Running a Retail business in Malaysia?
Grants you can apply for, partners who can help, and practical guides — all in one place for Retail SMEs.
Grants for Retail businesses(19)
See all →BizJamin Bumi/-i 2.0 Guarantee Scheme
Not a cash grant — the Bumiputera variant of CGC's BizJamin 2.0: CGC guarantees between 30% and 90% of your bank financing, up to RM5 million per MSME, so participating banks can approve it. Guarantee period up to 15 years, risk-based guarantee fee of 0.50%–4.20% per annum. Covers working capital, asset acquisition, operations cost, renovation (reimbursement basis) and refinancing across term financing, cash line and trade facilities. Open to sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, private limited companies and professional entities registered in Malaysia with at least 51% Bumiputera shareholding. Conventional and Islamic (Kafalah-based) versions; apply through participating financial institutions.
BizJamin/-i 2.0 Guarantee Scheme
Not a cash grant — CGC stands behind your bank financing so the bank says yes. BizJamin/-i 2.0 guarantees between 30% and 80% of financing, up to RM5 million per MSME, with a guarantee period of up to 15 years and a risk-based guarantee fee of 0.50%–4.20% per annum. Covers working capital, asset acquisition, operations cost, renovation (reimbursement basis) and refinancing across term financing, cash line and trade facilities. Open to sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLPs, private limited companies and professional entities registered in Malaysia with at least 51% Malaysian shareholding. Conventional and Islamic (Kafalah-based) versions; apply through participating financial institutions.
Green Investment Tax Allowance (GITA Assets)
A tax incentive for businesses that buy qualifying green technology assets (e.g. solar, energy-efficient equipment) listed on the MyHIJAU Directory. GITA Assets gives a 100% investment tax allowance on the qualifying capital expenditure, set off against up to 70% of statutory income. Applications for own-consumption assets go to MGTC. The current incentive window runs to 31 December 2026 — check for any Budget extension before planning around it.
Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS-i 5.0)
Government-guaranteed financing for green-technology projects — producers, users, ESCOs, green housing and low-carbon mobility. You need a Green Project Certificate from MGTC and at least 60% Malaysian ownership. The government guarantees 60–80% of the green-component cost (corporation charge 0.40% p.a.); the bank sets the financing rate. Available until 31 Dec 2026 or until the RM1bil allocation is used up.
HRD Corp Claimable Training (SBL-Khas)
Claim back the cost of staff training you have already paid for, from your HRD Corp levy account. For employers who pay the levy (mandatory at 10+ staff).
iTEKAD
A blended social-finance programme run by Islamic banks for B40 micro-entrepreneurs. It combines seed capital (funded by zakat, cash waqf, donations and social-impact investment) with microfinancing and structured business training to help low-income owners start and grow. Aimed at the bottom-40% income group; offered through participating Islamic banks and their implementation partners.
Malaysia Co-Investment Fund (MyCIF)
The government co-invests alongside private investors in MSME campaigns on approved Equity Crowdfunding (ECF) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) financing platforms — RM1 of public money for every RM4 raised from the crowd (1:4), and a stronger 1:2 for food-security, environmental/social-impact and silver-economy campaigns. You don't apply to MyCIF directly: you run a campaign on a registered ECF/P2P platform and MyCIF tops it up automatically when you hit the threshold.
Market Development Grant (MDG)
Reimburses export-promotion costs — overseas trade shows, market entry, marketing. RM300k lifetime cap; pre-approval needed before you spend. Apply via the MADANI Digital Trade Platform.
Micro Enterprises Facility (MEF)
BNM micro-financing — through participating banks — giving micro enterprises fast, collateral-free access to up to RM50,000 for working capital or capital expenditure. It has been widened to include self-employed individuals and gig-economy workers on digital platforms. This is financing you repay; apply at a participating financial institution.
Pembiayaan PROSPER (PUNB)
Financing (to repay — not a free grant) for Bumiputera entrepreneurs, ranging from about RM100k up to RM10 million. Restructured from 1 Jan 2026 into Grow / Great / Impact, with PROSPER Grow's profit rate cut to 3.5% p.a. A Takaful plan is mandatory.
Relief and Adaptation Facility (RAFt)
BNM enhanced its Disaster Relief Facility into RAFt (August 2025) to promote SME flood preparedness amid worsening flood risk. Two forms of financing of up to RM1 million each: relief financing, available after major floods to support recovery; and adaptation financing, available anytime for SMEs to invest in flood protection and business resilience. This is financing you repay; apply through a participating financial institution (also available as a CGC BizJamin/-i guarantee variant).
SME Stabilisation Relief Facility (SME SRF)
A new BNM facility (announced 2026) for SMEs facing short-term financial pressure from disruptions to global trade and supply chains arising from the geopolitical conflict in West Asia. Provides timely working capital financing to help viable SMEs stabilise and sustain operations. Open for applications from 15 May 2026 to 31 December 2026 or full utilisation, whichever is earlier. This is financing you repay; apply through a participating financial institution (also available as a CGC BizJamin/-i guarantee variant).
TEKUN Niaga Financing Scheme
Micro-financing (a repayable loan, not a grant) for small businesses, with a focus on Bumiputera entrepreneurs. Financing comes in three tiers: Skim Pembiayaan Mikro RM1,000–RM10,000 and Skim Pembiayaan Kecil RM10,001–RM50,000, both repayable over up to 5 years, and Skim Pembiayaan Sederhana RM50,001–RM100,000 over up to 10 years, at a 4% rate per year. Open to all business sectors including retail, services, manufacturing, agriculture, online business and small contractors. Applicants are generally Malaysian citizens aged 18–60 with a valid SSM registration or licence and a full-time business, and must join the group takaful cover. Non-Bumiputera entrepreneurs can apply under the Skim TEMAN TEKUN.
