Starting a soap business

[Jadryga]

I wanna start a small natural soap/lotion business... are there any legal channels or steps I should take before doing so? My mother and I have a fashion retail business already, I was thinking of just doing a sister "company" to that. Are there any legal issues I need to consider?

[birdy]

Well... you might want to consider setting up the private limited company (sdn. bhd) as sole proprietorship gives u unlimited liability..ie..if your lotion or soap happened to expose you to substantial losses...u won't loose everything. :cool:

[Jadryga]

The fashion retail company is already a sdn. bhd... but I was wondering if there was anything I need to register with specifically in relation to soaps/lotion/natural cosmetics itself... Also, I want to order some things like macadamia nut oil, mango butter, shea butter and other stuff online from the US, but I've done a bit of googling and found a lot of horror stories about the Malaysian Customs online...

[Erubus]

The fashion retail company is already a sdn. bhd... but I was wondering if there was anything I need to register with specifically in relation to soaps/lotion/natural cosmetics itself... Also, I want to order some things like macadamia nut oil, mango butter, shea butter and other stuff online from the US, but I've done a bit of googling and found a lot of horror stories about the Malaysian Customs online...


to avoid your order being "lost in mail".
You should use fedex or equivalent with tracking.
and not just from US to malaysia but to your doorstep.

[Jadryga]

Yeah, I checked with one of the companies I might be sourcing from in NZ and she mentioned she supplies someone in KL and they use FedEx. Thanks for the tip though.

[Lu Lau]

Yeah, I checked with one of the companies I might be sourcing from in NZ and she mentioned she supplies someone in KL and they use FedEx. Thanks for the tip though.

I cant commet about the legal side tough but about the courier, I been using UPS ( united parcel service ) for four years now and satisfied.

If you need to get some information about your concern, do pm me, I will send you the contact no of the person that I normally deal with. I know them well as I am responsible for the import and export of our company product. You just need to get one courier company that do it for you, once they know how you want it, it will go smooth. I never have problem with custom trought UPS but with others yes!!

What I am saying is, in order to make sure your import of raw suppliment goes smoothly, you really really need to make your courier understand what you want and how you want it and if you purchase online, you MUST make sure that the delivery is DOOR TO DOOR and not to malaysia port or KLIA. If your parcel stuck in KLIA, dear you are going to have headache!!! Wooo!!!!

Dealing with malaysia custom department is a NO WAY jalan! They say 1 you dont say 2!!

So remember!!! DOOR TO DOOR!!

Aiyohyoh!!! I been there too many time loh!!!

Good luck girl!

Btw, making soap eh! very interesting! Do you teach? I love to learn!

Back in sweden, this kind of thing are very popular, even children make their own soap.

So, can I learn?

[Jadryga]

I thought of making soap at first actually... but I'd have to use lye, and that stuff can burn you very badly, so don't want to mess with that. I'm ordering stuff to make lotions with though. Let me experiment first, so I can decide on a few recipes, then sure!

And thanks for the advice... I'll make sure they do a door to door instead of to KLIA or the port. I'd cry if my RM1000+ worth of goodies ends up rotting in customs.

[Serigala]

i would like to share my views as follows

you realy dont have to go into manufacturing- there are lots of soap manufacturers in malaysia, namely palm based and tailor made soaps, this will save you the hassles of equipment buying, licensing and investments. besides you are not stuck with soap lye and other byproducts and wastages.

would be pleased to assist you more on this.