Service · Compliance
Licensing and compliance, handled before it becomes a problem.
A company can be perfectly incorporated and still be operating illegally. Premises licensing, signage approval, and employer registrations are separate systems with separate clocks — and they are where foreign owners most often discover a requirement they did not know existed.
What this covers
- Municipal business premise licensing — DBKL, MBPJ, MPS and other councils
- Signboard (DBP) approval, including wording and language requirements
- MOF registration for government and GLC supply and tenders
- CIDB registration and grading for construction and contracting work
- EPF employer registration and contribution setup
- SOCSO (PERKESO) employer registration
- Sector-specific licences — manufacturing, import/export, and regulated trades
- Ongoing renewal tracking so nothing lapses unnoticed
Who needs this
A retail or F&B business signing a KL lease
Your premises licence and signboard approval both run through the local council, and both need to be in place before you can legally trade from the unit you have just committed to.
A contractor bidding for government work
Government and GLC tenders require MOF registration under the correct field codes, and construction work requires CIDB registration at a grade that permits your project value. Both, usually, before you can bid at all.
A company about to make its first hire
EPF and SOCSO employer registration are not optional and not automatic at incorporation. They are triggered by employing someone, and penalties accrue from the date you should have registered.
How it works
- 1
Map
We identify every licence your specific activity, sector, and premises actually require — including the ones that only apply because of where you have leased.
- 2
Apply
Applications are prepared and filed with the correct council, board, or ministry, with the supporting documents each one expects.
- 3
Maintain
Renewal dates are tracked and handled, so a licence never lapses because nobody local was watching the calendar.
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:
- Company incorporation documents (SSM registration and constitution)
- Tenancy agreement or proof of ownership for your premises
- Floor plan and photographs of the premises
- Proposed signboard artwork, dimensions, and wording
- Directors' identification documents
- Audited financials and technical personnel details, for CIDB grading
Questions we get
It depends entirely on where your premises sit. Kuala Lumpur is DBKL, Petaling Jaya is MBPJ, Subang Jaya is MPS, and other areas have their own councils. Requirements and processing times differ between them, which is why the lease you sign affects your licensing timeline.
Yes, if you are displaying any business signage. Approval covers dimensions, placement, and language requirements through DBP. It is one of the most commonly overlooked steps, and enforcement is routine rather than rare.
A foreign-owned Sdn Bhd can register and bid on open tenders. Some procurement categories are restricted to Bumiputera-status or locally-owned companies, so it is worth confirming which categories are genuinely open to your ownership structure before investing time in a bid.
Often needed alongside this
Business Foundation & Registration
Sdn Bhd incorporation, ESD registration, and MDEC status for digital and technology companies — structured correctly from day one.
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 licensing handled?
Share your situation and we'll map the exact approvals your business needs, with a fixed quote — usually within one business day.