BUSINESS NAME AND NAME SEARCH
What’s in a name? A lot.
Before you decide on your business or company name, read the business name guidelines by SSM. After that, check if the name is available by doing a name search.
Coming up with the right name for your business or company is important because the name should reflect what it is about and also appeal to the target market. Imagine naming your company xxxx when you offer services for xxxx. Hardly feels like the target would be convinced of your ability to do xxx, right?
Alas, for those who are serious about creating a brand, you will find out that coming up with a right name is not that easy. Even those who over-simplify the name selection process should first, read up on the business name guidelines by SSM, and second, do a search on the availability of the name before deciding a name, or three.
If you are wondering is there a difference between a business and a company, read this first.
The article below is for business name.
BUSINESS NAME GUIDELINES BY SSM
Click on the link below to read in detail about the name application process and the principals of naming a business such as the use of symbols, numbers, alphabets and what is not allowed in business names.
After you’ve understood the do’s and don’ts, start working on your business name.
Tip: Prepare at least 3 names in advance. This shouldn’t be difficult if you have done Branding in Section 5 of the Startup Starter Kit.
After you’ve selected or created the names, run a search to see if the names are available.
NAME SEARCH
Below is the step-by-step guide on how to do a name search.
If you prefer a visual guide, click here.
Step 1. Go to ssm-einfo.my and click on ‘Register’.
Step 2. Fill up the simple registration form and click ‘Submit’. You will see a window that says your registration is successful.
Step 3. Go back to ssmeinfo.my and click on ‘Login’. Key in your username and password and press enter.
Step 4. Look at the left side for ‘Company & Business Information’. At the bottom of this section is a search button. Click ‘Search’.
Step 5. Look at the bottom right for ‘By Name’ and key in the name you are considering.
If the name you searched shows up, that means there is already a business or company that is using that name. You’ll need to think of a variation of that name or think of a different name.
If the name you searched doesn’t show any results, that means the name is available.
FYI, any business name has to be approved by SSM. If you’re a sole-owner, you have the option of using your name as per IC for the business name and you don’t have to seek approval to use your name as the business name.
If you decide to go with a trade name, you’ll need to seek approval from SSM for the name. The application can be done at the same time as registering your business.
These steps will be explained in ‘Guidelines for Registration of New Business’.
If the name you have selected is available, congratulations! Read our next article on how to register your business.
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HOW TO REGISTER A BUSINESS
Find out what are things you should prepare ahead of registering your business so that you save time and key in the right info.
VISUAL GUIDE FOR NAME SEARCH
Step 1
Go to ‘ssm-einfo.my’ and click on the ‘Register’ button.
You will be taken to the registration page.
Step 2
Key in the username you’d like to use and the password. Please remember this username and password as you will need to key it in again after this registration is completed.
Click ‘Submit’ and you will see a prompt acknowledging your registration.
Step 3
Go back to sss-einfo.my
Click on ‘Login’.
Key in your login name and password and press enter.
Step 4
Once you’ve successfully logged in, look at the left section of the page that says ‘Company and Business Information’. At the bottom of the section there is a ‘Search’ button. Click on it.
Step 5
On the bottom right, you can see a section that says ‘By Name’.
Key in the name and click on ‘Search’.
If nothing shows up, it means the name is available.
If it shows up, that means the name is taken.
You can search for the availability of your second and third options.
Alternatively, you can also make some adjustments to the names and see if one of it is available.
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