Thinking of starting a business in Malaysia? Registering a Sendirian Berhad (Sdn Bhd) company is a key step for local entrepreneurs. This guide will walk you through the process of registering a Sdn Bhd in Malaysia in a friendly, conversational tone. We’ll cover each step, the documents you need, how long it all takes, and what to do after your company is formed. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to get your new company up and running – and where to get help if you need it.
Step-by-Step: How to Register a Sdn Bhd Company in Malaysia
Registering a Sdn Bhd might sound complicated, but it’s straightforward if you follow these steps:
- Choose and Reserve Your Company Name: Pick a unique name for your company and get it approved by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM). You can search name availability and reserve your desired name through SSM’s online portal. SSM charges a small fee (RM50) for each name reservation, and an approved name will be held for you for 30 days (extendable up to 180 days if needed). Make sure the name isn’t offensive or already taken by another business.
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Prepare the Required Details and Documents: Once your name is reserved, gather all the information and documents needed for incorporation. You’ll need details of the company’s business, the registered address in Malaysia, and particulars of directors and shareholders. Malaysia’s law requires at least one director who ordinarily resides in Malaysia (has a principal address in-country). Each director and shareholder will need to provide a copy of their ID (MyKad for citizens or passport for foreigners) and other basic info. You should also decide on your share capital (e.g. how many shares and at what value; many startups begin with RM1,000 or RM100 in paid-up capital). If you plan to have a Company Constitution (optional under the Companies Act 2016), have it ready – otherwise, the default Act provisions will apply. (Most small companies skip a custom constitution.) Finally, ensure all directors are eligible – they must declare they are not bankrupt and have no recent criminal convictions (this declaration is part of the incorporation form).
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Submit Your Incorporation Application to SSM: With your name reserved and documents in hand, you can proceed to formally register the company. This is done online through the SSM MyCoID portal (available via SSM’s official website). If you engaged a company secretary, they will typically handle this filing for you. Otherwise, you (as the owner/promoter) may need to create an account on SSM’s portal and complete a one-time ID verification at an SSM office before using the online system. In the application, you’ll fill in the company name, business activity description, addresses, director/shareholder details, and upload any additional documents if required. Double-check everything for accuracy, then submit the application along with the incorporation fee. The SSM registration fee for a Sdn Bhd is RM1,000 for a company limited by shares). You can pay this online during the submission. (If you reserved a name first, you pay RM1,000 at this stage. If you chose “direct incorporation”, you would have paid RM1,000 when submitting the name application in step 1.) Once payment is made and the form is submitted, SSM will review your application.
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Wait for Approval and Download Your Registration Documents: After submission, SSM will process your application. If all is in order, approval can be quick – often within 1–3 working days. In many cases, entrepreneurs receive the official Notice of Registration (which confirms your company is incorporated) in as little as 1–2 days. This notice (issued via email or downloadable from the SSM portal) is basically your company’s digital birth certificate! SSM no longer issues a physical Certificate of Incorporation by default; the electronic notice is sufficient for all legal purposes. (If you really want a hard copy certificate, you can request one from SSM for an extra fee.) Pro tip: If SSM has any questions or needs additional info, respond quickly to avoid delays. Otherwise, once you get the Notice of Registration, congratulations – your Sdn Bhd company is officially formed!
Timeline tip: From start to finish, registering a Sdn Bhd typically takes around 3-5 working days in total, assuming all your documents are ready and there are no hitches. It could be a bit longer if there are name approval issues or if SSM requests clarifications, so it’s wise not to leave things to the very last minute if you have a launch deadline.
Required Documents and Information for Sdn Bhd Registration
To ensure a smooth registration, prepare the following documents and information:
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Proposed Company Name: A unique name for your Sdn Bhd. Have a few alternatives in case your first choice is rejected. You will submit this to SSM for approval. (Tip: You can check existing names via SSM’s online search to avoid duplicates.)
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Business Description: A brief description of your company’s intended business activities. SSM may ask for the general industry or business code (you can refer to the MSIC code list on SSM’s site for the category of your business). For example, trading, consulting, F&B, etc.
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Registered Office Address: A physical address in Malaysia which will be your company’s official registered address (this is where official communications will be sent). If you don’t have a physical office, you can use your company secretary’s address or a virtual office address – many company secretaries offer their address for this purpose.
