START A COMPANY / ASIA-PACIFIC
How to register a company in Malaysia
Companies are incorporated online through SSM's MyCoID: RM50 name reservation and RM1,000 incorporation for a Sdn Bhd. You need at least one director resident in Malaysia, one shareholder and a licensed Malaysian company secretary. Registration typically takes 1–5 working days.
- REGISTRY
- Companies Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, SSM): MyCoID
- ONLINE
- Fully online
- FROM
- MYR 60 (≈ £11)
- STRUCTURES HERE
- 3
Setting up from abroad
Yes: 100% foreign ownership is allowed in most sectors, but a Sdn Bhd needs one director ordinarily resident in Malaysia and a licensed local company secretary. To hire expatriates, MIDA expects RM500,000 paid-up capital if 100% foreign-owned (RM1 million for foreign-owned trading). Foreigners generally cannot register sole proprietorships.
PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
Sdn Bhd: Sendirian Berhad (private company limited by shares)
Most local and foreign-owned businesses wanting limited liability and credibility with banks, customers and investors.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 shareholder (any nationality), 1 director ordinarily resident in Malaysia and 1 Malaysian-resident licensed company secretary
- Minimum capital
- RM1 by law; higher paid-up capital (e.g. RM500,000) for foreign-owned companies that hire expatriates
- Time
- 1–2 weeks (SSM often registers within 1–5 working days of submission)
Steps
Choose a name and reserve it on MyCoID (RM50 per application, valid 30 days).
Appoint a licensed company secretary (member of MAICSA, MIA or the Malaysian Bar, or SSM-licensed) and a registered office in Malaysia; the secretary usually submits the application.
Prepare the constitution (or use the default), director and shareholder details, share capital and consent forms; foreign directors supply certified passport copies.
Submit the incorporation application on MyCoID and pay RM1,000; SSM issues the certificate of incorporation and company number, typically within 1–5 working days.
Open a corporate bank account with the certificate, constitution and board resolution (foreign-owned accounts can take 2–6 weeks).
Register for income tax with LHDN and, if hiring, with EPF, SOCSO and EIS; register for SST once taxable turnover passes RM500,000.
Foreign-owned: check equity or licence conditions with the sector regulator and apply through ESD or MIDA for expatriate passes.
Documents
- Certified passport (or MyKad) and address proof for each director and shareholder
- Consent to act as director and secretary; statutory declarations
- Registered office address in Malaysia
- Company constitution (optional)
- Company secretary's SSM licence or professional-body membership details
Official fees
RM50 name reservation (30 days) + RM1,000 incorporation for a company limited by shares; annual return RM150; lodging financial statements RM50 (audited) or RM20 (unaudited).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | MYR 1,050≈ £190 | Official fees: RM50 name reservation + RM1,000 incorporation (a licensed secretary must file) |
| With an accountant or agent | MYR 2,200≈ £400 | With a company-secretary firm incl. fees, registered office and first-year secretary (about RM1,800–3,000) |
| Full service | MYR 8,000≈ £1,500 | Lawyer/corporate package: bank help, SST and expat-pass preparation, year-one compliance (about RM5,000–10,000) |
Every year
- File the annual return with SSM (RM150) within 30 days of the anniversary of incorporation
- Lodge financial statements with SSM (RM50 audited, RM20 unaudited); private companies must be audited unless exempt
- File the corporate income-tax return (Form C) within 7 months of year-end; the rate is 24%, with 15%/17% SME bands on the first RM600,000
- Pay EPF, SOCSO and EIS contributions monthly and file SST returns if registered
- Update SSM within 14 days of changes in directors or the registered office
Good to know. SSM fees verified on the SSM table of fees. unverified: director/secretary and filing-deadline details are from the Companies Act 2016 as commonly summarised; foreign-ownership limits vary by sector.
SOLE TRADER
Sole proprietorship: Sole proprietorship (Registration of Businesses Act 1956)
Malaysian citizens and permanent residents running small shops or freelance work; simple but unlimited liability and not open to foreigners.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 1 Malaysian citizen or permanent resident aged 18+
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- Same day to 3 days
Steps
Search and apply for the business name through SSM's ezBiz online service.
Register the business on ezBiz with your MyKad, nature of business and address.
