4 Steps How to Register Your Business?

Having a business of your own may be the goal of many. Those who can put up their business find it fulfilling because you don't have to answer to anyone, and they control their working time, they are their own boss. One other thing about having a business of your own is you get to decide about its operation, and it is up to your hard work and focus to make it succeed.

In the Philippines, many people are trying their luck in business. In 2018 there were 1.39M recorded business owners under the Department of Trade and Industry, and then in 2019, it ballooned to 1.42M. Although many are thinking of putting up a business, yet some challenges they face stops them from doing so.

One problem that keeps popping up is the worry about registering their business and how to make it legal. Some also have issues on how they go about completing paperwork, getting everything running may be easy, but behind a business set up requires steps that need to be completed before you can have a business under your name. Good thing we have laid down all the steps in registering your business in the Philippines and what other tasks you see as daunting, but really require a lot of patience.

The Philippines is a flourishing nation and is among the fastest-growing economies in Asia. The economic growth of the country has attracted a lot of foreign investors believing in the capacity of the nation and the capability of its people. Advantages that are seen in doing business in the Philippines included.

A highly capable workforce is available, with the Philippines having a large number of people who are highly skilled as well as easily trainable. Not to mention that the people speak good English, if not fluently, which was thanks to the influences of the US. Opportunities are welcomed, and people are open to presented ideas. Filipinos are accepting and are willing to adopt new ideas. They are also highly adaptive and can face challenges and problems and knows how to deal with it.

The booming economy in the Philippines is another reason to set up a business, and there are new incentives created to attract investors and set up their ventures here. Some samples involve income tax holidays, tax deductions and exemptions, special economic zones, getting a permanent status for foreign investors that also include, their family.

The Philippines' strategic location is a great way to further business expansions to neighbouring Asian countries. A personalized business where there are nourishing relationships, building friendships, and personal networking.

This is setting up a business where an individual is a sole owner, and there is no other person involved in running the business. This is the most basic type of business organization that you can find in the Philippines because this is the easiest to put up. There is only one person to control things, only an individual who has the asset and have the liabilities in running a business.

A business set up where two or more parties will manage and operate a company. They will legally share management, and profits from the business will be divided equally. This is ideal if there is not enough funding to create a sole proprietorship business, with the help of the business partner, there is more leeway when it comes to spending and in providing a better business set-up.

However, if there are miscommunication and disagreement, issues will arise in a partnership type of business, which sometimes leads to the dissolution of the company.

Business ownership where there are shareholders and a board of directors is elected to oversee the activity of the organization. The shareholders will invest in the corporation, and their liability will depend on the amount they invested.

There are many decision-makers, and many individuals will help each other to advance the interest of the company. This type of business ownership has more power or movement and has a high probability of success as well. A Corporation should be duly registered with the SEC or Securities and Exchange Commission.

The branch office is another office handling the business of the company, and it is located at a different address, it is separated from the company's main office. Businesses may be carried out in a different country, and the rules and regulations of the country where the branch is located are being followed.

The Representative Office is allowed to represent the company to protect its interest, but it will not generate profit from it e.g. can do market research, learn about the different customers, how to increase customers, etc. Unlike a Branch office that is allowed to do activities for the main company and is allowed to earn and generate profits.

The Philippine government is now finding ways to attract more investors and in the process, would like to make the setting up of business here easier and less complicated, unlike in previous years. Below are the procedures you will need to complete when you set up your business in the country.

You need to decide if you would rather have full ownership and get capital from your own pocket, or you can also get a partner to run the business, which can lessen the burden of running a business by yourself, or would it be a corporation for you?

Registering a business name is easy but thinking of a name that is unique and will be easily remembered takes time but after you finally have a business name you may register it at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) if it is a sole owner and for corporation or partnership, you can register it to the Securities and Exchange Commission or the (SEC). If Cooperative, you have to register with the Cooperative Development Authority or the (CDA).

For business owners will need to deposit a minimum amount as a capital in the bank account, this is set at P5000 in the Philippines. Together with it, you must provide the articles of incorporation and other identifying documents, and anything else that may be required.

Once you were issued the bank certificate deposit, and you have the complete documentary requirements with you, you may now submit everything to the SEC which includes:
• Reserved business name and payment form
• Treasurer's Affidavit
• The Bank Certificate of Deposit or Proof of Inward Remittance should be provided
• Statement of Assets and liabilities
• Accomplished SEC Form
• It will take 10 to 15 days after the submission of completed documentary requirements

Before forwarding your documents to the SEC, every form must be properly notarized, including the Treasurer's Affidavit. It may just take a day to complete this step and may only cost you P500.

This step requires you to complete the following such as company name verification slip, Notarized Articles of Incorporation, by-laws and Notarized Treasurer's Affidavit, Statement of assets and liabilities, Company information and particulars like the name of directors, stockholders, and the company's officers, a notarized Written undertaking to change the corporate name.
When you have this completed, the SEC will provide your TIN. It will take an average of 2 days to complete this process.

After SEC registration completion, every company must register with the BIR to apply for the authority to print invoices and book of journal. This step is significant to know the required taxes to be paid by the company, their annual registration fee, to be able to acquire stamping of sales invoices, books of accounts, and receipts.

