How Malaysian SMEs Are Expanding, Franchising, and Going Global

If you spend time in Malaysia's vibrant business districts, you will notice a new energy among small and medium enterprises. local businesses are growing bolder. Cafés brim with regulars, homegrown brands are popping up in new malls, and founders are chatting about opportunities that stretch far beyond their own neighbourhoods.

This year's BizSmart^® Business Conference captured that spirit perfectly. The room was alive with stories of founders who once started small but now dream of opening outlets in other states or even sending their products overseas.
 

Moderator Daniel Cerventus Lim with panelists Kelly Low, Johnny Ong, and Radius Khor discussing SME growth, licensing, and brand expansion at BizSmart^® Business Conference 2025.
 

Key Takeaways

• Malaysian SMEs are expanding with confidence, driven by digital opportunities, franchising, and international trade.
• Franchising and licensing models help local brands grow regionally while maintaining consistent quality and brand identity.
• Smart financial planning is essential. Alliance Bank's SME Financing solutions provide working capital and funding flexibility for expansion.
• Trade readiness opens global doors. Through Trade Financing & Services and BizSmart^® eTrade, SMEs can navigate international compliance and logistics efficiently.
• Smoother operations mean sustainable growth. BizSmart^® digital banking tools help founders manage cash flow, payroll, and expenses seamlessly.
• People and systems power scale. Investing in teams, leadership, and automation ensures long-term stability and brand consistency.
• Alliance Bank's BizSmart^® platform provides SMEs with financing, advisory, and digital support, helping local entrepreneurs turn ambition into sustainable success.

Why More Malaysian SMEs Are Scaling Up

Across Malaysia, more entrepreneurs are setting their sights higher than ever before. The desire to reach new markets, build lasting brands, and overcome local competition is driving a wave of ambition among SME founders. This new energy is not just about growth for its own sake but about creating businesses that can stand the test of time and make a real impact.

Inspiration from Peers and Digital Opportunities

There is a new kind of ambition among Malaysian entrepreneurs. Many are no longer satisfied with just holding their ground locally. They are inspired by peers who have grown from a single shop to a chain, or who have found loyal customers in Singapore, Indonesia, or even further afield.

Some say it is because the local market feels crowded. Others point to digital platforms, which make it easier than ever to reach new audiences. For many, it is about building something that lasts. A brand that people remember, even after the founder has stepped away.
 

Planning for Sustainable Growth

At the BizSmart^® Business Conference, founders spoke honestly about the excitement and anxiety that comes with scaling up. Some talked about the thrill of seeing their brand logo in a new city. Others admitted that the thought of managing more outlets or handling international regulations kept them up at night.

This is where having a partner like Alliance Bank makes a difference. The BizSmart^® platform is not just about banking. It is about giving business owners the tools, advice, and connections they need to plan their next move with confidence.  

Replicating Success Locally and Regionally Through Franchising and Licensing

For many SMEs, the next step after local success is to expand their footprint through franchising or licensing. This approach allows founders to share their brand with new partners, reach more customers, and grow their business without losing what makes it special. The stories of Superdough and Kee Nguyễn Coffee show how careful planning and the right support can turn a single outlet into a thriving network.
 

Building Consistency Across Outlets

Superdough's founders, Kelly Low and Johnny Ong, explained how franchising helped them grow while keeping quality under control. They invested time in developing detailed operational manuals and made sure that every franchisee understood what the brand stood for. For them, it was not just about opening more outlets. It was about ensuring that every customer, no matter where they visited, would have the same positive experience. This focus on consistency has been key to their growth.
 

Kelly Low discusses how franchising and operational discipline have helped Superdough scale while preserving brand consistency.
 

Choosing the Right Partners

Kee Nguyễn Coffee found that licensing allowed them to grow quickly without taking on too much risk. Their secret was to keep things simple and to choose partners who genuinely care about the product. Of course, growth brings its own challenges. Maintaining quality, finding the right people, and making sure everyone follows the same playbook is not easy.
 

Kee Nguyễn Coffee brings its signature brews to the BizSmart^® Business Conference 2025, served by staff member on site.
 

Financing and Advisory for Expansion

This is where Alliance Bank steps in. Through SME financing, founders can cover the upfront costs of expansion, while BizSmart^® advisors help with everything from franchise agreements to setting up clear operating procedures.
 

Going Global by Navigating New Markets and Regulations

The journey to international markets brings fresh opportunities, but also new challenges in terms of compliance, logistics, and understanding different customer needs. Learning from those who have already taken the leap can make all the difference.
 

