Choosing the right name is the very first legal step when you register an enterprise (Sole Proprietorship / Partnership) at ROB (ezBiz) or a company (Sdn Bhd, LLP, PLC) at SSM (MyCoID). A well-designed name speeds up approval, protects your brand and avoids costly re-filings.
1 | Know the Rule-Books First
| Business Type | Governing Law & Naming Guideline | Key Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Sole-Proprietorship / Partnership (“Enterprise”) | - Registration of Businesses Act 1956 (ROBA) - SSM Guideline on Registration of Business Names (ROB) | SSM – Registration of Business Division (ezBiz) |
| Company limited by shares (Sdn Bhd / Bhd) & LLP | - Companies Act 2016 - Guidelines on Company Names (rev. Oct 2024) SSMSSM | SSM – ROC Division (MyCoID) |
Both sets echo the same core principles:
- Distinctiveness – not identical or too similar to an existing name on the SSM register.
- Not prohibited / offensive – religion, royalty, obscene, unconstitutional, etc.
- No trademark infringement – do a quick search on MyIPO’s Global Brand Database before you apply MyIPO.
- Language – use Roman alphabet (English / Malay). Chinese characters allowed only in “business name” field for ROB; the legal name must be romanised.
2 | Words That Trigger Automatic Rejection
| Category | Examples (non-exhaustive) | Guideline Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Government / Royal | “Royal”, “Federal”, “State”, any Sultan’s name | SSM Name Guideline §3.1(a) |
| Financial-regulated | “Bank”, “Insurance”, “Fund”, “Asset Management” | Requires BNM / SC consent (§3.2) |
| Professional bodies | “Architect”, “Dentist”, “Accounting” | Need letter from respective council |
| Sensitive words | “Cyber”, “Hijau”, “Mega” preceding a generic term (over-used) | PD 1/2017 Annex C |
| Company-type words (for Enterprises) | “Company”, “Incorporated”, “Corp” | Rob Guideline – prohibited in business names |
Tip: If you truly need a restricted word (e.g., “Institute”), attach a signed consent or licence from the relevant ministry when you file.
3 | Constructing an Acceptable Name
- Core Brand Word – unique, easy to spell.
- Qualifier (optional) – indicates activity/location (e.g., “Solutions”, “Kuching”).
- Legal Ending – “Sdn Bhd”, “Bhd”, “PLT” (LLP) or leave blank for Enterprise.
Example:
“Zenwave Digital Solutions Sdn Bhd” (company) / “Zenwave Digital Enterprise” (sole-prop).
4 | Name Search & Reservation – Step-by-Step
A. Enterprise (ezBiz - ROB)
- Create ezBiz ID → https://ezbiz.ssm.com.my.
- Click New Business Name Search; enter up to 3 options.
- System returns availability status instantly.
- Complete Form A & pay RM 30 (sole-prop) or RM 60 (partnership).
- Certificate of Registration issued within 1 hour (e-cert).
B. Company / LLP (MyCoID)
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Log in to MyCoID 2016 portal. |
| 2 | Name Search (RM 50) – up to 3 names. |
| 3 | If “Conditional Approval”, upload consent letter within 30 days. |
| 4 | Proceed to Super Form (Section 14) or LLP Registration within 30 days. |
Reserved names can be extended to 180 days (RM 50 per extension).
5 | Trademark & Domain Safeguards
- Use MyIPO’s online search MyIPO to ensure your proposed name isn’t already a registered mark.
- Grab the .my or .com domain before public filing.
- Consider defensive trademark filing after SSM approval.
6 | Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
| Mistake | Why It Fails | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “ABC GLOBAL SDN BHD” when “ABC GLOBAL RESOURCES SDN BHD” already exists | Too similar – likely to mislead public | Add a distinctive word, e.g., “ABC TechGlobal” |
| Using “Banking” in an IT services company name | Misrepresents regulated activity | Replace with “Fintech” or get BNM no-objection letter |
| Mixing non-Roman characters in legal name | SSM only accepts Roman alphabet | Put 中文名 in business or other language field only |
| Forgetting consent for famous brand | SSM will query & hold file | Obtain trademark owner’s letter or change the name |
7 | Fast-Track Checklist ✔️
- Google + MyIPO search – 15 min
- Brainstorm 3–5 distinctive options.
- Check for restricted words ↗ Guideline table.
- Secure domain & social handles.
- File name search on MyCoID / ezBiz.
- Prepare consent letters if needed.
Follow these steps and your name can be approved same day.
8 | How We Help You Nail the Name First Time
- AI-driven similarity scan of >1 million Malaysian entities.
- Rapid trademark knock-out search.
- Preparation of all consent letters & translations.
- Unlimited re-submission until approved.
Last Updated: 25-Apr-2025