August 31, 2020 
The high internet penetration and easy access are making online businesses in Malaysia quite beneficial, As compared to the conventional brick-and-mortar store, online retailing is cheaper, more comfortable, and higher reach, But before you start online selling in Malaysia, there are certain things to keep in mind like what to sell? Where to sell? And How to sell?
In this article, we will see ways to start a business online in Malaysia.
Determine your product
There are multiple product categories to choose from, like beauty, fashion, electronics, and many more. You can also opt for services like photography, fashion designer, and make-up stylish.
But it is essential to decide what you want to sell and determine its constraints such as inventory, cost, shipping, and competitors.
Choose your seller wisely
- The supplier is one primary factor on which your business depends, so it is a smart step to select a trustworthy seller.
- You also need to calculate the profit margins and other expenses. There are two ways to trade, either you can choose to be a drop shipper or, you can tie up directly with the manufacturer.
- For dropshipping model, where you don’t have to handle the product directly or keep it in stock. But you purchase it from a third party and deliver directly to your customer. The challenge in this case is that, you need to depend entirely on someone to fulfill the customer’s order.
- Meanwhile, from manufacturers, you can directly ship your product to the customers with better control over product quality and branding, but it is a high investment.
Do market research
As you decide the product to sell, the next step is to do comprehensive market research in Malaysia. Look for companies, organizations, or individuals who are into the same product selling.
Check for their marketing methods and techniques that will help you to strategize your business. Make use of Google Keyword Planner to know about your target audience and other insights.
Select your selling channel
According to your business, you can choose the platform to sell your products.
- An eCommerce Marketplace is an easy option if you are new in the online business. You can directly register yourself as a seller on these online marketplaces by submitting your primary details like id proof, VAT documentation, and bank details. These sites are cost-effective and drive millions of customers per day. Some of the trending online marketplaces in Malaysia are Lazada, Zalora, Matahari Mall, Qoo10, BliBli, JD, etc.
- Setting up an attractive web store is another option you can choose to run your business. But this will require continuous market promotion and is a costly affair compared to the online marketplace. Some of the technically advanced and most user-friendly platforms in Malaysia are Magento, Shopify, and PrestaShop.
- Selling on both channels will generate higher revenue and more audience reach.
Register your business
Registering your business will make it a legal entity and will let users verify your business information online.
Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysiais a statutory body in Malaysia that regulates companies and businesses both online and offline.
Once your business gets legally registered, you can apply for Malaysian payment gateways like eGhl, iPay88, and more.
Set-up an online store and social media advertisements
Create a user-friendly website that is easy for navigation with relevant content. It should be optimized for different devices, browsers, and should be mobile responsive.
As you are designing a business website, it should load fast, scale potential visitors, and secure. Make use of advanced platforms that will make your website look professional.
But your website will gain success only when promoted on multiple channels.
Check for the legal terms and policies
The other crucial part of starting your business is to go through all the legal formalities of Malaysia and clear your paperwork.
- Apply for your Business license to become an eligible seller.
- Perishable goods like alcohol, perfume, cigarettes, fruits, and vegetables, have certain shipping restrictions in Malaysia, for which you require more documentation. So, check for the shipping restrictions for your goods.
- Try to avoid any kind of patent issues, nor let anybody steal your work. Get your copyright registrations in advance to stay safe.
Optimize your payment gateways
Making use of payment gateways will reduce the frequency of credit card fraud. It keeps the customer’s data secured and encrypted.
Setting up a payment gateway is very easy and user friendly. Billplz and Senangpay are the standard companies in Malaysia that provide seamless payment integration for online businesses.
Top 5 ideas of online business in Malaysia for 2020
- Start an E-commerce Store
- Make Blogging Monetary
- Offer Freelancing Services
- Sell Digital Products
- Try Affiliate Marketing
Trending online stores in Malaysia
With high internet penetration and active users on social media, companies are earning profit by making use of such technologies.
There is about 30 million total population of Malaysia, out of which 20 million are active internet users. Thus, making Malaysia an appealing market for eCommerce.
Some of the top trending eCommerce platforms in Malaysia are Shopee, LAZADA, Zalora, and more.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need much investment to start your online business in Malaysia. It will hardly take at least RM 10,000 a month, including rent, utilities, and employees for a local physical store, whereas an online business today can begin for as low as RM12 a month.