Pay the SSM fee (RM30 a year for a name in your own name, RM60 a year for a trade name) and download the registration certificate.
Apply for the local council business licence and any sector permits.
Register for income tax as a self-employed person and for self-employed EPF/SOCSO schemes as needed.
Documents
- MyKad of the owner
- Business address proof
- Proposed business name and business activity code
Official fees
SSM: RM30 per year for registration under the owner's name, RM60 per year for a trade name; RM5 per year per branch; renewals at the same rates.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | MYR 60≈ £11 | DIY on ezBiz: RM60 one-year trade-name registration (RM30 under your own name) |
| With an accountant or agent | MYR 300≈ £55 | With an agent handling registration and licences (about RM200–500) |
| Full service | MYR 1,500≈ £270 | Agent handles registration, council licence, tax set-up and bookkeeping start (about) |
Every year
- Renew the SSM registration every year (RM30 or RM60)
- File the personal income-tax return (Form B, due 30 June for business income)
- Register for and file SST if taxable turnover exceeds RM500,000
Good to know. SSM ROB fees verified; the page was last updated in 2018. unverified: that foreigners cannot register sole proprietorships (general SSM/ROBA practice).
LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP
LLP: Limited Liability Partnership (LLP Act 2012)
Professional firms and small joint ventures wanting limited liability for partners with simpler compliance than a Sdn Bhd.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 2 partners (individuals or companies) and 1 compliance officer who is a Malaysian citizen or permanent resident
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1–2 weeks
Steps
Reserve the LLP name on SSM's MyLLP portal (about RM50).
Prepare the LLP agreement and partner details; appoint a compliance officer and a registered office in Malaysia.
Submit the registration on MyLLP and pay the fee (about RM500).
Receive the LLP certificate and open a bank account.
Register the LLP for tax and any employer or SST accounts as needed.
Documents
- LLP agreement
- Passport or MyKad and address proof for each partner
- Compliance officer's details (MyKad)
- Registered office address
Official fees
About RM500 registration plus about RM50 for name reservation (secondary sources; SSM table not checked).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | MYR 550≈ £100 | Official fees: about RM50 name + RM500 registration (unverified) |
| With an accountant or agent | MYR 1,500≈ £270 | With a company-secretary firm preparing the agreement and filing (about) |
| Full service | MYR 5,000≈ £910 | Lawyer-led package with agreement, compliance officer service and tax set-up (about) |
Every year
- File the annual return and solvency statement with SSM each year
- File the LLP's tax return and partners' individual returns
- Update SSM on changes in partners, compliance officer or address
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: LLP fees and requirements from secondary sources; MyLLP details not checked on ssm.com.my.
After you register
- Register the company for income tax with LHDN (Inland Revenue Board) via e-Daftar; the corporate rate is 24% with 15%/17% bands for qualifying SMEs
- Register for Sales and Service Tax with Royal Malaysian Customs once taxable turnover exceeds RM500,000
- e-Invoicing through MyInvois is being phased in by turnover (RM1 million and above from 1 Jan 2026): check LHDN's schedule
- Employer registrations with EPF (KWSP), SOCSO (PERKESO) and EIS; the HRD Corp levy applies to many employers with 10 or more staff
- Open a corporate bank account; foreign-owned companies may be asked for a business plan and proof of capital
- Keep beneficial-ownership and member registers and lodge changes with SSM
- Local council business licences and sector approvals (for example KPDN for distributive trade); expatriate passes via ESD or MIDA need RM500,000 paid-up capital for 100% foreign-owned companies (RM1 million for foreign-owned trading)
Sources
Checked against:
- ssm.com.my/
- ssm.com.my/Pages/Services/Registration-of-Company-(ROC)/Table-of-Fees.aspx
- ssm.com.my/Pages/Services/Registration-of-Business-(ROB)/table-of-fees/Table-of-Fees.aspx
- mycoid2016.ssm.com.my/
- mida.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Guidelines-EP_1-June-2026.pdf
- web.supersuite.my/2023/09/15/limited-liability-partnership-llp-setup-registration-in-malaysia/
Pound amounts use HMRC's exchange rates for 2026-10 and are a rough guide only.
Other countries in Asia-Pacific
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Fees, forms and rules change: check the official registry before you file, and take professional advice for anything complex. Agent and lawyer costs are typical market prices, not quotes.