Sdn Bhd — Malaysia's local company, set up for you from KL
Sdn Bhd (Sendirian Berhad) is Malaysia's private limited company. 100% foreign ownership, minimum capital RM 1, one director and one shareholder are enough. We handle name search, SSM registration, constitution, banking, tax registration and the Employment Pass.
Corporate tax — the tiered SME structure
| Chargeable income | SME rate | Non-SME rate |
|---|---|---|
| First RM 150,000 | 15% | 24% |
| RM 150,001 – 600,000 | 17% | 24% |
| Above RM 600,000 | 24% | 24% |
Paid-up capital needed for an Employment Pass
You can incorporate from RM 1, but to sponsor an Employment Pass the company must show paid-up capital of:
| Ownership structure | Required paid-up capital |
|---|---|
| 100% Malaysian-owned | RM 250,000 |
| Joint venture (e.g. JP 70% + MY 30%) | RM 350,000 |
| 100% foreign-owned | RM 500,000 |
| WRT sectors (wholesale/retail/trade) with ≥51% foreign | RM 1,000,000 |
The most common pattern for founders relocating to Malaysia: 100% foreign-owned + RM 500,000 paid in after incorporation. Sources: ESD MOHA Operational Guidelines / Announcement 266.
Our Sdn Bhd package
Incorporation
Name search, SSM registration, constitution, director/shareholder setup, tax file registration, bank account support.
¥660,000 tax-inclusive (¥600,000 excl. Japanese consumption tax)
Annual maintenance (choose one of 3 tiers)
Company secretary, registered address, annual filing and bookkeeping included in every tier: Light (dormant–very small) / Standard (revenue up to ~RM 500K) / Premium (larger, monthly reporting).
¥330,000 / ¥495,000 / ¥990,000 per year, tax-inclusive
Nominee resident director
Malaysia requires at least one director ordinarily resident in Malaysia. If no EP holder is available, we provide a nominee resident director.
¥550,000/year + refundable deposit ¥200,000
Employment Pass
Free route assessment before you sign (MDEC or ESD), then full application support. See the EP guide.
¥880,000 / ¥990,000 MDEC route / ESD route, tax-inclusive
FAQ
Can I incorporate without living in Malaysia?
Yes — incorporation itself has no residence requirement (a virtual office can serve as the registered address). Bank account opening and the Employment Pass do require in-person steps and real operations.
How long until the company is operational?
Incorporation 2–4 weeks + bank account 2–4 weeks ≈ 1–2 months for basic operations; add the EP and plan for 3–4 months in total.
Sdn Bhd or Labuan — which should I choose?
Selling into Malaysia (retail, F&B, local services) → Sdn Bhd. International trade, services or holding at a low rate → Labuan. Many clients combine both. Try the 3-minute assessment.
Can my Japanese company own the Sdn Bhd?
Yes, a 100% subsidiary is possible. We help design the capital and dividend flows together with partner tax accountants.
Start with a free 30-minute consultation
Tell us about your plans for your Sdn Bhd. English and Japanese support, from our Kuala Lumpur office.