Adapting Products for International Markets

Some Malaysian founders are now thinking even bigger. Ventamin, founded by Geraldyn Low is a perfect example. When they first launched their skincare line, everything was designed for local customers, right down to the packaging and price. As online buzz grew, they started getting requests from Singapore, Indonesia, and the United States.

That is when the real work began. Suddenly, they had to figure out how to register products in new countries, adjust packaging for shipping, and meet unfamiliar regulations.
 

Speaking about Ventamin's global expansion, Geraldyn Low explains how the brand adjusted packaging, pricing, and compliance to reach customers in Singapore, Indonesia, and the United States.
 

Learning from Setbacks

Their first attempt at entering Indonesia did not go as planned. The price was too high, and the paperwork was overwhelming. Instead of giving up, the team went back to the drawing board. They redesigned the product to be lighter and easier to ship, and made sure it met all the requirements for international markets.

Today, Ventamin ships to more than fifty countries, with Singapore and the United States among their top destinations.
 

Support for Internationalisation

Stories like Ventamin's show that going global is rarely straightforward. It requires flexibility, research, and the willingness to learn from setbacks. Alliance Bank provides trade advisory support through its BizSmart^® eTrade and Trade Financing & Services offerings, enabling SMEs to access trade finance, transact in foreign currencies, submit export/import-related documentation digitally, and manage cross-border trade more efficiently.
 

Logistics and Supply Chain: Lessons from the Ground

Behind every successful expansion is a well-oiled logistics and supply chain operation. For SMEs, managing shipping, customs, and inventory can be daunting, especially when entering new markets. The right strategies and support can help founders avoid costly mistakes and keep customers satisfied.
 

Overcoming Shipping and Customs Challenges

Ask any founder who has shipped products overseas, and they will tell you that logistics is where things get real. Ventamin's team remembers the scramble to find reliable couriers, the frustration of customs delays, and the puzzle of keeping shipping costs under control. It was not just about moving boxes. It was about making sure customers in other countries got the same quality and service as those at home.
 

Managing Cash Flow and Inventory

The key, they learned, is to plan ahead and choose partners carefully. That means understanding shipping terms, negotiating timelines, and always having a backup plan for when things do not go as expected. Managing cash flow is just as important as managing inventory. This is where BizSmart^® cash flow and trade financing tools are helpful. With the right support, founders can keep their supply chains moving and their customers happy, even when things get complicated.
 

Building Teams and Systems for Sustainable Growth

No business can scale alone. Building a strong team and putting the right systems in place are essential for sustainable growth. As SMEs expand, investing in people, leadership, and digital tools helps maintain quality and keeps the business running smoothly.
 

The audience at the BizSmart^® Business Conference 2025 listens intently as founders share strategies for scaling SMEs successfully.
 

Empowering People for Growth

Scaling up is not just about opening more outlets or shipping to new countries. It is about building a team and systems that can handle growth without losing what made the business special in the first place. At the conference, founders agreed that clear processes, strong leadership, and digital tools are essential.

Superdough's approach was to make sure every new outlet had access to the same resources and training as the original. Kee Nguyễn Coffee focused on creating simple, repeatable steps so new partners could succeed from the start. Both found that investing in people, whether it is local managers or front-line staff, pays off in the long run.
 

Johnny Ong shares insights on building strong teams and systems that allow Superdough to expand without losing its brand identity.
 

Empowering People for Growth

Alliance Bank's BizSmart^® digital banking tools help automate payroll, track expenses, and keep operations running smoothly. Advisory services are there for founders who want to develop their leadership team or put better systems in place.
 

Looking Ahead: Empowering Malaysian SMEs to Go Further

The future for Malaysian SMEs is bright, with more founders ready to take bold steps toward regional and global success. Achieving this vision requires ambition, careful planning, and the right partners at every stage. With the right support, local brands can become regional players, and homegrown ideas can find fans around the world.

Alliance Bank is committed to walking this journey with Malaysian SMEs. Through the BizSmart^® platform, business owners get more than just financing. They receive advice, digital solutions, and a community of peers who understand what it takes to grow. Whether you are dreaming of your first franchise, planning to export, or building a team that can take your business further, you do not have to do it alone.

For every Malaysian SME with big ambitions, the next step is closer than you think. With the right partners and a willingness to keep learning, there is no limit to how far you can go.
 

Panelists, audience members, and the event team unite at the BizSmart^® Business Conference 2025, reflecting the ambition and collaboration driving Malaysian SMEs forward.