SUPERB (Skim Usahawan Permulaan Bumiputera)
Conditional grant for young Bumiputera founders aged 21–40 starting a new company (3 years old or less, 51%+ Bumiputera), offering RM100,000 at idea stage and up to RM500,000 at commercial stage. Historically run in pitch windows about four times a year. TERAJU's SUPERB portal is currently unreachable — it fails to load in a normal browser, not just for automated checks — so there is no working application page to link to at the moment. TERAJU has not announced that the scheme has ended; contact TERAJU directly if you want to apply.
Bumiputera Enterprise Enhancement Programme (BEEP)
A matching grant from SME Corp to strengthen 100% Bumiputera-owned SMEs — productivity, certification, business development and capability building. The matching rate scales with size (around 90% for micro, 60% small, 50% medium), up to RM500,000. You generally need a valid premise licence, at least six months in operation, and a SCORE rating of 1 star or above. Businesses that already received BAP 3.0 are not eligible. Runs in intake windows.
Business Accelerator Programme (BAP)
SME Corp programme for business growth with two financing types under BAP 2.0: a matching grant and a soft loan. As confirmed on the live SME Corp page (Jul 2026), NEW matching-grant applications are temporarily suspended until further notice, while loan applications can still be submitted directly to SME Bank. Covers advisory, capacity building, machinery and equipment, certifications and ICT adoption for established SMEs ready to scale.
CGC BizMula-i / BizWanita-i Financing
Direct financing (repayable) from Credit Guarantee Corporation for newer businesses — generally less than four years in operation — drawing on Bank Negara's Fund for SMEs. BizMula-i covered start-ups broadly and BizWanita-i was the version aimed at women entrepreneurs, typically RM50,000 to RM300,000 over up to seven years. Both are no longer offered: their pages now return CGC's 404 and the old financing link serves TPUB-i instead. If you need direct CGC financing today, look at the Bumiputera Entrepreneur Project Fund-i (TPUB-i) for contract financing, or at CGC's BizJamin/-i 2.0 guarantee if what you actually need is a bank to say yes.
Low Carbon Transition Facility (LCTF)
BNM financing — taken through a participating bank — to help SMEs in any sector adopt sustainable, low-carbon practices. It funds working capital or capital expenditure (energy-efficient equipment, solar, sustainability certification, etc.), up to RM10mil per SME, tenure up to 10 years, at a rate up to 5% p.a. inclusive of the guarantee fee. This is financing you repay; you apply at a participating financial institution. Allocations run in tranches — confirm availability before applying.
MSME Digital Grant MADANI
Covers half the cost of going digital — e-invoicing, POS, e-commerce, accounting and digital marketing via registered providers. Note: the 2025 intake closed; check for a new round.
Guides for Retail owners(7)
See all →Online Business Ideas for Malaysians (2026)
Want to start a business you can run from a laptop? Practical online business ideas suited to Malaysia — from dropshipping and content to freelancing and digital products — with how to start each one legally.
Home-Based Business Ideas & How to Register One
Starting from home keeps costs low and risk small. Home-based business ideas suited to Malaysia, the rules and licences to be aware of, and how to register so you can grow without surprises.
Selling on Shopee, Lazada & TikTok Shop: An SME Guide
Marketplaces give you instant reach but take a cut and own the customer. How the big Malaysian platforms work, what fees to expect, the trade-off versus your own store, and how to start selling without losing your margin.
Franchising in Malaysia: Buying In or Growing One
Franchising lets you buy a proven business or expand yours through others. How franchising works in Malaysia, the role of the Franchise Act and MyFEX, the fees involved, and the pros and cons of each side.
How to Start Exporting from Malaysia: An SME Starter Guide
Exporting opens far bigger markets than the domestic one. How to judge if you are export-ready, the MATRADE support and Market Development Grant, how FTAs cut your tariffs, and the export procedure step by step.
Halal Certification in Malaysia: An SME Guide (JAKIM)
Halal certification opens doors to Muslim consumers at home and major export markets abroad. What the JAKIM halal mark is, who needs it, the MS1500 standard, and how to apply through the MYeHALAL portal.
Low-Capital Business Ideas for Malaysian SMEs (Start in 2026)
You don't need big money to start. Practical, low-cost business ideas you can test this month in Malaysia — how to choose one, and what to do once it gains traction.
Frequently asked questions
What government grants are available for Retail businesses in Malaysia?
Malaysian Retail SMEs can apply for grants including BizJamin Bumi/-i 2.0 Guarantee Scheme, BizJamin/-i 2.0 Guarantee Scheme, Green Investment Tax Allowance (GITA Assets), Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS-i 5.0), HRD Corp Claimable Training (SBL-Khas). Eligibility depends on factors like SSM registration, business age and ownership.
Where can I find help to grow my Retail business in Malaysia?
EquatorBiz is building a directory of vetted partners for Retail businesses.
Do Retail businesses need to be registered with SSM to apply for grants?
Most Malaysian grants require an SSM-registered business, and some require a Sdn Bhd specifically. Register your Retail business, keep clean records and a business bank account, then check each grant's eligibility before applying.