Business entities in Malaysia in 2025

Healy Consultants will be pleased to assist our Clients with Malaysia company setup. There are several ways of doing business in Malaysia, the most common being the setting up of a limited liability company. Foreign companies can also register a branch in Malaysia, or a representative office if they plan to run only marketing operations in this country.

• The Malaysia Limited liability company (SDN BHD)

  • The Malaysia limited liability company (locally known as a Sendirian Berhad or SDN BHD) is the type of business entity most commonly formed by foreign entrepreneurs starting a business in Malaysia. Malaysian business setup requires: i) two shareholders ii) a minimum investment of USD2 (MYR2) iii) one resident company secretary and iv) one director. While there is no restriction on the nationality of the director, he/she must be ordinarily residing the country. If needed, Healy Consultants can provide our Clients with nominee services for resident director in Malaysia;
  • After incorporation of the company, Healy Consultants will assist our Clients to register the company with the Inland Revenue Department for corporate tax and employer registration. If needed, we can also register the company for GST. All Malaysian companies must submit audited financial statements every year;
  • Our Clients may also wish to apply for various licenses in Malaysia, the most common being the Wholesale Retail Trade license (WRT). This license requires a paid up capital of US$1,000,000 and the approval process takes up to 2 months. Once secured, our Clients will be able to engage in various operations including i) retail and wholesale trade; and ii) restaurant and franchise business;
  • Best uses: a Malaysian company is an adequate business vehicle to trade with Malaysian customers and to hire staff in the mainland.

• The Malaysia free zone company (EPZ company)

  • Foreigners willing to start export-oriented manufacturing and service businesses can register their entity in an export processing zone. While there is no official minimum paid-up capital requirement, the free zone authority w take such amount as a criterion to assess the application so we usually recommend our Clients to invest a minimum of US$125,000. We can also provide nominee services for our Clients unable to appoint the one resident director required for all newly registered Malaysian company;
  • For further information on the different export processing zones available in Malaysia and their tax benefits and requirements, please visit our Malaysia free zone page;
  • Best uses: thanks to the tax incentives provided by the Malaysian Government, a Malaysian EPZ company is an attractive vehicle to manufacture products re-exported overseas.

• The Malaysia international trading company (Labuan company)

  • For entrepreneurs only planning to trade with overseas customers, the Malaysia regulations provide an attractive legally tax exempt business vehicle: the Labuan company, registered with the Labuan International Business and Financial Center. Unlike mainland Malaysia companies, such entity does not require the appointment of resident director;
  • For our readers interested to read more about this tax exempt strategy, Healy Consultants has prepared a specific section on such business entity;
  • Best uses: A Labuan company i) enjoy 3% corporation tax on annual net profits but ii) must submit financial statements to independent statutory annual audit. Under some conditions, it can also be a good entity to open a marketing office in Labuan, Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru.

• The Bumiputera company

  • Entrepreneurs establishing a limited liability company in Malaysia can apply for Bumiputera status if at least 30% of the shares are held by native Malay individuals or other Bumiputera corporations. If this requirement is met, the company is then eligible for special grants, discounts, and incentives such as cheaper business licenses, special bank agreements, native reservation of land, and discounts when purchasing or renting land.
  • Best uses: a Bumiputera company is usually formed when our Clients have Malay joint venture partners. Healy Consultants will then clarify with them to tax benefits available thanks to the presence of such Malay shareholder(s).

• The Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership

  • A limited liability partnership can be registered in Malaysia by a minimum of i) two partners, who both can be foreigners and are not required to be living in Malaysia and ii) one resident compliance officer. There is no minimum contribution to form such entity in Malaysia and all partners can benefit from limited liability, in accordance with the Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership Act of 2012;
  • While the limited liability partnership can sign contracts and issue invoices in its own names, such entity is tax transparent and is henceforth not required to submit financial statements to the Companies Commission of Malaysia: only an annual return must be filed annually. However, the partners are required to declare the earnings channeled through the partnership in their personal income tax statements
  • Best uses: a Malaysian limited liability partnership is a good vehicle for specific projects to be completed by our Client in cooperation with a Malaysian or foreign company. The partners can be indeed individuals, but also corporates.

• The Malaysia branch office

  • Another option available foreign corporations is the registration of a branch office in Malaysia. Company law dictates that all branch offices must conduct business within the scope set by the parent company. However, this office can engage in business activities, which involve trade, invoicing, and signing contracts. The foreign company will also have to appoint two resident representatives in Malaysia;
  • A branch office requires the appointment of an agent who is originally residing in Malaysia. There is no minimum paid up capital requirement for the branch registration.
  • Branch registration can be done by filing the required documentation with Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM), including i) certificate of incorporation and ii) constitution of the parent company. Healy Consultants Group assists our Clients with the submission of quality branch registration application package to ensure successful approval of the branch office;
  • Additionally, the branch office is required to comply with a number of reporting requirements under the Companies Act 2016 including i) notifying the SSM when changing share capital and corporate structure, ii) filing annual balance sheets and audited accounts of the parent and branch company, iii) filing annual return within one month of the AGM and iv) keeping account records for a minimum of 7 years in Malaysia.
  • Best uses: a Malaysian branch is usually not recommended, unless the industry of operations of the business is regulated and subject to license(s) and/or higher paid-up capital requirements.

