During the incorporation process, it is important to select the right type of business entity in Malaysia. Every business owner should make a choice on the type of business that is the most fit for their business objectives.

Every type of business entity is suitable for different type of business.The differences among different types of business entity are illustrated in the table below:

Sole proprietorship is one of the most popular and easiest way to start your business. You can register your business as sole proprietorship under Registration of Business Act 1956.

It has no legal status, whereby the owner and the business are considered as one entity. Thus, you will be personally liable for debts incurred by your business.

Advantages

• Very affordable to start your business
• Lesser corporate compliance requirements (such as filing of audited accounts, annual return and etc)
• Easy to maintain

• No separate legal liability and you will be personally liable for business debts
• Unlimited liability- there is no limit of liability to the amount of capital injected
• Profits earned are taxed as part of personal individual income and as high as 30% (as compared to 17%/24% company tax rate)

A partnership consists of at least 2 partners, with a limit of 20 partners. In a partnership, the partners jointly manage the company. They also will have joint responsibility for the partnership’s debts and other liabilities. The owners of the company have unlimited liability.

Advantages:

1. It is relatively easy to establish and start-up costs are low
2. It has flexible agreement among partners

 
Disadvantages:

1. Not a separate legal entity, unlimited liabilities at personal capacity among all the partners.
2. Each partner is liable for their share of the partnership debts as well as all the debts which have been amassed by the company

A Sendirian Berhad (Sdn Bhd) company being the most common one in Malaysia. It is a private limited business entity which can be started by both locals and foreigners.It is a separate legal entity which is capable of earning incomes, owning properties, signing contracts, suing another entity, and getting sued on its own name, separating your liabilities from the company itself.

Advantages:

1. Set up a company with one person
2. Relatively cheap to setting up
3. Separates personal liabilities from the company itself
4. It can be 100% foreign-owned

 
Disadvantages:

1. Cannot expand beyond 50 shareholders
2. Cannot raise fund from the public
3. Transfer of share is restricted

A CLG is public company without share capital for non-profit purposes. A member is the one who act as guarantor to run the operation, and no shareholders in CLG.

Advantages:

1. No upfront capital contribution required from members
2. The only type of company that can promote art, charity, religion, science, and pension schemes
3. It can apply to get exempted from paying corporate taxes
4. Can request to exclude the word ‘Berhad’ or ‘Bhd’ from the company name

 
Disadvantages:

1. It is costly and demanding to register and has strict compliance to follow
2. Unable to convert to another type of company
3. All profits are meant for the purpose of the organization only
4. It cannot release or own any property rights
5. Members are still accountable for company debt if company closes down within 1 year after they have stepped down from the company

A public limited company is similar to a Sdn Bhd, but the shares of the public limited company can be offered to the public. Public limited companies are usually listed on the stock exchange and is governed by the Securities Commission of Malaysia

Advantages:

1. It can easily raise funds as the company is listed
2. It can issue shares to public for funds raising
3. It has flexible ownership of shares

 
Disadvantages:

1. It is costly and difficult to register, must comply with stringent rules and regulations
2. An Annual General Meeting(AGM) is required every year