Foreigners contact us to know about company formation in Malaysia documentary as we are an expert since 2012. Because of its resources and steady economic growth, Malaysia now attracts a huge amount of foreign investors. Malaysia has now become the central hub for starting a business in East Asia. In this article, we will discuss details on
Required Capital
For starting any kind of business you need some cash. So if you are a foreigner and wants to start a business in Malaysia you need to get registered your company. However, you need some required amount of capital. The table below shows the details: -
Types of company | Condition | Amount in RM |
100% foreign ownership | Ringgit any amount (not eligible for professional visa and export/ import business) | 500,000-10,00,000 |
Joint Venture | Ringgit any amount (not eligible for professional visa and export/ import business) | 350,000 |
Local | Any amount | Any amount |
Company Formation Steps
This portion of the article will guide you for completing the official forms to register a business or company. All you need to do is to follow some simple steps for completing the entire process of Formation. The complete process of Formation of a company in Malaysia are point out below:
However, it takes 1-2 days for approving a business name and 2-3 days might require for incorporation process and receive certified copies. However, you will be charged a decent amount for the types of business, details are shown below:
Description of services | License | Fees |
Company incorporation service, Opening bank account, buying forms from SSM, Secretary service 1-year | Incorporation | 4000 |
Prepare supporting papers and apply for signboard and premise license | Signboard & Premise | 2000 |
Prepare supporting papers and apply for export and import license | Export & Import | 4000 |
Prepare supporting documents and apply for WRT license for non-residents | WRT | 4000 |
Prepare supporting papers and apply for Kinder garden school license, Halal License and many more | Dagang.net | Fees vary (Contact us) |
Add product and/ or brand name with company name permission | Notification | 1000 |
Prepare supporting papers and apply for Trademark license. | Trade Mark | 5000 |
Opening Bank Account
Once you are done with Formation of a company in Malaysia and receive a certificate of incorporation from SSM, now you are eligible to open a corporate bank account. According to the requirement of Malaysian bank need necessary papers mentioned below for opening a bank account.
Local banks do not open a corporate account because of an internal policy (policy applied to foreigners and foreign directors). Foreign banks welcome the foreign investors (foreign companies) but ask some other documents, financial forecasting and minimum amount of fees for opening a bank account.
Read Also - The sales and service tax (SST) in Malaysia
Income Tax Certificate
After the company formation of the company under SSM, you need to apply for an income tax certificate. It’s suggested to apply for income tax certificate within 3 months of company incorporation. The table below shows the rate of tax for “Non-Resident Working in Malaysia”.
Types of Income | Rate % |
Business, trade or profession | 28% |
Public Entertainer | 15% |
Royalty | 10% |
You will not be taxable if you are working in Malaysia less than 60 days, age more than 60 years old and getting pension from Malaysian employment if you are getting interested forms banks or receiving tax-exempt bonuses.
Rent Office in Malaysia (Virtual Office)
Renting office space is necessary for company formation in Malaysia documentary. However, the virtual office in Malaysia is a smart choice for foreigners (permanent office may be too costly for small or medium-size companies). For renting a virtual office you need to pay a three-month advanced security deposit in Malaysia. A virtual office is coming at a different price depending on its size. There are lots of advantage of a virtual office in Malaysia, some of the advantages are highlighted below; Ready office (no decoration needed)
Hire Manpower
Once you received a certified business license from SSM, you now need to hire manpower to start your company or business. Hiring manpower is not easy tasks in Malaysia, you need to offer RM 3500 or above to hire an employee. However, there are lots of agency, who can help you out to recruit manpower with best and affordable price. Other necessary information is highlighted below: -One of the biggest job advertisement sites is jobstreet.com.my. They charge Ringgit 600-800 for each post of job advertisement.
Apply for export and import license in Malaysia
If you have sound knowledge of understanding of Malaysian license scheme for exporting and importing goods, you will have less chance of being rejected by the customs office of Malaysia. For exporting and importing or exporting any types of products you need a license (import and export license). However, to apply for an export-import license you need to be registered with “Company Commission of Malaysia”.
Once you are registered with CCM, you are now eligible to apply for an import or export license from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). It’s complicated for the foreign-owned company to get import/ export license in Malaysia unless the majority of the shares are held by local Malaysian local (Malaysian citizen). You can export and import only halal products (some goods are prohibited).
Document requirement for export and import business are mentioned below (these are the document you need to provide to the custom):
WRT License
If a company have more than 50% foreign ownership, needs WRT license to participate in, franchise, retail, trading, restaurant, import and export businesses. According to the policy of “Ministry of Trade,” you must need to have office space of your company, you need to have an exact point of business activity. If you have all this, getting WRT license will not be a problem. It is good to equip your premise before applying for WRT license. Some important details of WRT license are noted below: -
Read Also - Accounting services in Malaysia
Halal License
The following business category needs to apply for Halal License: (1) Distributor (2) Manufacturer/ producer (3) Repacking (4) Food premise (5) Slaughterhouse business (6) Packing material etc. The process of applying for halal license are shown in infographic below: -
SOCSO
SOCSO know as Social Security Organization was established back in 1971 under the ministry of HR (known as the ministry of labour). It was established for providing the social security protection for the employee/ workers of Malaysia (75 per cent will be contributed by the employer and .5% will be contributed from employees, age limitation below 60 years). The function of SOCSO are given below: - Employers and Employees Formation.
Annual Return
In simple terms, your annual earnings will be due 18 months after your company formation in Malaysia documentary. In the case of a company which maintains, in accordance with its members, a branch register in any place outside Malaysia, the filing of an annual return must be made within two months from the annual general meeting
Auditing
Category | Fees in RM |
Government fees | RM 1010 |
consultancy | RM 3000-3500 |
secretary fees | RM 1600 |
So, the total cost may stand pre-Formationand post-Formation of Ringgit 4500-5000. 6 months’ office use is Free of charge
S & F CONSULTING FIRM LIMITED & SFM CONSULTING FIRM SDN BHD
Our documentary will help foreigners to know the process of Formation of a company Malaysia (SDN BHD), company formation in Malaysia step and licensing of export/import to set up a business, completely. It does not mean that only register a company (SDN BHD from SSM) and start a business but some other permissions are required too. You may want to know about SME companies in Malaysia.