 life, others prefer to try their hands at being an entrepreneur. So you have your ideas (and probably) products ready, but hold on, have you registered your business?

If you’re not sure on where and how you can register your business (or company) in Malaysia, check out our complete guide and start your business registration process today!

What Types of Businesses Are Available in Malaysia?

First off, you need to decide on what type of business is suitable for you. There are 3 most common types of businesses that you can register for in Malaysia. They are:

• Sole Proprietorship (i.e. Enterprise or Trading)
• Partnership (e.g. Wandagal and Partners)
• Sendirian Berhad (i.e. Sdn Bhd or Private Limited)

The first two options are easily the most popular business options among the new Small Medium Enterprise registration Malaysia – simply because they’re the cheapest options (we’ll get to the fees later).

One thing that you do need to note is that a Sole Proprietorship business can only have one registered owner, while a Partnership business in can be registered under two owners and can have as many as twenty registered partners.

On the contrary, a Sdn Bhd business needs to have a minimum of one director who do not have a bankruptcy status as well as a minimum of one shareholder. All business needs to be legally registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM). Here’s a simple table of the differences of the three business types to help you understand them better:

Who is Companies Commission Malaysia (SSM)?

The SSM (also known as Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia is a statutory body that regulates the companies and businesses in Malaysia. They also help to provide company and business information to the public.

Once you’ve registered your business with the SSM, a Business Registration Certificate will be issued to you within an hour (if you register and make the payments at any one of the SSM branches). It’s valid for between one to five years (depending on which you decide on) and can be renewed on an annual basis.

No matter how small your business is, it’s advisable to register with the SSM before you operate to avoid the legal consequences. According to SSM, anyone who carries on with a business without a valid Business Registration Certificate (which can only be obtained from SSM) could potentially be looking at a fine of up to RM50,000 or a maximum of two years of imprisonment.

If you’re not sure where the nearest SSM branch is, you can easily look it up on their website. There’s at least one branch in every state in Malaysia, so you can be sure to find one closest to you. Alternatively, you can also register your business online through SSM e-Lodgement, although the waiting period may be slightly longer compared to a walk-in registration.

What Are the Documents I Need To Start a Business?

In general, the most basic documents you’ll need are a photocopy of your (and the co-owner’s) identification card (NRIC), your suggested business name (have several names prepared in case they’re already taken by others) and complete business registration forms. Here’s a list of the registration forms that you’ll need to complete before you walk-into an SSM branch:

● Business Name Approval Form (Form PNA.42) (Only if you’re not using your own name)

● Business Registration Form (Form A)

These two forms are the most basic forms that you need to complete if you’re registering for either a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership business. As for an Sdn Bhd business, there are more forms that you’ll need to complete and requirements that you’ll need to fulfill (such as legally hiring a company secretary). For a complete guide on how to register a Sdb Bhd business, check out the Local Company Incorporation Guidelines by SSM.