You can register a Sdn Bhd yourself with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), or engage a company secretary to lodge the application for you. SSM charges RM1,000.00 on either route.
On the company secretary route, you also pay a one-time agent fee on top of the SSM fee.
You need a company secretary either way, because the Companies Act 2016 requires every company to appoint one within 30 days of registration.
Key Takeaways
- Under the Companies Act 2016, a Sdn Bhd needs at least one director who ordinarily resides in Malaysia. That director can be of any nationality.
- A Sdn Bhd’s name must end with “Sdn. Bhd.” or “Sendirian Berhad”. Keep a second choice ready before you apply, because SSM decides whether a name is available.
- To register a Sdn Bhd yourself, you open an SSM4U account and, as a new user, verify your identity in person. You then apply in SSM’s Corporate Registry System.
- If you use Altomate on the company secretary route, you do not need an SSM4U account or an in-person identity check. The secretary lodges the application from their own account.
- SSM typically takes one business day to review a Sdn Bhd registration application, assuming your documents are in order. Registration takes longer if SSM queries the application.
- Registering a Sdn Bhd gets you a Notice of Registration but not the Certificate of Incorporation that banks require. SSM’s own fee for the certificate is RM20.00.
Can I Register a Sdn Bhd Myself With Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM)?
Yes, you can register a Sdn Bhd yourself. Registering yourself saves the one-time agent fee a company secretary charges to lodge the application. It does not remove the need for a company secretary, because the Companies Act 2016 still requires the company to appoint one within 30 days of registration.
You can take two routes to the same company. On the do-it-yourself route, you prepare the application and lodge it in SSM’s Corporate Registry System (CRS).
On the company secretary route, a company secretary lodges the application for you. SSM registers the company on both routes.
Either way your business will be registered with SSM.
SSM is short for Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, which in English is the Companies Commission of Malaysia.
What Malaysia Company Registration Costs for a Sdn Bhd, DIY Vs Company Registration Service
On either route, SSM charges RM1,000.00 to register a Sdn Bhd. On the company secretary route, you also pay a one-time agent fee on top of the SSM fee. Malaysia company registration therefore costs the same at SSM whichever route you take. The comparison below uses Altomate’s Company Secretary & Incorporation package as its example of that route.
| Registering yourself | Company secretary route, with Altomate’s Essential Company Secretary & Incorporation package as the example | |
|---|---|---|
| SSM fee | RM1,000.00, paid to SSM | RM1,000.00, included in Altomate’s one-time price |
| One-time agent fee | None | Charged on top of the SSM fee. Altomate’s one-time price includes the agent fee and the SSM fee: RM1,399 via the Altomate app, or RM1,999 at the assisted price |
| Certificate of Incorporation | You buy it separately from one of SSM’s authorised service provider portals: SSM e-Info, MyDATA-SSM or SSM Search. SSM’s own fee is RM20.00. For a certified true copy (CTC), the lowest fee we found is RM30.00 at SSM Search, excluding tax | Certified True Copy of the Certificate of incorporation is included in Altomate’s one-time price |
| Company secretary | Compulsory, and you find one yourself | Compulsory. Company secretary is part of the package and appointed immediately after incorporation |
| Directors | Appoint local and foreign directors | Appoint local and foreign directors |
| Shareholders | Appoint local and foreign shareholders, whether individual or corporate | Appoint local and foreign shareholders, whether individual or corporate |
| What you do | Open an SSM4U account. As a new user, verify your identity in person. Prepare and lodge the application and every declaration. Buy the certificate. Find and appoint a qualified company secretary within 30 days of registration | Give the company’s details and your own. Make your declarations as a director or as a promoter. Company secretary and dedicated servicing officer will sort out the business registration form and help you navigate the rest of your company setup. |
The SSM Registration Fee, and What Else SSM Charges
SSM charges RM1,000.00 to register a Sdn Bhd, which is a company limited by shares. SSM’s fee schedule adds one more line item, Supply of Corporation Information to Agencies: RM10.00.