• The Malaysia representative office

  • This Malaysia business setup is only allowed to engage in business activities including market research and promoting the business of the parent company. Consequently, a representative office cannot sign contracts or conduct business in Malaysia;
  • Best uses: a Malaysian representative office is recommended only if our Client plans to have only marketing operations in Malaysia, and no trading or productive operations.

• Table of comparison between Malaysia business entities

  Summary	Fast solution LLC	Limited Liability Partnership	Branch office	Trust
  Best use of company?	Close a customer deal now	Professional services	Consolidate losses	Public listing/ holding company
  How soon can you invoice Clients/sign sales contracts?	2 weeks	5 weeks	6 weeks	1 month
  How soon can you hire staff?	2 weeks	5 weeks	6 weeks	1 month
  How soon can you sign a lease agreement?	2 weeks	5 weeks	6 weeks	1 month
  How long to supply corporate bank account numbers?	1 month	3 months	3 months	2 months
  How long to supply company registration/tax numbers?	2 weeks	5 weeks	6 weeks	1 month
  Corporate tax rate on annual net profits?	24%	19%	25%	0%
  Limited liability entity?	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
  Government grants available?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
  Government approval required for foreign owners?	No	No	No	No
  Resident director/partner/manager/ required?	Yes, 1	No	Yes, 1	No
  Minimum paid up share capital?	US$2	US$2	None	US$34,000
  Can bid for Government contracts?	Yes	No	Yes	No
  Corporate bank account location?	SCB KL	CIMB KL	OCBC KL	Maybank
  Can secure trade finance?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
  GST payable on sales to local customers?	6%	6%	6%	0%
  Average total business set up engagement costs?	US$27,130	US$13,080	US$23,010	US$16,650
  Average total engagement period?	3 months	4 months	4 months	4 months

  See full table

  Accounting and tax considerations	Fast solution LLC	Limited Liability Partnership	Branch office	Trust
  Statutory corporate tax payable?	24%	19%	25%	0%
  Legally tax exempt if properly structured?	No	No	No	Yes
  Group HQ tax incentives?	Yes	No	No	No
  Must file an annual tax return?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
  Must file annual financial statements?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Must appoint an auditor?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Access to double taxation treaties?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
  Withholding tax on payments to foreign shareholders?	0%	0%	0%	0%
  Company Registration	Fast solution LLC	Limited Liability Partnership	Branch office	Trust
  Resident director/partner/manager/ required?	Yes, 1	No	Yes, 1	No
  Minimum number of shareholders/partners?	2	2	Parent company	1
  Maximum shareholding for foreigners?	100%	100%	100%	None
  Minimum statutory paid up share capital?	US$2	US$2	None	None
  Security deposit to be kept with Government?	No	No	No	Yes, US$22,700
  Shelf companies available?	Yes	No	No	No
  Time to incorporate a new entity?	2 weeks	5 weeks	6 weeks	1 month
  Can easily convert to a PLC?	Yes	No	No	No
  Public register of shareholders and directors?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
  Can have preference shareholders?	Yes	Yes	No	No
  Business Considerations	Fast solution LLC	Limited Liability Partnership	Branch office	Trust
  Good entity for trademark registration?	Yes	No	No	No
  Can secure an import and export license?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
  Can be wholly foreign owned?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  The entity will likely be regulated by?	SSM	SSM	SSM	SSM
  Monthly GST reporting to the Government?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
  Maximum number of staff allowed?	No limit	No limit	No limit	No limit
  Expatriate to local staff ratio?	None	None	None	None
  Can secure residence visa for business owner?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

  Sponsorship by a local citizen required?	No
  Our Client needs to travel to Malaysia for business set up?	No
  Temporary physical office solutions available?	Yes
  You need a local resident as bank signatory?	No
  Minimum number of directors/managers?	1
  Must sign an office lease agreement?	No
  Shareholders & directors documents to be attested/translated?	No
  Each foreign director needs a personal income tax number?	No
  Foreign director needs a residence visa?	Yes
  Other useful information
  What will be included in my customer sales invoice?	(click link)
  This country has signed free trade agreements?	Yes
  This country is a member of WIPO/TRIPS?	Yes
  This country is a member of the ICSID?	Yes
  Average customs duties suffered?	8%
  Government foreign investment approval required?	No
  Average monthly office rental? (US$ per sq m)	30
  Minimum statutory monthly salary?	US$226
  Average monthly US$ salary for local skilled employees?	US$700
  US$ deposit interest rate? (1 year average)	3.43%
  Overseas remittance currency controls?	None
  Banking considerations
  Multi-currency bank accounts available?	Yes
  Corporate visa debit cards available?	Yes
  Quality of e-banking platform?	Excellent
  Crowd funding available in this country?	Yes