In 2015, the government launched SME Investment Partner under the 2015 Budget, with the theme “Accelerating Growth, Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability, and Prospering the Rakyat”, to assist Malaysian entrepreneurs.

The SME Investment Partner programme is especially dedicated for start-ups, business accelerator programmes, Small and Medium Size companies (SMEs) and entrepreneurship development. The 2015 Budget has been very supportive of SMEs, entrepreneurs and start-up companies with financial support and financing offers totalling RM11.4 billion allocated for SME development.

SMEs have contributed as much as 33% to Malaysia’s GDP and the aim is to increase this figure to 41% by 2020. Here are just a few of the reasons why SME Investment Partner is an attractive one to enthusiastic entrepreneurs:

Increased financing avenues

Image by Malaysian SME Loan

To help those who are struggling with their start-up capital, the Government introduces SME Investment Partner programme to provide financing during the start-up period in the form of loans and/or equity.

Tekun, the agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development to provide simple and quick financing facilities to Bumiputera businesses, has allocated up to RM350 million to Bumiputera entrepreneurs.

Indian entrepreneurs, young professional women and armed forces veteran entrepreneurs’ development programme will receive RM50 million each.

As to assist Chinese entrepreneurs, the government will provide soft loans totalling RM50 million and RM30 million.

GST assistance

Image by GST Customs

After the GST implementation, most businesses and companies are at lost with regards to how GST operates. To guide entrepreneurs with the new and big change, the government will provide incentives and assistance as follow:

First, RM100 million provided to businesses to send their employees for GST training courses.

Another RM150 million will also provided to SMEs to purchase of accounting software.

There will be also Accelerated Capital Allowance that helps businesses to purchase of ICT equipment and software.

And lastly, expenses incurred for training in accounting and ICT related to GST is subjected to tax deduction. With these options, it will make it easier for businesses to adapt.

Income tax benefits

With the rising cost to run a business, the government will reduce the corporate taxes by 1% to 24%. And as for SMEs, taxes will be reduced by the same percentage to 19%.

This step is meant to help entrepreneurs by taking the burden off from the increasing cost, and as well to prevent any increment in cost to be passed down to the consumers.

by Chris Tan

Image by Savemoney.my

Apart from simplistic look and feel with proper fonts and layout, there are few things that we need to pay attention to. No matter what you decide to put into your website, just ensure that these features are not sidelined.

Identity

Your website must carry a unique one. So always have a short bio of the company and the person or team behind it. It should at the very least paint a picture of what your company does and catalogue of products and services offered. Don’t forget to include contact details for customers or visitors to fall back on when they need it.

Short, easy to remember URLs

The last thing you want people to do is forget the name of your site because it’s too complicated or long. The name of your site should reflect your company’s name and if your organisation’s name is long or contains more than 2 words, find abbreviations or names that are synonymous with your brand.

Navigation or Search button

Whether you are a publication service or a retailer, this functionality should work like a breeze. Ensure your tags work like a charm so that visitors to your website don’t have to make multiple attempts to find something. The search button should also be discoverable and prominently placed.

Social media links

Having a website alone would not cut it. Your product, services and your company should be discoverable via all digital platforms so utilise social media  accounts and keep them active at all times to promote your company activities. Always link your social media accounts to your website and website to your social media accounts via easy click-and-link buttons.

Easy to play video features

It’s a big thing. All digital platforms are choosing video content as audiovisual story-telling is already a tech norm. Everything is becoming video friendly. It adds value to your products or services instead of just words to describe them. Well-worded descriptions are of course important but pair them up with powerful videos for that winning delivery.

Text by R.S. Kamini

Pic by Zero Due Design