Why the Cheaper Route Is Not as Much Cheaper as It Looks
Registering yourself saves only the one-time agent fee. Your company still has to appoint a company secretary under the Companies Act 2016. You also take on the work the company secretary route takes off your hands.
- The SSM4U account: if you register yourself, you open an SSM4U account and, as a new user, verify your identity in person at an SSM counter or a Tap.it kiosk. Online registration does not remove that check. If you use Altomate on the company secretary route, the secretary lodges the application from their own company secretary account, so you do not need an SSM4U account or the in-person identity check.
- The application and the declarations: if you register yourself, you prepare the application and every declaration, then lodge it. If you use Altomate on the company secretary route, the secretary reviews the application before SSM does.
- The Certificate of Incorporation: if you register yourself, you buy the certificate separately. At Altomate, for example, the one-time price of the Company Secretary & Incorporation package includes SSM’s fee for the certificate.
- The company secretary appointment: if you register yourself, you find and appoint a qualified company secretary within 30 days of registration. At Altomate, for example, a company secretary subscription comes with the Company Secretary & Incorporation package, so you do not have to search for one separately.
Altomate’s lowest price shows what the agent fee buys. Altomate’s Company Secretary & Incorporation package costs RM1,399 via the Altomate app: the SSM fee (RM1,010) plus the agent fee (RM389).
The RM389 pays for the company secretary to review the application and lodge it. The RM1,399 also includes SSM’s RM20.00 fee for the Certificate of Incorporation.
The Company Secretary Is Compulsory Either Way
Whichever route you take, your company must appoint a licensed company secretary within 30 days of incorporation, under the Companies Act 2016.
The Companies Act 2016 sets every condition a company secretary must meet, including the practising certificate:
- A natural person: the company secretary must be an individual, not a company, and at least 18 (section 235(1)).
- Resident in Malaysia: the company secretary must be a Malaysian citizen or permanent resident who ordinarily resides in Malaysia, which means having a principal place of residence here (section 235(1)).
- Qualified: the company secretary must be a member of one of the bodies listed in the Act’s Fourth Schedule, or licensed by SSM (section 235(2)). A licensed company secretary meets that condition by the licence, and a member of a listed body meets it by the membership.
- Registered: before acting as a secretary, the person must be registered with SSM. SSM enters them in the register of secretaries and issues a Practising Certificate (section 241).
Missing the 30-day deadline is an offence under the Companies Act 2016. The appointment rule in section 236 does not state a penalty of its own, so the Act’s general penalty applies.
Altomate provides company secretary services. Its company secretaries are members of the Malaysian Association of Company Secretaries (MACS) and hold practising certificates from SSM.
The service comes with Altomate’s Company Secretary & Incorporation package. If you registered the company yourself, you can engage Altomate on a standalone company secretary plan.
Who Can Register a Sdn Bhd
The SSM incorporation page lists what you need to register a Sdn Bhd. SSM’s list does not cover every condition the law sets. The Companies Act 2016 adds conditions for directors and company secretaries, and each has its own section in this guide.
- At least one director: a private company requires at least one director. At least one director must ordinarily reside in Malaysia, which under the Companies Act 2016 means having a principal place of residence here.
- At least one promoter: a private company needs at least one promoter. Promoter is SSM’s word for the person who takes the company’s first shares.
- Declarations: every director and promoter makes a declaration. The person responsible for the registration makes a declaration of compliance.
You need SSM to accept every one of these before it registers the company.
Who Can Be a Director Under Malaysian Law
Under the Companies Act 2016, a director of a Sdn Bhd must be a natural person aged at least 18. At least one director must ordinarily reside in Malaysia, which means having a principal place of residence here.
The Companies Act 2016 sets these requirements for every director:
- Consent and declaration: before being appointed, a person must consent in writing to be a director. They must also declare that they are not disqualified under the Act from being appointed or from holding office as a director (section 201).
- Residence, for the minimum only: the residence rule binds only the minimum number of directors. For a private company, that minimum is one, not counting an alternate or substitute director. A second director therefore does not need to ordinarily reside in Malaysia. The rule asks where a director lives, not whether they are Malaysian.
