What Type of Company Should Foreign Shareholders Register to Operate a Retail Business in Malaysia? 外国股东想在马来西亚经营零售业务，需要注册什么公司？
What Type of Company Should Foreign Shareholders Register to Operate a Retail Business in Malaysia?
Generally, you may incorporate a standard:
Private Limited Company (Sdn. Bhd.)
Malaysian Private Limited Company
as the business entity for conducting retail activities in Malaysia.
Foreign shareholders may hold shares in a Malaysian Sdn. Bhd.
However, the company must still comply with the requirements under the Companies Act 2016 relating to directors, registered office, Company Secretary, and other corporate compliance matters.
【During Incorporation | Please Specify the Exact Nature of Business】
Please provide us with details of the specific retail activities and types of products that the company intends to sell.
For example:
Clothing Retail | Furniture Retail | Electronics | Household Products | Beauty Products | Food Retail | Online Retail | Physical Retail Store | Wholesale & Retail | Import & Sales
Once we receive your business information, we will assist based on the actual activities provided:
Confirm the Nature of Business
↓
Search for and Match the Appropriate MSIC Code
↓
Register the Appropriate Nature of Business in the Company’s SSM Records
SSM’s business classification codes are based on the MSIC (Malaysia Standard Industrial Classification), and the BizCodEX system is available to assist in identifying appropriate business codes according to the actual business activities.
【Special Considerations for Foreign Shareholders】
Incorporating a Sdn. Bhd. ≠ Automatically Obtaining All Required Retail Business Approvals
As the business involves foreign shareholders + retail activities in Malaysia, after the company has been incorporated, further assessment may be required based on:
Foreign Shareholding Percentage + Products Sold + Retail Business Model + Business Premises + Company Capital
to determine whether the business is subject to the relevant KPDN Foreign Participation in Distributive Trade requirements, as well as any Premise Licence or other industry-specific licences required by the relevant Local Authority.
Therefore, we recommend planning the process as follows:
Incorporate a Sdn. Bhd.
↓
Confirm the Specific Retail Activities
↓
Match the Appropriate MSIC Code
↓
Complete the Company Incorporation
↓
Assess the Applicable KPDN / Distributive Trade Requirements Based on Foreign Shareholding and Retail Business Model
↓
If Operating a Physical Retail Outlet, Confirm the Premise Licence and Other Applicable Business Licences
↓
Commence Retail Business Operations
You only need to provide us with details of the retail products you intend to sell and your specific business model. Based on the information provided, we will assist you in identifying the appropriate Nature of Business and MSIC Code.
外国股东想在马来西亚经营零售业务，需要注册什么公司？
一般情况下，可以注册普通的：
Private Limited Company（Sdn. Bhd.）
马来西亚私人有限公司
作为在马来西亚开展零售业务的公司主体。
外国股东可以持有马来西亚 Sdn. Bhd. 的股份；但公司仍须符合《Companies Act 2016》关于董事、注册地址、公司秘书及其他公司合规要求。
【注册时｜请列明具体业务性质】
请您向我们说明公司准备经营的具体零售业务及产品类型。
例如：
服装零售｜家具零售｜电子产品｜家居用品｜美容产品｜食品零售｜线上零售｜实体零售店｜批发及零售｜进口及销售
收到您的业务资料后，我们会根据您提供的实际经营内容：
确认 Nature of Business（业务性质）
↓
协助搜索及匹配相应的 MSIC Code
↓
将适当的业务性质登记在 SSM 公司资料中
SSM目前使用的业务分类代码以 **MSIC（Malaysia Standard Industrial Classification）**为基础，并提供 BizCodEX 系统协助按照实际商业活动匹配适当的业务代码。
【外国股东特别注意】
注册 Sdn. Bhd. ≠ 已经取得所有零售营业许可。
由于公司涉及外国股东 + 马来西亚零售业务，公司注册完成后，还需要根据：
外国持股比例 + 销售产品 + 零售模式 + 营业场地 + 公司资金规模
进一步确认是否涉及 **KPDN Foreign Participation in Distributive Trade（外资分销贸易）**相关要求，以及所在地地方政府的 **Premise Licence（营业场所执照）**或其他行业许可证。
因此，我们建议按照以下流程规划：
注册 Sdn. Bhd.
↓
确认具体零售业务
↓
匹配正确 MSIC Code
↓
公司完成注册
↓
根据外国持股及零售模式确认 KPDN / Distributive Trade 要求
↓
有实体零售店面，再确认 Premise Licence 及相关营业执照
↓
正式开展零售业务
您只需要先把准备经营的零售产品及具体业务模式告诉我们，我们会根据您提供的资料，协助您匹配相应的 Nature of Business 及 MSIC Code。
Generally, you may incorporate a standard:
Private Limited Company (Sdn. Bhd.)
