Service · Foundation
Company incorporation and registration in Malaysia.
Most incorporations are not slow because SSM is slow. They are slow because a decision was left unresolved before filing — a resident director, a restricted sector, a paid-up capital figure that later blocks an expatriate quota. We resolve those first, then file once.
What this covers
- Company name search and reservation with SSM
- Sdn Bhd incorporation — constitution, share structure, and filing
- Resident director and company secretary arrangements
- Tax registration with LHDN
- ESD registration to establish your expatriate hiring quota
- MDEC Malaysia Digital (MD) status for qualifying technology businesses
- Corporate bank account introductions and supporting documentation
- Registered office address and statutory record-keeping
Who needs this
A Japanese trading company opening a regional base
You need a Malaysian entity that can hold contracts, employ staff, and sponsor Employment Passes for the team you intend to move here — with paid-up capital set at a level that will not block that quota later.
A Korean manufacturer setting up before a factory lease
The entity has to exist before you can sign a lease, apply for a manufacturing licence, or register with the agencies your sector requires. Sequence matters, and getting it wrong costs weeks.
A SaaS founder pursuing MD status
Your Sdn Bhd must exist before MDEC will assess a Malaysia Digital application. We run both in parallel so the review clock starts as early as it legally can.
How it works
- 1
Structure
We confirm your sector is unrestricted for foreign equity, settle your director and shareholder structure, and set a paid-up capital figure that matches your actual hiring plan.
- 2
Incorporate
Name reservation, constitution, and SSM filing. Typically 3–7 working days once documentation is complete.
- 3
Register
LHDN tax registration, ESD registration if you intend to hire expatriates, and MDEC status where you qualify — started in parallel rather than in sequence.
Typical durations assume complete documentation. Agency processing times vary by case, sector, and season.
Documents you'll need
We'll send a precise checklist once we know your situation, but engagements in this area generally start from:
- Passport copies for every director and shareholder
- Proof of residential address for each individual (utility bill or bank statement)
- Proposed company names, in order of preference
- A short description of your intended business activities
- Parent company documents, if incorporating a subsidiary
- Proposed shareholding split and paid-up capital figure
Questions we get
In most sectors, yes — a foreign individual or company can hold full ownership of a Sdn Bhd with no local partner required. Certain sectors carry foreign equity caps or need additional approvals, which is worth confirming in writing before you file rather than after.
You need at least one director who ordinarily resides in Malaysia. That person does not have to be a Malaysian citizen — a foreigner holding an Employment Pass or another long-term visa can qualify — but the seat must be filled at incorporation, not afterwards.
There is no statutory minimum for most Sdn Bhd companies, but the figure you choose matters in practice: banks weigh it when opening a corporate account, and immigration weighs it when assessing expatriate quota. We advise on a figure that fits your hiring plan rather than defaulting to the legal minimum.
Often needed alongside this
Workforce & Expatriate Solutions
Employment passes and expatriate visas, with specialized processing across the labor and immigration systems most firms never touch.
Financial & Administrative Support
Accounting, audit, SST and personal tax filings — plus day-to-day administration for foreign owners operating without local staff.
Get started
Need business foundation handled?
Share your situation and we'll map the exact approvals your business needs, with a fixed quote — usually within one business day.