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Business Address: If your main place of business is different from the registered office (e.g., your shop or actual operating location), prepare that address as well. Otherwise, it can be the same as the registered office.
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Directors’ and Shareholders’ Details: Full name, identification (NRIC for Malaysians, passport for foreigners), residential address, contact details, and its shareholding portion for each director and shareholder. Remember, you need at least one director who is a Malaysian resident. A single person can be the sole director and shareholder (100% owner) of a Sdn Bhd in Malaysia – which is great for solo entrepreneurs. If you have multiple partners, decide how you will split the shares among the shareholders (e.g., 50%-50%, 60%-40%, etc. as per your agreement).
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Copy of Identification Documents: Scan or photocopy of each director’s and shareholder’s IC or passport (for verification during the registration process). Ensure the copies are clear and information is up-to-date.
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Declaration of Compliance: This is a confirmation (usually done within the online form itself) that all requirements of the Companies Act 2016 are met. The person submitting (you or your company secretary) will tick off a declaration that, for example, all directors are not disqualified (not bankrupt, not convicted of certain offenses. No separate paper needed unless SSM asks – it’s built into the process.
- Additional Documents (if any): In special cases, you might need extra docs. For instance, if one of the shareholders is another company (a corporate shareholder), you’d need a letter of consent from that company and a copy of its registration certificate. Or if your company will have a licensed professional as a director (for example in an architecture firm), you might need to show their professional qualification. Most new Sdn Bhds won’t need extra documents – typically it’s just IDs and basic info.
(Having these details ready beforehand will make the online registration process much quicker.)
How Long Does It Take? – Timeline for Company Registration
One big question is how long you’ll have to wait before your company is officially registered. Here’s an estimated timeline for each stage of the process:
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Name Reservation: Approximately 1 working day (sometimes even just a few hours). SSM usually approves or rejects a proposed name fairly quickly if submitted during business hours. If your first choice is rejected (perhaps due to similarity with an existing name), you’ll have to submit a new name and this adds a bit of time. Tip: pick a distinctive name to avoid rejections.
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Preparing Documents: 1 to 2 days (or as long as you need). This step is in your control – it could be quick if you have all your info readily available. Gathering details of partners and copies of their IDs can often be done in a day. If you’re doing it yourself, budget some time to navigate the SSM online portal (and do the one-time account verification at SSM office, which might take a visit). If you engage a company secretary service, they might prepare the forms for you within a day once you give them the info.
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SSM Processing (Incorporation Approval): 1 to 3 working days after you submit the application. In many cases, SSM approves incorporation within 48 hours. It could be slightly longer if there’s a high volume of applications or if any details need further review. You will get an email notification once approved. (If more than 3-5 days pass with no news, you or your agent can follow up with SSM to check status.)
- Total Time from Start to Finish: About 3-5 working days on average for the whole process. If you’re well-prepared, it’s possible to complete everything in as fast as 2-3 days. To be safe, plan for up to a week in case of any minor hiccups. This is much faster than it used to be years ago, thanks to the online system and simplified paperwork!
Keep in mind that once you have your Notice of Registration from SSM, you can immediately proceed with running your business (opening bank accounts, signing contracts, etc.), even if you haven’t collected a physical certificate. Your company exists from the date of that notice.
Post-Registration Steps: Now What?
Great, your company is now officially registered! 🎉 What’s next? There are a few important post-registration tasks to take care of to ensure your new Sdn Bhd complies with all regulations and is ready to operate:
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Appoint a Company Secretary: Under Malaysian law, every Sdn Bhd must appoint a qualified company secretary within 30 days of incorporation. If you used a service to register your company, they usually provide a company secretary as part of the package (for example, our service includes one year of company secretarial support). If you haven’t appointed one yet, you should hire a licensed company secretary soon. The company secretary will handle your company’s statutory filings, maintain required records, and ensure you comply with the Companies Act. (They’re an important ally for legal compliance, so don’t skip this!)