Malaysian Private Limited Company
as the business entity for conducting retail activities in Malaysia.
Foreign shareholders may hold shares in a Malaysian Sdn. Bhd.
However, the company must still comply with the requirements under the Companies Act 2016 relating to directors, registered office, Company Secretary, and other corporate compliance matters.
【During Incorporation | Please Specify the Exact Nature of Business】
Please provide us with details of the specific retail activities and types of products that the company intends to sell.
For example:
Clothing Retail | Furniture Retail | Electronics | Household Products | Beauty Products | Food Retail | Online Retail | Physical Retail Store | Wholesale & Retail | Import & Sales
Once we receive your business information, we will assist based on the actual activities provided:
Confirm the Nature of Business
↓
Search for and Match the Appropriate MSIC Code
↓
Register the Appropriate Nature of Business in the Company’s SSM Records
SSM’s business classification codes are based on the MSIC (Malaysia Standard Industrial Classification), and the BizCodEX system is available to assist in identifying appropriate business codes according to the actual business activities.
【Special Considerations for Foreign Shareholders】
Incorporating a Sdn. Bhd. ≠ Automatically Obtaining All Required Retail Business Approvals
As the business involves foreign shareholders + retail activities in Malaysia, after the company has been incorporated, further assessment may be required based on:
Foreign Shareholding Percentage + Products Sold + Retail Business Model + Business Premises + Company Capital
to determine whether the business is subject to the relevant KPDN Foreign Participation in Distributive Trade requirements, as well as any Premise Licence or other industry-specific licences required by the relevant Local Authority.
Therefore, we recommend planning the process as follows:
Incorporate a Sdn. Bhd.
↓
Confirm the Specific Retail Activities
↓
Match the Appropriate MSIC Code
↓
Complete the Company Incorporation
↓
Assess the Applicable KPDN / Distributive Trade Requirements Based on Foreign Shareholding and Retail Business Model
↓
If Operating a Physical Retail Outlet, Confirm the Premise Licence and Other Applicable Business Licences
↓
Commence Retail Business Operations
You only need to provide us with details of the retail products you intend to sell and your specific business model. Based on the information provided, we will assist you in identifying the appropriate Nature of Business and MSIC Code.
外国股东想在马来西亚经营零售业务，需要注册什么公司？
一般情况下，可以注册普通的：
Private Limited Company（Sdn. Bhd.）
马来西亚私人有限公司
作为在马来西亚开展零售业务的公司主体。
外国股东可以持有马来西亚 Sdn. Bhd. 的股份；但公司仍须符合《Companies Act 2016》关于董事、注册地址、公司秘书及其他公司合规要求。
【注册时｜请列明具体业务性质】
请您向我们说明公司准备经营的具体零售业务及产品类型。
例如：
服装零售｜家具零售｜电子产品｜家居用品｜美容产品｜食品零售｜线上零售｜实体零售店｜批发及零售｜进口及销售
收到您的业务资料后，我们会根据您提供的实际经营内容：
确认 Nature of Business（业务性质）
↓
协助搜索及匹配相应的 MSIC Code
↓
将适当的业务性质登记在 SSM 公司资料中
SSM目前使用的业务分类代码以 **MSIC（Malaysia Standard Industrial Classification）**为基础，并提供 BizCodEX 系统协助按照实际商业活动匹配适当的业务代码。
【外国股东特别注意】
注册 Sdn. Bhd. ≠ 已经取得所有零售营业许可。
由于公司涉及外国股东 + 马来西亚零售业务，公司注册完成后，还需要根据：
外国持股比例 + 销售产品 + 零售模式 + 营业场地 + 公司资金规模
进一步确认是否涉及 **KPDN Foreign Participation in Distributive Trade（外资分销贸易）**相关要求，以及所在地地方政府的 **Premise Licence（营业场所执照）**或其他行业许可证。
因此，我们建议按照以下流程规划：
注册 Sdn. Bhd.
↓
确认具体零售业务
↓
匹配正确 MSIC Code
↓
公司完成注册
↓
根据外国持股及零售模式确认 KPDN / Distributive Trade 要求
↓
有实体零售店面，再确认 Premise Licence 及相关营业执照
↓
正式开展零售业务
您只需要先把准备经营的零售产品及具体业务模式告诉我们，我们会根据您提供的资料，协助您匹配相应的 Nature of Business 及 MSIC Code。
Sep 24,2026