Section 198 of the Companies Act 2016 bars three kinds of person from holding office as a director. It also says when the bar lifts:
- Bankruptcy: an undischarged bankrupt, in or outside Malaysia, may not hold office unless the Official Receiver or the Court gives permission.
- Certain convictions: a person convicted of certain offences, in or outside Malaysia, may not hold office unless the Court gives permission. The offences are those relating to the promotion, formation or management of a corporation, those involving bribery, fraud or dishonesty, and those under sections 213, 217, 218, 228 or 539 of the Act.
- Court disqualification: a person the Court has disqualified may not hold office unless the Court gives permission.
- Five years: a person disqualified for a conviction or by the Court does not need permission once five years have passed since the conviction, or since their release if they were imprisoned.
SSM’s own declaration goes wider than the Act. The Companies Act 2016 disqualifies a director only for the offences it lists. SSM asks every director to declare that they have not been convicted of any offence, in or outside Malaysia.
Who Can Be a Shareholder
The Companies Act 2016 does not set a minimum age for a shareholder, although it sets 18 for a director and a company secretary. A shareholder who signs a shareholders’ agreement must be competent to contract. Under section 11 of the Contracts Act 1950, that means having reached the age of majority, which is 18 in Malaysia, and being of sound mind.
The Companies Act 2016 sets these rules on who can be a shareholder, and how many:
- At least one: a private company needs at least one shareholder.
- Not more than 50: a company limited by shares with not more than 50 shareholders may be registered as a private company (section 42(1)).
- An individual or a company: a shareholder may be an individual or a company. SSM asks a company named as a shareholder for a consent letter.
- Owning and running: shareholders own the company, and the directors run it. Under section 211(1), the company’s business and affairs are managed by, or under the direction of, its board.
One person can be a Sdn Bhd’s only shareholder and its only director, as long as that person ordinarily resides in Malaysia. Under the Companies Act 2016, ordinarily residing in Malaysia means having a principal place of residence here. The same person can also be the company secretary, but only if they meet the Companies Act 2016’s conditions for the role.
Whether a Foreigner Can Register a Sdn Bhd
Yes, and a foreigner can be a director of the company. The Companies Act 2016 sets no nationality test for a director. It asks where a director ordinarily resides, and it asks that only of the minimum number of them.
At least one director must ordinarily reside in Malaysia, which means having a principal place of residence here. A foreigner who resides in Malaysia can be the company’s only director, and its only shareholder with it. A foreigner who does not reside in Malaysia needs one fellow director who does, and can then be appointed alongside them.
The rest of the conditions apply wherever a director lives. A director must be a natural person aged at least 18, must consent in writing before being appointed, and must declare that nothing in the Act disqualifies them. The company secretary is the role nationality does decide, because the Act requires a Malaysian citizen or permanent resident.
As a shareholder, a full foreign ownership of a Sdn Bhd is allowed in most sectors. Some sectors carry local equity, capital or licence conditions set by other authorities, among them retail and distribution, financial services, education and healthcare. This guide does not cover those conditions.
Whether you are expanding your business into Malaysia or you want to start a business in Malaysia from scratch, you may form a Sdn Bhd as its only shareholder.
How Much Paid-Up Capital Private Limited companies (SDN BHD) Need
The Companies Act 2016 does not set a minimum paid-up capital for a Sdn Bhd. The phrase does not appear anywhere in the Act. Private limited companies therefore face no minimum under the Act, and a Sdn Bhd is one of them.
What to Have Ready Before You Set Up a Company
SSM’s registration application for a new company in Malaysia asks for details of the company and of every person behind it. Gather those details before you open the application.
- A proposed company name, and a second choice: SSM decides whether a name is available.
- Private status: a Sdn Bhd is a private company, and the application registers it as one.
- The type of business: the application asks for the proposed type of business the company will carry on. Have that business type ready with the rest.
- Two addresses: the application asks for the registered office address in Malaysia and the business address.
- The people’s details: for each director, you need the name, identification, nationality and principal place of residence. For each promoter, you need the name, identification, nationality and ordinary place of residence. For a promoter that is a company, you need its corporate name, place of incorporation, registration number and registered office.