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Open a Corporate Bank Account: With your SSM registration in hand, you can open a business bank account for your company. Malaysian banks will typically ask for the SSM Notice of Registration, a copy of your company’s Constitution (if you have one, otherwise the standard act is fine), your directors’ resolutions authorizing the account opening, and copies of directors’ IDs. Call ahead or check the bank’s website for their exact document checklist. Opening a bank account is crucial for separating your business finances from personal funds. Different banks have different packages for startups, so you can shop around for one that suits your needs (consider factors like minimum balance, fees, online banking convenience, etc.). This step can usually be done in a day once you have all documents ready – just make an appointment with the bank’s business account officer.
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Register for EPF and SOCSO (if you have employees): If you plan to hire employees (even just one), you’ll need to register as an employer with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and SOCSO (Social Security Organization, also known as PERKESO). EPF (locally called KWSP) is the mandatory retirement savings fund, and SOCSO/Perkeso handles workplace injury and disability insurance. Registration can be done online or at their offices. It’s best to do this early, before you start paying salaries. Visit the EPF official site and SOCSO official site for employer registration info and to sign up. Once registered, you’ll have to make monthly contributions for each employee (both employer and employee contributions for EPF, and employer/employee contributions for SOCSO/Employment Insurance). If you’re the only person in the company and not drawing a formal salary, you might not need to register for these until you actually hire staff. But many entrepreneurs register their company with EPF/SOCSO as soon as they hire their first worker.
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Register for a Tax File with LHDN: After incorporation, your company should register with LHDN (Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia) to obtain a corporate income tax reference number (if it’s not automatically assigned). You can do this via LHDN’s e-Daftar system or by contacting your nearest LHDN branch. The LHDN official website has an e-Daftar section for new taxpayer registration. This will ensure that when it’s time to file taxes, your company is in the system. Generally, a newly incorporated company has to file its first tax return within 18 months from incorporation or by the following June 30 (whichever is later), so getting the tax number early avoids last-minute issues. Even if your company is not immediately profitable, you still need to file annual tax returns (you might be filing nil returns if no income yet). It’s also a good idea to register for e-Filing on the LHDN system once you have the tax number, so you can submit your tax returns online.
- Other Licenses or Registrations: Depending on your business nature, you might need additional licenses. For example, food businesses need a license from the local city council, and certain industries require special permits. These are not part of the company registration with SSM, but they are post-incorporation steps you should research. Another consideration: if your business is likely to hit a high revenue (over RM500k/year currently), you may need to register for Sales and Service Tax (SST) with Royal Malaysian Customs. This isn’t required for all companies by default – only when you meet certain criteria or are in certain industries. Keep this in mind as your company grows.
Completing the above post-registration steps will set a strong foundation for your company. You’ll be fully compliant and ready to operate smoothly. Now you can focus on actually running your business – marketing, sales, and making your venture a success!
Ready to Register? Kickstart Your Sdn Bhd for RM1,399 (All-In Package)
If all of this sounds like a lot to handle on your own, don’t worry – we’re here to help make it easy. Why juggle paperwork and portal logins when you can let professionals do it for you? Save time and skip the hassle by using our Company Registration Package for RM1,399.
What’s included for RM1,399? This one-time fee covers everything you need to get your Sdn Bhd registered: the SSM filing fee (RM1,050 total for name reservation + incorporation), one year of company secretary service, and guidance throughout the process. In other words, you get a fully registered company and a dedicated company secretary to handle your compliance for the next 12 months – all inclusive in the price. No hidden costs, no surprise add-ons.
Why choose our service? We have an experienced team of certified company secretaries and consultants who have helped hundreds of Malaysian entrepreneurs launch their Sdn Bhd companies. We’ll check your proposed company name, prepare all the documents, submit the application to SSM on your behalf, and even assist with your first board resolutions (like opening a bank account). You’ll get personal support every step of the way, and we’ll answer any questions you have about running your new company. Essentially, we do the heavy lifting while you focus on planning your business.
Ready to get started? Visit our Company Registration Services page for more details and to sign up for the package. With just a few clicks to provide your info, our team will start the registration process for you. In just a few days, you’ll have your new Sdn Bhd company officially registered and ready to go – business dream unlocked!
Don’t let the paperwork hold you back. Register your company the easy way and take the first step toward growing your business in Malaysia. 🎯
Last Updated: 28-Apr-2025