Not completing this step will cause a problem for your company in the long run. The expenses others would-be business owner tried to run away from costs them double once they need to pay legal fees. There is also peace of mind for new business owners knowing they have checked the legal requirements.

Barangay clearance is also required where your business is located. You need to bring an application form, SEC certificate of incorporation, lease of contract, business plan and approved AoA. The Barangay clearance will not cost you much as it ranges between three hundred to a thousand pesos.

Another step to complete is paying the annual basic and additional community tax, which can be paid at the City Treasurer's Office (CTO). Basic tax can be a few hundred pesos but not over five hundred pesos, usually, the tax will depend on the business that you will pursue.
Additional tax may be required and will depend on the assessed value of the real property you have, which includes the earnings and dividends.

You can acquire your business permit in the Philippines via the Business Permits and Licensing Office or the BPLO. Some companies may be required to secure clearances and certificates depending on the type of business they will set up, clearances include; location clearance, zoning clearance, a sketch of the location, mechanical permit, certificate of electrical inspection, fire safety, and inspection certificate, and the sanitary permit.

The company is also required to register to the Philippine Social Security System of the SSS, which is the social insurance program that collects the monthly contribution of employees together with their employer's share.
Registrant must provide the below requirements.
• Employment report or the Form R-1A
• List of employees with their birth dates, salary, employment date, and positions
• Employer registration form or the FORM R-1
• Articles of incorporation, including SEC registrations and by-laws.

Other clearances that you need to obtain and register include:
Philhealth for employees/employer to cover the medical benefits of your employees, Pag-Ibig fund is mandatory for employees who are covered by the Social Security System, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or the DENR to avail of the certificate for Environmental Compliance.

Here are the requirements for doing business in the Philippines for a sole proprietorship
• Any government-issued ID
• Registration form of the proposed business name in the duplicate copy.
• Registration fee based on location plus the documentary stamp tax
• The accomplished employee data form
• Municipality Permission Letter
• Community tax certificate
• Barangay Clearance
• Location Clearance
• Completed Fire safety
• Electrical inspection certificate
• Certificate occupancy and building permit
• Lease contract

Requirement list for Corporate Registration
• Completed verification slip form
• Articles of incorporation
• Bank certificate (notarized)
• Accomplished Treasurer's affidavit
• Written undertaking for the name change of the corporation by the trustee or Director
• Required clearance certificate from other government agencies
• Required Foreign investment application form if foreign corporation subsidiaries
• Members of the company and their invested capital with the secretary's certification
• Registration fee
• Employee data form
• Permit letter from the Municipality
• Community tax certificate
• Barangay clearance
• Location Clearance
• Fire safety certificate
• Electrical inspection certificate
• Occupancy certificate
• Building permits
• Lease contract as required

Before you register your Business in the Philippines, you need to know the Advantages of Putting up a Business in the country. Know what are the positive sides of setting up your business there and not elsewhere.
Positives include highly skilled manpower, great geographical location, and there are many opportunities with its booming economy. Know what types of Corporate Entities are in the Philippines as there are Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, and Corporation. We also discuss the Branch Office and what is its difference to a Representative Office where the latter cannot generate profit for the company it represents while the Branch Office can.

The question about How to Start a Business in the Philippines was also discussed and the list to follow include:
• Choosing a Business Structure requires deciding whether to take a partner or if you would rather have sole ownership for your business?
• Registering a Business Name is to keep your business name, legal to operate in the Philippines. You need to complete the requirements and follow the steps to make this happen.
• Pay the Minimum Deposit since this is required when doing business in the Philippines, it will not cost you much and will depend on what company or business you are putting up.
• Registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is required to have your business recognized legally in the Philippines.
• Everything must be notarized.
• Getting a Tax Identification Number is another step you should complete and will be provided by the SEC or Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Registering with the BIR for taxes, and your business to have the right for sales invoices and receipts.
• Getting a Barangay Clearance is a must and can be completed wherever your business is located, paying the annual community tax will depend on the business that you will pursue, BPLO or Business Permits and Licensing Office will then give you your business permit once you have completed other required documents and clearances.
• Another division of government where you need to register includes the Social Security System, Philhealth, PagIbig, this is important most especially for your employees. You also need to get a permit or a compliance clearance from the Department of Energy and Natural Resources for Environmental Compliance.

If you are planning on setting up a business in the Philippines, you need to complete the requirements first before doing so. We have listed the steps that will help you in putting up the business fast. Although it will take you a few days to finish all the requirements, as long as you pass all the needed paperwork, complete the documents and pay all the fees, you can register your business and get the permits in no time. Other business owners got their business permits in less than a week. The speed of having your business registered will depend on your compliance in completing documents as well.
Also, starting a business in the Philippines is simple as long as you have a rational plan of what business you want to get into and know what types of business ownership you would like it to be. If you are not decided yet, if you like to have a partner in your business, perhaps it is better if you have a sole proprietorship then decide afterwards once your business is proving to be a success. If the business is already growing and investors are interested to be a part of the company, you can decide if you like to have a partner then. Once you have the necessary permits, you will already have peace of mind and can start your business instantly.