- Their declarations: a declaration from each director and promoter, and the declaration of compliance from the person responsible for the registration.
- Any additional documents: anything further the application needs.
Under the Companies Act 2016, a company must always have a registered office in Malaysia, open and accessible to the public during ordinary business hours. A PO box cannot be the registered office, because no one can visit it. If you change the address, notify SSM within 14 days.
If you do not have an office, some company secretarial firms offer a registered office address as a service for a yearly fee. At Altomate, for example, one comes with the company secretarial service at no extra charge.
You do not need a constitution to register a Sdn Bhd. SSM treats a constitution as optional for a company limited by shares. A company can adopt a constitution after registration by passing a special resolution, and then lodges it with SSM within 30 days of adopting it.
Choosing a Company Name That Will Be Approved
SSM approves a company name only if it meets the conditions of the Companies Act 2016. Search the name before you apply, and keep a second choice ready.
Under the Companies Act 2016, a private company’s name must end with “Sendirian Berhad” or “Sdn. Bhd.”, and SSM decides whether a name is available. SSM refuses a name on any of four grounds:
- Undesirable: the name is undesirable or unacceptable.
- Already in use: the name is identical to that of an existing company, corporation or business.
- Already reserved: the name is identical to a name being reserved.
- Barred by the Minister: the name is of a kind the Minister has directed SSM not to accept.
If your name uses words that need approval from the Minister or another authority, attach supporting documents to the application. Under the Companies Act 2016, the Minister’s directions on names are published in the Gazette.
To check that a name is free before you apply, use the company name search in SSM’s Corporate Registry System (CRS), which needs an SSM4U login. On the company secretary route, the secretary runs the search.
You can apply for the name inside a direct registration, at no separate charge, or reserve it first for RM50.00. SSM holds a reserved name for 30 days, and you can extend the reservation to a maximum of 180 days.
If you use Altomate on the company secretary route, the name is reserved inside the registration application, as on the do-it-yourself route. SSM also offers a name reservation on its own, with no obligation to register. If you want only a reservation, you can ask Altomate to apply for one.
Company Registration Process: Registering Your Company in Malaysia on SSM’s Corporate Registry System
You register your company in SSM’s Corporate Registry System (CRS), which you reach by logging in to the SSM4U portal. The Corporate Registry System replaced MyCoID, which stopped operating on 14 July 2026. SSM4U, SSM’s online portal, continues to operate.
Registering a company creates a separate legal entity in Malaysia with limited liability.
Before step one, you need an SSM4U account. As a new user, you must also verify your identity in person, at an SSM counter or a Tap.it kiosk. Then follow these steps:
- Log in to SSM4U and open the Corporate Registry System.
- Search the proposed company name to check that it is available.
- Enter the company’s details: the proposed name, private status, the proposed type of business, the registered office address and the business address.
- Enter the complete details of every director and every promoter.
- Make the declarations: a declaration from each director and promoter, and the declaration of compliance.
- Attach any additional documents the application needs.
- Pay the SSM fee and submit the application, in the order the system asks for them.
SSM’s Corporate Registry System accepts payment by card, FPX or e-wallet. The system keeps an unfinished application as a draft for seven days.
The Corporate Registry System does not offer express filing. The process of company registration runs inside the Corporate Registry System, from the name search to the payment.
How Long Does It Take to Register a Company in Malaysia?
SSM’s own review of a registration application typically takes one business day. If you use Altomate on the company secretary route, registration takes about three business days end to end, by Altomate’s own figure.
If SSM queries the application, registration takes longer. Both timings assume your documents are in order. If you are registering yourself for the first time, the two figures do not count your in-person identity check at an SSM counter or a Tap.it kiosk.
What You Get When the Company Is Registered
When your company is registered, SSM issues a Notice of Registration without the Certificate of Incorporation.
A Certificate of Incorporation is the document that proves the company’s incorporation. To get the Certificate of Incorporation, you have to apply and pay for it separately.
The Notice of Registration issued by SSM shows the company’s registration number, which has 12 digits. SSM has used that 12-digit format since 11 October 2019.
