Company Secretary Fee Malaysia 2026: What Will You Actually Pay?
Company secretary prices in Malaysia can look cheap at first glance, but the monthly retainer does not always show the real annual cost. BizSetupMY checked current public pricing from Malaysian providers and SSM so you can compare the retainer, annual filings, registered office and common extras on the same basis.
How much is a company secretary in Malaysia?
For a small Sdn Bhd, public 2026 company-secretary plans can start around RM40 per month, while more inclusive packages are around RM99–RM180 per month or more. The cheapest headline price is not necessarily the cheapest annual option because annual-return preparation, financial-statement filing, resolutions and other work may be charged separately.
SSM separately charges RM150 to lodge the annual return of a private company. That is a government filing fee, not the secretary's professional fee.
2026 public price comparison: what the headline fee includes
Checked 16 September 2026. The table below uses prices published on providers' own Malaysian websites. It is a snapshot, not a complete survey of the market. Prices and inclusions can change, so confirm them with the provider before buying.
| Provider / plan | Published fee | Approx. annual plan fee | Annual return preparation | Registered office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altomate Basic | RM40/month, billed annually | RM518.40 incl. SST | Extra: RM600 according to published fee schedule | Included |
| Altomate Essential | RM100/month, billed annually | RM1,296 incl. SST | Included | Included |
| Altomate Pro | RM180/month, billed annually | RM2,332.80 incl. SST | Included | Included |
| Foundingbird Compliance Only | RM99/month, paid annually | RM1,188 excl. SST | Included; Foundingbird states related government fees are included | Included |
| Foundingbird Complete Coverage | RM165/month | RM1,980 before SST if paid for 12 months | Included | Included |
Why this matters: Altomate's Basic plan has the lowest headline retainer in this comparison, but its published schedule separately lists RM600 for annual-return preparation/submission. Foundingbird's RM99/month Compliance Only package states that annual return filing, financial-statement filing, registered office and related mandatory government fees are included. This is why comparing only the monthly number can be misleading.
A simple annual-cost example
Suppose your Sdn Bhd only needs routine annual compliance and has no director/shareholder changes. A RM40/month headline fee sounds like RM480 a year before SST, but if annual-return work is separately RM600, the relevant comparison is already above RM1,000 before considering other chargeable filings or actions. By contrast, an all-inclusive package can have a higher monthly headline but fewer separate compliance charges.
The right question is not “what is your monthly secretary fee?” Ask: “What is my expected 12-month total for a normal year?”
Official SSM fees are separate from professional fees
| SSM submission | Official fee |
|---|---|
| Annual return — private company | RM150 |
| Audited financial statements and reports — private company | RM50 |
| Non-audited financial statements and reports — private company | RM20 |
These are SSM lodgement fees. A provider may charge professional fees for preparing and submitting the documents, or may bundle some or all of the government charges into its package.
When do you need to appoint a company secretary?
SSM states that the first company secretary must be appointed within 30 days from the date of incorporation. The secretary must meet the qualification requirements and be registered with SSM with a valid practising certificate.
What should a company secretary package include?
For a small Sdn Bhd, check these items before comparing prices:
- Licensed company secretary retainer.
- Registered office address.
- Annual-return preparation and submission.
- Whether the RM150 SSM annual-return fee is included.
- Financial-statement filing and whether SSM lodgement fees are included.
- Beneficial-ownership compliance work.
- Routine board resolutions.
- Certified true copies.
- Document storage and compliance reminders.
- Named contact person and expected response time.
Common charges that can make a cheap plan expensive
| Corporate action | What to check |
|---|---|
| Annual return | Preparation fee, submission fee and RM150 SSM fee may be treated differently. |
| Financial-statement lodgement | Ask whether preparation/submission work and SSM fee are bundled. |
| Director appointment/resignation | Often charged per change on basic plans. |
| Share allotment / increase in paid-up capital | Can attract separate professional fees. |
| Bank-account resolution | Some plans include standard resolutions; others charge per document. |
| Beneficial ownership reporting | Confirm whether routine BO work is included. |
| Certified true copies | May be charged per set. |
| Change of secretary | Check onboarding, transfer and handover charges. |
Which pricing model is better?
Low retainer + pay per action can suit a very simple company that rarely changes directors, shareholders or capital. More inclusive annual packages can be easier to budget for when you want routine filings and common compliance work bundled.
Neither model is automatically cheaper. Your company activity determines the result.
10 questions to ask before appointing a company secretary
- What is my total annual retainer including SST?
- Is the registered office included?
- Is annual-return preparation and submission included?
- Is the RM150 SSM annual-return fee included?
- Is financial-statement lodgement included?
- Is beneficial-ownership compliance included?
- How many standard resolutions are included?
- What do director, shareholder and share-capital changes cost?
- What is the normal response time and who handles my account?
- What will I pay to transfer out if I change provider?
BizSetupMY methodology
We separate official government fees from commercial provider fees. SSM figures come from SSM's current published guidance. Provider figures come from the provider's own public pricing pages. We do not treat one provider's advertised price as the Malaysian market average, and we do not estimate unpublished charges.
This page currently compares providers where enough public pricing is available to make the comparison useful. We plan to expand the dataset as more verifiable public prices are available.
Our view
For most small Sdn Bhd owners, compare the 12-month cost of normal compliance, not the lowest monthly retainer. A plan that includes annual filings, registered office and routine compliance can be better value than a cheaper retainer with several mandatory-looking items charged separately.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a company secretary fee in Malaysia?
Current public pricing varies by scope. In our September 2026 check, Altomate advertised plans from RM40/month billed annually, while Foundingbird advertised Compliance Only at RM99/month paid annually. More inclusive plans can cost RM100–RM180/month or more.
Is the RM150 annual return fee the company secretary fee?
No. RM150 is SSM's lodgement fee for the annual return of a private company. The professional work may be charged separately or bundled.
When must a Sdn Bhd appoint a company secretary?
SSM states that the first secretary must be appointed within 30 days from incorporation.
Can I change company secretary later?
Yes. Before switching, check outstanding filings, statutory records, handover procedures and any transfer charges.
Is the cheapest monthly company secretary the cheapest overall?
Not necessarily. Compare the annual retainer plus annual-return work, financial-statement filing, registered office, resolutions, government fees and the corporate changes you expect to make.
Sources checked
- SSM Annual Submission and filing fees
- SSM company secretary appointment requirements
- Altomate company secretary pricing
- Foundingbird company secretary pricing
Last reviewed: 16 September 2026. Provider prices are a point-in-time public price check and may change.
Estimate your full Sdn Bhd cost
The company secretary is only one part of your annual budget. See our complete Sdn Bhd annual-cost breakdown.
Important
This article is general educational information, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Official requirements and provider prices can change. Confirm current details with SSM and the provider before acting.