The best way to earn in the country second to a high-paying employment is doing a business. Starting a business in the Philippines can be summarized in the following steps.
First of all, starting a business means getting a birth certificate. Then open the Sunday classified ads of any major daily in the country to look for people or companies offering business. Choose one that suits your preference, list several offers, and call them up one by one. Of the offers in the list choose two to three that seem to promise a more preferable deal. Meet with representatives of these offers. Most of these will probably be franchise offers, the trend in the country.
If the business is a franchise, ask for franchise documents that will prove one’s ownership of the franchise. This document will be asked by city hall officials and stall or concession owners one will later meet. Be sure that franchise documents are complete. This is important in starting a business. For particulars on franchise documents, contact the franchise main office. They will likely be listed online. Or try telephone operator service.
If the business is non-franchise, be sure to have all pertinent documents and records of the business one has bought. Among these are Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) documents for solo or single proprieties or a partnership and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) papers for corporations. Then there’s the business permit which is secured from city hall. Last, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) business papers. Be sure to have all these documents transferred to one’s name. Besides these business documents, starting a business also needs one to secure a barangay character and business clearance from the barangay where one plans to put up a business. Birth certificate is needed here.
The best option is to start one’s own business. Starting a business from scratch (not bought from somebody else) requires routine securing of all aforesaid documents. A warning though: without the barangay clearances no documentation will be accomplished at city hall. Days or week may pass before DTI or SEC or business or BIR papers can be released. So while waiting, one can proceed looking for business locations. Location is crucial in starting a business so give it lots of time.
Starting a business in the Philippines need to go through several phases: getting barangay clearances, securing DTI or SEC papers, business permit from city hall, BIR permit, and choosing a business location.
Hi thanks for the great information! I love the information on this blog. I have my business plan written up hopefully i can get everything up by the new year.
Hi, thanks for the infos, but im still confused, im very young and really wanting to start my biz, can you post here the requirements for each; barangay clearance, DTI/SEC, business permit, bir permit...?
Good Luck Samantha.......
Hope your business becomes a successful one. 🙂
nice, very informative! but what about if the business is online only? For example, I have a web hosting and domain name registration services, it's a small business and I am not the service provider, I am only a retailer of one of the biggest web hosting company in the UK, they are the main source of our data and services, they are the one who really have the data centers (one in the US and one in the UK) and business permits, do I still need to register my business here in the Philippines? My website is already online but I still don't have any customer because I am not sure if I can start to advertise my business. My profit here is only commission based, let's say 0.10 cents USD per transaction per month, do I really have to go to BIR just to pay the taxes? I don't have any physical location for my business, I only have a website. I want to know all the legal matters for this kind of small business before I start to offer services in public. Thank you.
i'm planning to start a small business. i want to know i much capital should i have to? i'm also curious with regards to the rentals of space in malls particularly in SM. i really don't know where and how to start...i need your comments and asvise...thank you.
all information that i'm looking for is almost here but i'm still confused how to start my own business.
The articles you have posted are very helpful to us seeking
livelihood here in the Philippines,but with respect to the said government agencies issuing the necessary permits they must wipe out their employees asking for "lagay" for you to have the permits.Thank you for the helpful article...
I have a foreigner who wants to do up a business with me in the Phils. The thing is, we still do not know exactly which business to do.
Things that we have in mind are: money remittance; clothes boutigues; restaurant;
How is the procedure? What is required of a foreigner if he wants to do a partnership business with me?
Appreciate your help.
What are the procedures if a foreigner wants to do a partnership business with me? I already submitted the online application at DTI for sole propritorship. Where would I register, DTI or SEC? I'll appreciate your immediate repy
thank you so much for the information. been thinking of all the requirements to start a business. just a quick question, what if the location I saw is not my residence area? Am I the one to get a brgy clearance because i'm the owner of the business or the owner of the place? Because I've already ask some people and they're giving me different answers. Some says that I should be getting the clearance but some says the owner of the place I'm going to rent. So, who really is the one should get the clearance. is it me or the owner? I hope to get an answer very soon. Thank you so much for the information.
Hi!
Thanks for the info. I have a foreigner business partner and we want to go into supplying professional and household cutting boards. How do we start registering? Do you have any idea what would be our tax and customs duties?
Would greatly appreciate your help on this. =)
need to know what agency/department handles revenues from business permits for the whole philippines, for the year 2009. I tried BIR central office but they said they dont have the info i need. can someone help me? thanks.
Do I need a business permit if I'm a tour guide in the Philippines?
Thanks for this very informative tip. I'm working on a new company called Code Sage Software Solutions and this helps a lot!
I am planning to start a bottled water business.what are the papers/documents required?pls help me the step by step procedure.tnx
All information are cleared,thank you for that because may be next year I will put up my own business then I have an idea to start with.
In some cities, you may also be required to obtain a Mayor's Permit.
thank you for all the informations. it helps me in my assignment in finance...:)
I want have my product be in the franchising list...I am interested to have it franchised by people who can afford a low budget one.
can i sell home furniture if my business name is suffix is appliance center?
I am planning to put up an internet cafe. Is there any restrictions/limitation on the location near a school or church?
how much is the capital set up for internet cafe,for one foreigner and one filipino,,,,?
thanks,,,,
I am considering starting my own non-franchise business. In addition to all the required gov't. documentation listed above do I also require a work visa and work permit?
Hi! thanks for the info, they're very helpful! i had my business registered at DTI, i have my first client now & is ready to buy my product. what's next after DTI? i am outside PI and don't really know how to proceed. Btw, am on import. please help! thanks & goodluck to all!
I am Syrian and planning to putup a business in phi.. Is it avalibal to own a restaurant there..
Love to volunteer, media, music, great voice and speaking manner. some technical knowledge. Let me know when volunteer info sessions take place. Thanks.Renee
Dear friends, Thank you for your website. I got lots of new informations. But I have same problem like "TJ" and his question from May 18 2008...
My business will be online - international but I will cooperate with philippine companies and for this I will need bank account in Philippines. When my friend (philippino) was in bank, they told him its not possible open account for foreigner. Im not sure if I need to open company in phillipines and pay taxes there or not. But I don't know how to open my bank acc there. Can you help me please?