Under the Companies Act 2016, the company must display its registered name and registration number at its registered office and every place of business. It must also show them on its letters, notices, website, invoices and receipts.
The difference between the two documents matters at the bank. Government institutions, banks and financial service providers require the Certificate of Incorporation as proof of company formation. Banks state that they do not accept a Notice of Registration in its place.
You have to buy the Certificate of Incorporation separately from the SSM authorised service provider portals, which are SSM e-Info, MyDATA-SSM and SSM Search. The cost of the certificate with a certified true copy (CTC) depends on the portal.
The lowest fee Altomate has found is RM30.00, at the SSM Search portal, excluding tax. SSM’s own fee for the certificate is RM20.00.
If you use Altomate on the company secretary route, the fees for the registration certificate is included in the one-time price of the Company Secretary & Incorporation package. And our company secretary will get the CTC copies for you along with other statutory documents.
What to Do in the First Thirty Days After Company Incorporation: Secretary, Business Licenses & Bank Account
Once your company is registered, appoint a company secretary within 30 days, as the Companies Act 2016 requires, and open a bank account with the Certificate of Incorporation.
SSM registration does not replace a licence. Where the business needs a licence, permit or approval, SSM’s guidance says it must come from the relevant authority before the business starts trading.
Compliance with Malaysian business regulations does not stop when SSM registers the company. Registering with SSM does not on its own mean your business is legally compliant. Where the business needs one, business licenses come from the relevant authority, not from SSM.
Have your business plan ready when applying to open a corporate bank account.
Whether a Sdn Bhd Is the Right Type of Business Structure at All
A Sdn Bhd is the preferred business structure for startups and SMEs for these reasons:
- Personal assets are protected: Sdn Bhd is a separate legal entity, so its debts are its own, while a sole proprietor and a partner carry theirs personally.
- Shareholders are protected: Shareholders own the company through shares, and their liability is limited to their investment in the company.
- Ownership is transferable: Allows owners to build something meant to outlast the founder, or sell it, because ownership moves by transferring shares.
A Sdn Bhd is not the cheapest business structure, and not the simplest to maintain. For some people starting a business, that settles the choice.
A sole proprietorship or a general partnership costs RM30 to RM60 a year, and does not need a company secretary, an audit or an annual return. The owner takes the profit directly.
The trade-off is liability. A sole proprietorship or a general partnership is not a separate legal entity, so the owner’s or the partners’ own assets stand behind the business.
Both business structures are open only to Malaysian citizens and permanent residents, and a general partnership can have no more than 20 partners.
A limited liability partnership (LLP) sits between a Sdn Bhd and those two forms. An LLP is a body corporate in its own right and offers limited liability to its partners.
It needs a compliance officer rather than a company secretary, and a yearly declaration rather than audited accounts. Registering an LLP costs RM500.
An LLP cannot issue shares, so it is the wrong form for anyone who expects to bring in investors.
Although companies and businesses in Malaysia are all registered with SSM, sole proprietorship, general partnership, LLP and Sdn Bhd each fall under different legal frameworks.
You will need to decide on the type of business entity is most suitable before you set up a company because each type requires a different application form.
Checking Whether a Company Is Registered With SSM
You can check whether your company is registered before you have its registration number. Search its name on SSM e-Info, MyDATA-SSM or SSM Search, which are SSM’s authorised service provider portals. If the company shows up, it exists in SSM’s system.
SSM Search offers a basic name search free of charge, but you pay for detailed company reports.
Where to Start With Company Registration in Malaysia
You can register your business by two routes: register the company with SSM by yourself or engage a company secretary to do it for you. On both routes, the Companies Act 2016 requires the company to appoint a company secretary within 30 days of registration.
Start with a suitable business name. On either route, choose a name and a second choice, and gather the details the application asks for.
If you are registering yourself, search the name in SSM’s Corporate Registry System (CRS), which needs an SSM4U login. On the company secretary route, the company secretary runs that search.
Registering a business? Check out Altomate’s Company Secretary & Incorporation package. Includes registered office address and dedicated client servicing officer to guide you through the process of setting a company in Malaysia.
