Detailed steps on how to register your business in the Philippines. How to register your business under R.A 9178: Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) act of 2002.  Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises (BMBEs) can now register their businesses, free of charge, at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the agency’s Negosyo Centers.

Under Republic Act No. 9178 or the BMBEs Act of 2002, a BMBE is referred to as any business entity or enterprises engaged in the production, processing or manufacturing of products or commodities, including agro-processing, trading, and services whose total assets, excluding land, shall not be more than P3 million. Such assets shall include those arising from loans but not the land on which the plant and equipment are located.

If you want to start a business in the Philippines, just follow these simple business registration steps. Starting a business in the Philippines is easy and does not have to be a daunting task.

Download the BMBE Application Form.

Steps in Registering your Business in the Philippines

Step 1 – Business Entity Registration

If Sole Proprietorship: 
• Register with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
If Partnership / Corporation:
• Register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
If Cooperative:
• Register with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)

For Sole Proprietorships – REGISTERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI)

Business Name Registration Certificate
Where: DTI-Provincial Office where the business is located or log on to www.bnrs.dti.gov.ph or http://www.business.gov.ph/
Validity: 5 years
Requirements:
• Presentation of 1 copy of government issued ID
• Accomplished Business Name Registration form (BTRCP FORM 16A) in duplicate
• Registration fee depending on territorial coverage of the business name and documentary stamp :
Barangay – P 200.00
Municipal – 500.00
Regional – 1,000.00
National – 2,000.00
Documentary Stamp tax of P15.00 per application.

Business Name Registration Application Form

For Partnerships and Corporations – REGISTERING WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC)

SEC Registration Certificate
Where: SEC Building, EDSA, Greenhills Mandaluyong City
Tel. No.: (632) 584.0923
Email: mis@sec.gov.ph
Website: www.sec.gov.ph or http://www.sec.gov.ph/secireg.htm (for online registration)
Validity: 50 years

Requirements for Partnership:
. Name Verification Slip (online or at the name Verification Unit)
. Articles of Partnership
. Written Undertaking to Change Corporate Name by any partner
. Form F-105 for partnership with Foreign Equity
. Proof of Inward Remittance by foreign partners

Requirements for Stock (S) and Non Stock (NS) Corporations:
. Verification Slip Form (S) (NS)
. Articles of Incorporation (S) (NS)
. T reasurer’s Affidavit (S)
. Notarized Bank Certificate of Deposit where the bank is located (S)
. Written Undertaking to Change Corporate Name by any Incorporator or Director (S), by any T rustee (NS)
. Clearance from other government agencies (S)
. Foreign Investment Application Form F-100 (for subsidiaries of foreign corporations (S)
. Proof of Inward Remittance by Non-Resident Aliens/Subscribers (S)
. List of members and amount contributed certified by the Secretary and T reasurer (NS)
. Registration fee of Php 360.00

For Cooperatives – REGISTERING WITH THE COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (CDA)

Certificate of Registration
Where: 6th Floor, Ben-Lor Building, 1184 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Tel. No.: (632) 372.3808 / 373.6895 / 332.0019
Email: webmaster@cda.gov.ph
Website: www.cda.gov.ph
A cooperative is a duly registered association of persons, with a common bond of interest who have voluntarily joined together to achieve a lawful common social or economic end, making equitable contributions to the capital required, and accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertaking in accordance with universally accepted cooperative principles.

Requirements:
. Economic Survey (4 copies)
. By-Laws and Articles of Cooperation duly notarized (available at CDA office) – 4 copies
. At least 15 members
. Undertaking to change name
. Undertaking to submit reportorial requirements
. Bond of accountable officers
. Cooperative Pre-membership Education Seminar Certification
. Favorable endorsement of proper government agency, if necessary
. Capitalization of at least Php 15,000.00 (total paid-up capital)
. Cooperative Annual Performance Report and audited financial statements for them to secure a certificate of good standing

Schedule of fees:
TYPES OF COOPERATIVES 
Laboratory Cooperatives – No Registration Fee
Primary Cooperatives – Paid-up Capital of P2,000.00 – 500,000.00 up, Fee of P500.00 – 1/10 of 1% of the paid up capital
Secondary Cooperatives – Paid-up Capital of P2,000.00 – 500,000.00 up, Fee of P1,000.00 – 1/10 of 1% of the paid up capital
Tertiary Cooperatives – Fee of P3,000.00

Step 2:  Business Permit

Apply for business permit and license from the City/Municipality where the business is to be located.

Get sector specific clearances:
For Example:
travel agency – Department of Tourism (DOT)
food and cosmetics – Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)
pawnshop – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
learning centers – Department of Education (DepEd)
wood crafts/furnitures – Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

REGISTERING WITH THE MUNICIPALITY / LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS
(Follow steps 1 and 2 of the Process Flow before registering with your Municipality)

Mayor’s Permit
Where: Municipality or City where the business is located
Validity: 1 year
Requirements:
– DTI or SEC Registration
– Certificate / Articles of Incorporation
– Community Tax Certificate
– Barangay Clearance
– Location Clearance
– Certificate of Occupancy
– Building Permit
– Fire Safety / Inspection Permit
– Electrical Inspection Certificate
– Contract of Lease
– Picture / Sketch of the Site
– Public Liability Insurance (for restaurants, mall, cinemas)
– SSS Registration

Step 3

Register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) District Ofce where the business is to be located for Authority to Print Invoice and Book of Journal

REGISTERING WITH THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE (BIR)
(Follow steps 1 and 2 of the Process Flow before registering with the BIR)

