Company Incorporation in Malaysia
A Malaysian private company can generally be incorporated with at least one member and at least one director who ordinarily resides in Malaysia. A company secretary must be appointed within 30 days after incorporation.
LGR assists business owners and investors with the incorporation process while also considering the corporate, tax and regulatory requirements that follow registration.
COMPANY INCORPORATION · MALAYSIA
At a glance
Entity: Private company (Sdn. Bhd.)
Director: At least one director ordinarily resident in Malaysia
Member / shareholder: At least one
Company secretary: Appoint within 30 days after incorporation
Tax & regulatory: Requirements depend on the company's activities
Ongoing compliance: Annual corporate and tax obligations apply
Directors & Shareholders
At least one director must ordinarily reside in Malaysia.
The company must also have at least one member/shareholder.
The proposed ownership and management structure should be considered before incorporation.
Company Information
Prepare the proposed company name, business activities, registered office, shareholding, directors and other incorporation particulars.
Accurate information at the outset reduces unnecessary amendments later.
Incorporation is followed by company-secretarial, tax, accounting and potentially licensing requirements.
A company secretary must be appointed within 30 days after incorporation.
Post-Incorporation Requirements
The incorporation process normally involves determining the proposed company name, business activities, registered office, shareholders, directors and other required company information.
For a Malaysian private company, at least one director must ordinarily reside in Malaysia. A constitution is generally optional for a company limited by shares.
The appropriate structure should also take into account what the company intends to do after incorporation, including tax, licensing, banking and ongoing corporate compliance requirements.
What is required to incorporate a Malaysian company?
INCORPORATION REQUIREMENTS
PREPARING FOR INCORPORATION
What information and documents are needed?
Preparing the required information before submission can make the incorporation process more efficient. The exact requirements depend on the proposed shareholders, directors, ownership structure and business activities.
Company Information
Proposed company name
Business activities / nature of business
Registered office address
Proposed share capital
Shareholding structure
Financial year end, where relevant
Directors & Shareholders
Full identification details
Residential / correspondence address
Nationality and residency information
Proposed shareholding
Identification and KYC documents
Other information required for regulatory or compliance checks
Additional information may be required for foreign shareholders, corporate shareholders, regulated activities or more complex ownership structures.
OUR PROCESS
How the incorporation process works
LGR first understands the proposed business and ownership structure, then coordinates the incorporation process and the immediate compliance matters that follow.
02 — Prepare & Review
We understand the proposed shareholders, directors, business activities and intended operations before preparing the incorporation information.
01 — Understand the Proposed Structure
We compile and review the incorporation particulars, identification information and required supporting documents before submission.
03 — Incorporate the Company
We coordinate the company registration process and address incorporation-related requirements with the relevant parties.
After incorporation, we help identify and coordinate company-secretarial, tax, accounting, banking and regulatory requirements.
04 — Complete the Next Steps
AFTER INCORPORATION
What happens after the company is incorporated?
Incorporation is only the starting point. A newly registered company needs to put its corporate, tax, accounting and operational compliance arrangements in place so that it can operate properly and meet its ongoing obligations.
A company secretary must be appointed within 30 days after incorporation.
The company should also establish and maintain the required statutory records and corporate documentation.
Company Secretarial
Tax & Accounting
Set up the accounting records from the start and identify the company's corporate tax, tax estimate, e-Invoice and other applicable tax requirements.
The timing will depend on when the company begins operations and its activities.
Banking, Licences & Operations
Arrange the corporate bank account and determine whether the intended business activities require licences, permits or other regulatory approvals.
Company incorporation alone does not necessarily authorise every business activity.
Ongoing Compliance
Directors should maintain a compliance calendar covering annual corporate filings, tax deadlines, accounting and financial reporting, beneficial ownership and other relevant obligations.
Changes during the year may also require separate corporate actions or filings.
FOREIGN INVESTORS
Incorporating in Malaysia as a foreign investor?
