Start a cake business.

A small menu is cheaper to prepare, wastes less and gets known faster.

• Pick the items friends already ask you to make
• Cook a test batch and ask 10 people to taste and rate
• Keep the rest for later

Ask Kursor: “Help me choose 3 to 5 items to start my food business with, and how to test them.”

Anyone who prepares food for sale in Malaysia needs them. Inspections ask for both.

• Book a Food Handler Training course (Kursus Pengendali Makanan)
• Get the typhoid injection at a clinic
• Keep both certificates with you

Ask Kursor: “What does a home food seller in Malaysia need: food handler course, typhoid jab, licence? Explain simply.”

Many food sellers are busy but make little after ingredients, packaging and gas.

• List every ingredient and packaging cost per serving
• Aim for food cost under 35% of the price
• Use the Profit calculator in KOMPUTAH Money

Ask Kursor: “Help me calculate the cost per serving and the right selling price for my food item.”

You do not need a shop to start.

• Pre-orders on WhatsApp and your status
• Offices nearby, school events, bazaars and pasar malam
• Delivery apps later, once you know your best sellers

Ask Kursor: “Plan where and how I should sell my food in the first month without a shop.”

Opening a shop or stall needs a licence from your local council (PBT) and more money.

• Start from home with small orders
• When orders are steady, ask your PBT about stall or premises licence
• Look at shared kitchens or food courts before a full shop

Ask Kursor: “When should I move my home food business to a stall or shop, and what licence will I need?”

You can only grow what you measure.

• Every sale: a receipt in KOMPUTAH Money
• Every purchase: snap the receipt
• Check your profit every Sunday

Ask Kursor: “What should I track every week in my new business, and why?”

New customers trust other customers more than ads.

• Ask right after they are happy
• Use your review link
• Turn good reviews into posts

Ask Kursor: “Write a friendly WhatsApp message asking my first customers for a review.”

When people keep buying, register so you can grow: bank account, platforms, grants.

• Register with SSM (Enterprise is simple)
• Open a business bank account
• Continue with the Foundation steps below

Ask Kursor: “What do I need to do to make my small business official in Malaysia?”

Foodpanda, GrabFood and ShopeeFood bring orders from people nearby.

• Prepare SSM, bank details, menu and photos
• Sign up as a merchant
• Set prices that cover the app commission

Ask Kursor: “How do I price my menu on Foodpanda and GrabFood so the commission does not eat my profit?”

JAKIM halal helps Muslim customers and some offices or events trust you.

• Check if you qualify
• Apply online through MYeHALAL
• Prepare supplier and ingredient details

Ask Kursor: “Explain the JAKIM halal certification process for a small food business.”

A clear menu sells more and saves time answering the same questions.

• Put prices on every item
• Add photos of your top 5 items
• Share it on Google, WhatsApp catalogue and your website

Ask Kursor: “Help me write and price my menu, and name my top 5 items.”

Customers, banks, Foodpanda, Shopee and grants usually ask for your SSM.

• Choose sole proprietor / partnership (Enterprise) or Sdn Bhd
• Register online with SSM (ezBiz for Enterprise)
• Keep your SSM certificate as PDF for later

Ask Kursor: “Explain the difference between Enterprise (sole prop), PLT and Sdn Bhd for my business, and which one fits me now.”

Keeps business money separate, looks professional and makes tax and loans easier.

• Bring your SSM certificate and IC
• Ask for online banking and DuitNow QR
• Use it only for business money

Ask Kursor: “What should I prepare to open a business bank account in Malaysia, and what should I ask the bank?”

One business login for Google Business Profile, YouTube and ads, separate from your personal account.

• Create a new Gmail with your business name
• Turn on 2-step verification
• Save the password with someone you trust

Ask Kursor: “Suggest 5 professional Gmail names for my business.”

The same name, logo and colours everywhere make you easy to remember and trust.

• Pick 1 logo and 2 to 3 brand colours
• Write a one-line description of what you sell
• Use the same name on every platform

Ask Kursor: “Help me write a one-line description and suggest brand colours for my business.”