Tax Identification Number (TIN)
Authority to Print Invoice and Book of Journal

Where: BIR Provincial Office where the business is located or go to the BIR Revenue District Office
Trunklines: (632) 981.7000 / 981.8888
E-mail: contact_us@cctr.bir.gov.ph
Website: www.bir.gov.ph
Validity: 1 year
Requirements:
1. Application for Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) for Employers

a) Self Employed/Mixed Income Individual (BIR Form 1901)
• Birth Certificate or any valid ID showing name, address and birth date
• Mayor’s Permit or application for Mayor’s Permit
• DTI Certificate of Registration of Business Name

b) For Partnerships and Corporations (BIR Form 1903)
• SEC Certificate of Registrations for Partnerships and Corporation
• License to do business in the Philippines (in case of residence foreign corporation)
• Mayor’s Permit or Application for Mayor’s permit

2. Application for Authority to Print Receipts and Invoices

a) For New Taxpayers (BIR Form 1906)
• Job Order
• Final and Clear Sample of Receipts and Invoices (machine printed)
• Photocopy of BIR Form 1901 or 1903, TIN Card, Proof of Payment (BIR Form 0605)

b) For Registered Taxpayers (BIR Form 1906)
• Job Order
• Final and clear sample of receipts and invoices
• Photocopy of Proof of Payment (BIR Form 0605, previously approved Authority to Print Invoice (ATP), Certificate of Registration (COR) BIR Form 2303, last booklet printed

Step 4 – Other Registration Requirements

Register your business with the following offices to comply with existing regulations:
– Social Security System (SSS)
– Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
– PhilHealth
– PAG – IBIG
– Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

REGISTERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (DOLE)
(Follow steps 1 to 3 of the Process Flow before registering with the DOLE)

Every employer, as defined in Rule 1002 of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards, shall register his/her business to the Regional Labor Office or authorized representative having jurisdiction thereof to form part of the databank of all covered establishments.

Where: DOLE-NCR Building, Maligaya St. Malate, Manila or go to the Nearest DOLE Regional/Provincial Office
Hotline: (632) 527.8000
E-mail: osec@dole.gov.ph, dolecallcenter@yahoo.com
Website: www.dole.gov.ph
Validity: Lifetime
Requirements:
• Registry of establishments under Occupational Health and Safety Standards No. 1020

REGISTERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR)
(For securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC))

ECC Application for new single project located within Environmental Critical Areas (ECA) or Non- Environmental Critical Projects (Non – ECP)
Where: Visayas Avenue, Diliman, 1100 Quezon
Tel. No.: (632) 929.6626
E-mail: web@denr.gov.ph
Website: http://www.denr.gov.ph
Requirements:
a) Proponent must submit a letter of request to the Environment al Management Bureau (EMB) stating desire to receive ECC
b) Attach Project Description which should include raw materials to be used, the process or manufacturing technology to be implemented
c) Submit the estimated project capacity, type and volume of products and discharges
d) Proof of possession of necessary capital for proposed project
e) Location map of project area
f) Manpower requirements

Any project in the Philippines that poses a potential environmental risk or a significant impact to the environment (such as mining, agriculture projects, or construction) is required to secure Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

REGISTERING WITH THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM (SSS)
(Follow steps 1 to 3 of the Process Flow before registering with SSS)

Social Security System (SSS) Certificate
Where: SSS Provincial Office where the business is located or log on to www.sss.gov.ph
Tel. Nos.: (632) 920.6401 / 920.6446
Email: member_relations@sss.gov.ph
Website: www.sss.gov.ph
Requirements:
• Employers Registration (SSS Form R1) and Employment Report (SSS Form R1A)
• Specimen Signature Card (SS Form L -501)
• Sketch of business

1. If Employer (Main Office)
Single Proprietorship
• Business Name Registration
• Business Permit or any proof of business operations

Partnership
• Photocopy of approved Articles of Partnership (original must be presented for authentication purposes)

Corporations
• Photocopy of approved Articles of Incorporations (original must be presented for authentication purposes)
• SSS Form R -1 and R-1A (signed by the President or any of its Corporate Officers)

2. If Self-Employed member
• SSS Form R -1 (Self Employed Data Record)
• Photocopy of any of the following: Baptismal Certificate, Birth Certificate, Drivers License, Passport, PRC Card, Seaman’s Book

REGISTERING WITH THE Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya at Gobyerno (PAG-IBIG)
(Follow steps 1 to 3 of the Process Flow before registering with PAG-IBIG)

PAG-IBIG Fund Membership
Where: Atrium Building, Makati Avenue, Makati City
Trunkline: (632) 812.8186 / 813.6615 / 812.4731 / 724.4244
E-mail: publicaffairs@pagibigfund.gov.ph
Website: www.pagibigfund.gov.ph

Per Republic Act 7742 which was fully implemented on 01 January 1995, membership to the Pag-IBIG Fund shall be mandatory for all employees covered by the Social Security System (SSS) and/or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and earning at least P4,000 a month. This mandatory coverage extends to expatriates whose age is up to 60 years old and who are compulsorily covered by the SSS.

Membership for employees who are earning less than P4,000 a month, including those who belong to other working groups, shall be on a voluntary basis. ,

Requirements For Individual Payors (IPs)
Sole Proprietorship
• Employer’s Data Form
• Members Data Form (for employees)
• Certificate of SSS Coverage and Compliance
• DTI Business Name Registration
• Mayor’s Permit or Business Permit

Partnership / Corporation
• SEC Registration or Articles of Partnership (for partnership) or Articles of Incorporation (for corporation) and By-Laws.
*Bring original copies for authentication purposes

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