An SSM Business Profile, bought online.

A Business Profile is SSM's report on one business registered under ROB, and SSM describes it as carrying the latest information of that business.

SAFEDATA-SSM, where the Business Profile is sold online, is run by Safeguards KioskMedia (M) Sdn. Bhd., appointed by SSM (the Companies Commission of Malaysia) as its Technology and Service Provider for the SAFEDATA-SSM Services. Its documents are sourced directly from SSM: a Business Profile gives access to SSM's record of the business, and SAFEDATA-SSM does not rate businesses or give advice.

The price of a Business Profile has three parts: SSM's own fee, SAFEDATA-SSM's service fee, and SST charged on that service fee. Only SSM's fee differs between the two copies, so the certified copy costs RM5 more than the plain one.

A CTC is a certified true copy; SSM's digitally certified true copies are certified by POS Digicert Sdn Bhd. A non-CTC copy is the plain copy of the same SSM record. If the Business Profile is for your own checking, the plain copy shows the record; if someone else asked you for it, ask them whether they need a certified copy before you buy.

Before you deal with a supplier or a partner that trades as a sole proprietorship or partnership, its Business Profile gives you SSM's record of who owns it, its business status and its registration expiry date. SAFEDATA-SSM is used by:

• Entrepreneurschecking partners
• SMEsdoing due diligence
• Company secretaries and accountants
• Organisationsthat need business information in their workflows

Sign up on SAFEDATA-SSM first: registration is free, and the portal is open 24 hours, 7 days, on a computer, laptop or phone. The purchase then takes four steps, and the choice between a plain copy and a certified copy comes at the second.

1. Search

   On safedata-ssm.com, search by the business's name or registration number.

2. Choose

   Open the document list, pick Business Profile and choose a CTC or non-CTC copy.

3. Pay

   Add it to the cart and pay.

4. Download

   From the My Purchase(s) menu; you can download it again within 7 days.

Which profile exists depends on how the firm is registered with SSM. A business registered under ROB, a sole proprietorship or a partnership, has a Business Profile. A company registered under ROC, a Sdn Bhd or a Berhad, has a Company Profile instead. If the name you are checking ends in Sdn Bhd or Berhad, the Company Profile is the document you want.

A limited liability partnership (LLP) has neither profile; SAFEDATA-SSM also covers LLP information. The two profiles side by side are on company profile vs business profile.