Foreign investors can establish companies in Malaysia, but the proposed structure should be considered together with the intended business activities, resident-director requirements and any licences or regulatory approvals that may apply.
The incorporation itself may be straightforward. The more important question is whether the structure is suitable for how the business intends to operate after registration.
Resident director
Whether the proposed structure already satisfies Malaysia's resident-director requirement.
Foreign ownership
Whether sector-specific ownership restrictions or approval requirements apply.
Licences & approvals
Whether the intended activities require additional regulatory or local authority approvals.
Paid-up capital & immigration
Whether capital or employment requirements arise because of licences, expatriate personnel or other operational needs.
Banking & tax
How the company will receive funds, transact with related parties and meet Malaysian tax and regulatory obligations.
Additional matters to consider
HOW LGR ASSISTS
Company incorporation
Company secretarial & governance
Tax & regulatory support
Accounting & financial reporting
Audit support coordination
Corporate advisory
Malaysia–Singapore cross-border matters
Where a matter requires specialist legal, licensing, immigration or other professional advice outside our scope, we can help identify and coordinate the appropriate next step.
One coordinated point of contact
Company incorporation with the next steps considered
Our role is not limited to submitting the incorporation application.
LGR helps clients understand how the proposed structure affects the company's ongoing secretarial, tax, accounting and regulatory responsibilities, so the immediate post-incorporation requirements are considered from the beginning.
Structure & readiness
We review the proposed shareholders, directors, activities and operating model before incorporation.
Incorporation coordination
We prepare and coordinate the incorporation information, supporting documents and required corporate actions.
Post-incorporation compliance
We help identify the company-secretarial, tax, accounting and regulatory requirements that follow registration.
Ongoing support
LGR can continue supporting the company as its compliance and corporate requirements develop.
Frequently asked questions about company incorporation in Malaysia
These are some of the questions business owners and investors commonly ask before establishing a Malaysian private company.
2. Can a foreigner own a Malaysian company?
Foreign ownership is generally possible, but the permitted ownership structure can depend on the company's business activities, licences and sector-specific requirements. Foreign investors should assess these matters before finalising the structure.
3. How many shareholders are required?
A private company can generally be incorporated with at least one member or shareholder. The shareholder may be an individual or, subject to the applicable requirements, a corporate shareholder.
4. Does a Malaysian company need a company secretary?
Yes. A company secretary must be appointed within 30 days after incorporation. The company secretary supports the company's statutory records, corporate filings and ongoing corporate compliance.
5. Is a company constitution compulsory?
A constitution is generally optional for a company limited by shares. Whether one is useful depends on the company's ownership, governance arrangements and any specific provisions the shareholders want to formalise.
6. What should be done immediately after incorporation?
The company should address its company-secretarial records, accounting setup, tax requirements, banking arrangements and any licences or regulatory approvals needed for its activities. The specific actions depend on how and when the business will commence operations.
COMMON QUESTIONS
1. How many directors are required for a Malaysian private company?
A Malaysian private company must have at least one director who ordinarily resides in Malaysia. The proposed directors should be considered together with the company's ownership and intended operations.
CONTINUE EXPLORING
Related services & practical guidance
Company Secretarial & Governance
Understand the Malaysian tax, accounting and regulatory requirements that may apply as the company begins and expands its operations.
Tax & Regulatory Support
Support for statutory records, corporate filings, governance matters and ongoing company-secretarial compliance.
Incorporation for Foreign Investors
Explore additional considerations for foreign shareholders, resident directors, licensing, capital and operating requirements.
What Happens After Incorporating a Sdn. Bhd.?
A practical guide to the company-secretarial, tax, accounting, banking and compliance steps that normally follow incorporation.
Read the Guide →
READY TO START?
Planning to incorporate a company in Malaysia?
Speak with LGR about your proposed structure, incorporation requirements and the corporate, tax and regulatory matters that follow.