Wit & Words is now a registered company!

Originally posted on 9 June 2011


I should have done it more than a year ago when I began this business. But it is finally done. Wit & Words is officially a registered company! *Champagne cork popping. Glasses clinking. Whistle blowing. Crackers cracking*

Again I vary from my usual topics to outline briefly the procedure of registering an enterprise in Malaysia. It's really simple, especially since it's a sole proprietorship and not a sendirian berhad (limited liability company).

There are many online companies offering the service of registering a company for a few hundred. I opted to do it myself the long (more than 3 hours!) and hard way for only RM70. You only had to (1) turn up at SSM (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia) with your original IC and a copy.

(2) Obtain a form from the information counter to check whether your company name is available and viable. You'll have to give three options. Mine were Wit N Words, Word Artisan and Word Art.

(3) Take a number and WAIT

(4) Submit the form when your number is called. Then WAIT SOME MORE. Meanwhile, they would have passed you a form to register the company. Leave the name portion blank until confirmed.
Lucky for me, Ratatouille was playing on the TV
Here's an important note most people do not know. Your company name and trade name can differ. So my company's name is Word Artisan, but the trade name is Wit & Words.

(5) If your company name is approved, take another number and WAIT. You can take the time to finally fill in the name portion in the form.
In my case, they suggested I use Wit N Words Art. How odd sounding! If I were looking for writing services, I'd dismiss such a copywriter who came up with such a company name. I insisted they check on my second choice. While I WAITED some more, I wondered why they asked for three options if they were going to take liberties in changing the first, and ignore the other two. Finally, Word Artisan was approved. I rather like this name. 

(6) Submit your form and IC copy, show your original IC and pay RM60 for company registration and RM10 for company information (I have no idea what the latter is for, but I was too tired at this point to enquire. I just wanted it to be over).

(7) WAIT AGAIN.

(8) Your number will be called again. If all is in order, you'll get your Company Certificate. If not, I'm so very sorry for you.