How to Register a Business in the Philippines

Starting a business in the Philippines means dealing with five or six government agencies, in a specific order. Skip a step and you'll be sent back. Here's the sequence we use for clients.

Step 1, Decide your business structure

The two common starting points:

• Sole Proprietorship, register the business name with DTI. Fastest, lowest setup cost, but you and the business are the same legal person.
• Corporation (One Person or stock), register with SEC. More paperwork, but limited liability.

If you're unsure, talk to an accountant before you file, switching later costs more than choosing right.

Step 2, Register the business name

Structure	Agency	Where
Sole Prop	DTI	bnrs.dti.gov.ph
Corporation	SEC	sec.gov.ph eSPARC

You'll get a Certificate of Business Name Registration (DTI) or a Certificate of Incorporation (SEC).

Step 3, Barangay clearance

Apply at the barangay hall where your business is located. You'll need:

• Proof of address (lease contract or property title)
• DTI / SEC certificate
• Valid IDs

Step 4, Mayor's / Business permit

At the LGU's Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO). Common requirements:

• Barangay clearance
• DTI / SEC certificate
• Locational clearance, sanitary permit, fire safety inspection
• Community Tax Certificate (Cedula)

Step 5, BIR registration

Once you have the Mayor's Permit, head to the Revenue District Office (RDO) covering your business address. You'll need:

• BIR Form 1901 (sole prop) or 1903 (corporation)
• Mayor's Permit
• DTI / SEC certificate
• ₱500 annual registration fee (Form 0605)
• Books of accounts (manual or loose-leaf, to be stamped)
• Authority to Print (ATP) for official receipts / invoices

You'll receive BIR Form 2303 (Certificate of Registration), keep it safe; everything else flows from this.

Step 6, Employer registrations (if you'll hire)

• SSS, employer registration via My.SSS portal
• PhilHealth, ER1 form
• Pag-IBIG (HDMF), employer registration

You'll need separate employee enrollment for each new hire after this.

Common mistakes

• Filing BIR before the Mayor's Permit (you can't, they need it).
• Forgetting to have books of accounts stamped within 30 days of BIR registration.
• Choosing the wrong tax type (VAT vs. percentage tax) at registration.

Want help?

UPworth handles end-to-end registration for sole prop and corporate clients across CALABARZON. Typical timeline is 4–8 weeks depending on LGU response times.

Get in touch and we'll walk you through it.