Your business shows on Google Search and Google Maps for free.

• Go to business.google.com with your business Gmail
• Add your business name and category
• Verify (Google may ask for a video or a code)

Ask Kursor: “Walk me through creating and verifying a Google Business Profile for my business.”

Complete profiles show up more often and get more calls.

• Address or service area, opening hours, phone and WhatsApp link
• Add a description (up to 750 characters)
• Add your products or services with prices

Ask Kursor: “Write my Google Business Profile description (max 750 characters) and a list of services with prices.”

Photos are the first thing people look at.

• Front of your shop or your logo
• Your best products or work
• Your team, the inside, the menu or price list

Ask Kursor: “Give me a photo shot list for my Google Business Profile and Instagram.”

Reviews build trust and help you rank higher on Maps.

• Get your review link from your profile
• Ask happy customers right after they buy
• Reply to every review, good or bad

Ask Kursor: “Write a polite WhatsApp message asking customers for a Google review, and replies for 5-star and 1-star reviews.”

Many Malaysians drive with Waze; iPhone users search Apple Maps.

• Check that your Google Maps pin is correct
• Add your place on Waze
• Claim your place on Apple Business Connect

Ask Kursor: “How do I add my business to Waze and Apple Maps?”

Look professional and reply faster with a catalogue, greetings and quick replies.

• A catalogue with your menu and prices
• Quick replies: menu, order cut-off, delivery area
• Labels: New order, Paid, Ready, Delivered

Ask Kursor: “Write WhatsApp quick replies for my menu, order cut-off and delivery area.”

Most Malaysian customers discover businesses here.

• Create a Facebook Page and an Instagram professional account
• Link them in Meta Business Suite
• Add your WhatsApp button, hours and location

Ask Kursor: “Write my Instagram bio and Facebook Page "About" for my business.”

Short videos reach new customers for free.

• Cooking or plating your best seller
• Packing orders
• Customers tasting it

Ask Kursor: “Give me 10 TikTok ideas for my food business I can film in my kitchen.”

One link in every bio sends people to order or WhatsApp you.

• Use your website or a link page
• Include WhatsApp, menu or price list, and location
• Put it in every bio and on your Google profile

Ask Kursor: “What should I put on my link-in-bio page?”

Clear content turns visitors into WhatsApp enquiries.

• Menu with prices and photos
• Order times and cut-off
• Delivery area and halal status

Ask Kursor: “Write the content for my menu page with order times and delivery area.”

Customers and AI assistants like ChatGPT trust businesses that have a website.

• Use a simple builder (Carrd, Google Sites or Wix)
• Add your WhatsApp button on top
• Check it looks good on a phone

Ask Kursor: “Which website builder should I use for my business and how do I start?”

yourbusiness.com or .my looks more trusted than a free link.

• Check if your business name is free as .com or .my
• Buy it for 1 year
• Connect it to your website

Ask Kursor: “Suggest 5 domain names for my business.”

Posting regularly keeps you top of mind.

• Menu highlights and new items
• Behind the kitchen
• Payday, Ramadan and festive promos

Ask Kursor: “Make a 30-day content plan for my food business with captions.”

A small ad (RM10–20 a day) tests what works before you spend more.

• One best-selling item
• 3 to 5 km around you
• Run it before lunch or dinner

Ask Kursor: “Create a small local ad for my best-selling item.”

Selling to an old customer is cheaper than finding a new one.

• A stamp card or member price
• A weekly menu broadcast on WhatsApp
• Remember regular orders

Ask Kursor: “Give me 5 ideas to turn first-time buyers into regulars.”

You can only grow what you measure.

• Sales per day and per item
• Ingredient and packaging cost against sales
• Your best and worst items

Ask Kursor: “What should I track every week in my food business?”

Free courses, grants and financing exist for Malaysian entrepreneurs.

• Look for courses from INSKEN and SME Corp
• Check grants and financing (e.g. SME Corp, TEKUN, MARA, your bank)
• Join a local business community

Ask Kursor: “What courses, grants or financing should a small business like mine in Malaysia look into? Please check current programmes.”