A Quick Guide to Starting a Business in the Philippines

A Quick Guide to Starting a Business in the Philippines

Make sure your business is legitimate before you begin any production, transaction or sale. Here is a checklist of things you need to do, offices you need to visit, and papers you need to secure.

STEPS 1

REGISTER THE BUSINESS

Get a certificate of registration depending on the structure of your proposed business. Go to the following offices:

-Department of Trade and industry DTI for single proprietorship – get a certificate of registration of business name.

-Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for partnership and cooperations –get a certificate of registration.

-Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) for cooperatives – get a certificate of registration.

STEP 2

SECURE PERMITS

Visit the following offices to get a clearance and/or permit to operate.

-Homeowners Association – Get a clearance if your business will operate villages or subdivisions.

-Barangay Hall – Get a barangay clearance.

-Local Government Unit (LGU) Secure a business permit from a municipal or city hall.

-Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) apply for a business taxpayers identification number(TIN), register your books of account, register you POS and get an authority to print official receipts.

STEP 3

REGISTER YOUR EMPLOYEES

Register your employees at the following offices:

-Social Security System (SSS)

-Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) If your business will employ 5 or more worker.

-Home Development Mutual Fund (HMDF) RA 7742 requires all SSS members earning at least Php 4,000 a month to be registered. HDMF administers the Pag-ibig Fund.

-Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Phil-Health) RA 7875/RA 9241 requires all employers of government and private sectors and their employees to be registered.

STEP 4

CHECK IF YOU NEED OTHER PERMITS

Verify if you need special clearances/permits /licences from other governments institutions like those listed below, especially if the business is food related. Inquire with DTI.

-Food and Drugs Administration (FDA-DOH)

-National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC-DA)

-Bureau of Animal Industry

-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

-National Food Authority

-Bureau of Plant Industry