How to Name Your Business in Malaysia (with Tips and Examples)
When starting a business, choosing the right name for your business is crucial, as it encapsulates the brand identity. Furthermore, it ought to connect with your target audience. Thus, it should also be easy to pronounce and remember.
However, you must follow the guidelines set by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) to ensure your name meets the necessary criteria. This will improve your chances of your business name being approved during the company registration process.
So, how do you choose a company name that complies with the guidelines? Here are 10 tips and examples:
10 tips and examples to name your business
- Research existing company names to ensure that your proposed name is not identical or too similar to any existing names.
- E.g. If you want to start a café business, you should check if there are other cafés in the same area with similar names like “The Coffee House” or “Coffee Corner.”
- Avoid using words that are morally offensive or vulgar words and words that are contrary to public policy or morality.
- E.g. A company name like “Dirty Laundry” would not be acceptable.
- Obtain approval from the relevant authorities if your proposed name suggests any connection with the government or official bodies.
- E.g. If you want to use the word “Malaysia” in your company name, you need to obtain approval from the relevant authorities.
- Check if your proposed name includes any restricted or sensitive words, and obtain the necessary approval or license if required.
- E.g. If you want to use the word “Bank” in your company name, you need to obtain approval from the Central Bank of Malaysia.
- Ensure that your proposed name does not infringe on any trademark or intellectual property rights.
- E.g. If you want to use the word “Nike” in your company name, you need to ensure that it does not infringe on Nike’s trademark.
- Avoid misleading names or give false impressions about the nature of your business or the products and services offered.
- E.g. A company name like “Healthy Treats” would not be appropriate if your business sells only unhealthy food.
- Choose a name that is easy to remember and pronounce, and reflects the business activities and values of your company.
- E.g. A company selling handcrafted furniture could choose a name like “Artisan Woodworks.”
- Consider your target market’s cultural context and language when selecting a name.
- E.g. If your target market is Chinese-speaking, you could consider using a name like “Huat Huat Trading” which means “prosperous trading” in Mandarin.
- Keep the name short and simple, as this can make it easier for customers to remember.
- E.g. A company selling organic skincare products could choose a name like “Eco Skin.”
- Avoid using numbers or special characters in the name, as this can make it more difficult to search for and remember.
- E.g. A company name like “4U Services” may not be easy for customers to remember or search for.
What You Should NOT Do When Naming Your Company
❌ Offensive or vulgar language
“Racist Enterprise Sdn Bhd”
“Hate Group Sdn Bhd”.
❌ Misleading names
“Green Planet Sdn Bhd” for a company that produces plastic products.
“Organic Foods Sdn Bhd” for a company that sells mostly processed foods.
❌ Difficult to pronounce or spell
“Xerxes Corporation Sdn Bhd”
“Kvetch Solutions Sdn Bhd”
“Jqyzxqo Corporation Sdn Bhd”.
❌ Generic or common names
“Global Trading Sdn Bhd”
“Quality Solutions Sdn Bhd”
“Superior Services Sdn Bhd”
❌ Lengthy names
“Innovative Technologies and Solutions for Sustainable Development Sdn Bhd”
“Excellence in Customer Service and Satisfaction Sdn Bhd”.
❌ Irrelevant names
“Blue Ocean Trading Sdn Bhd” for a company that sells electronics
“Sweet Tooth Construction Sdn Bhd” for a company that sells clothes
❌ Similar names of existing companies
“Samsung Trading Sdn Bhd” for a company that has no connection to Samsung Electronics
“McDowell Enterprises Sdn Bhd” for a company in the food industry.
❌ Trademark infringement
“Apple Trading Sdn Bhd” for a company that has no affiliation with Apple Inc.
“Adidas Enterprise Sdn Bhd” for a company that has no affiliation with Adidas AG.
❌ Numbers or special characters
“1Stop Shopping Sdn Bhd”
“Best4Less Enterprise Sdn Bhd”
“M3 Technology Sdn Bhd”.
❌ Conflicting to public morality
“Gambling Ventures Sdn Bhd”
“Human Trafficking Solutions Sdn Bhd”
“Terrorist Services Sdn Bhd”
❌ Politically sensitive names
“UMNO Trading Sdn Bhd”
“DAP Enterprise Sdn Bhd”
“PAS Solutions Sdn Bhd”
❌ Names that refer to the monarchy
“Royal Supplies Sdn Bhd”
“Sultanate Trading Sdn Bhd”
“Kingdom Builders Sdn Bhd”
❌ Gazetted words
“Bank Negara Trading Sdn Bhd”
“Polis Solutions Sdn Bhd”
“Majlis Perbandaran Enterprise Sdn Bhd”
Summary
While choosing a name for your company may seem straightforward, adhering to the guidelines of SSM is important to avoid potential issues. It also reduces the risk of having to revise your company’s name during the process.
For a smooth and hassle-free incorporation process, A Company provides professional corporate secretarial services to help you with your company registration and compliance matters.
If you have any questions about your company name, speak with us via email at [email protected]. You may also give us a call +6011 6330 1316, or drop us a message on WhatsApp.
Our team of professionals are here to make your business registration stress-free. Best of all, it will only take between 1-3 working days to set up a Sdn. Bhd company.