Business and Company Registrations in the Philippines
Our firm assists foreign nationals who intend to put up businesses in the Philippines, guiding them in choosing the appropriate types of business structures they may opt to register, considering ease of doing business including tax implications. We will provide you with reasonable estimates of costs and expenses in setting up your chosen type of entity/ies, including realistic timelines and possible delays so they may be avoided.
We may register your companies, as applicable, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Barangay, City Hall, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), etc. Foreign investors and enterprises start and do business in the Philippines by incorporating a new company under Philippine laws or by licensing a foreign corporation already established and existing under foreign laws.
Organized under Philippine Laws
- Sole Proprietorship
- Partnership (General Professional Partnership or Business Partnership)
- Foreign-Owned Domestic Corporation (Subsidiary; Stock/Non-Stock Non-Profit)
Organized under Foreign Laws
-
Representative Office
-
Branch Office
-
Regional Headquarters (RHQs)
-
Regional Operating Headquarters (ROHQs)
We provide the following services for business registration in the Philippines:
- Determination of investment vehicle
- Determination of paid-up capital
- Opening of local bank account
- Registration of business name with SEC or DTI
- Drafting of Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
- Act as corporate secretary or resident agent
- Processing of documents with government agencies (SEC, BOI, PEZA, BIR, SSS, PHIC, HDMF, etc.)
- Processing of Mayor’s Permit and Business Permits with Local Government Units (LGUs)
- Other business requirements for the specific business structure you plan to register
Foreign Investment Restrictions in the Philippines
Philippine laws generally allow foreign investors or companies to set up their business in the country. However, the Constitution and some specific laws prescribe the implementation of the Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL) to restrict foreign equity and participation in regulated industry sectors and areas of business activity that are exclusive to Filipino citizens. Industry sectors that are not included in the FINL are 100% open to foreign investment.
Registration for Tax Incentive Programs
Both local and foreign investors can avail of tax incentives from the Philippine government under any of the country’s inbound investment laws, especially if they register their business location in any of the country’s special economic zones and free ports. Eligibility requirements from the specific government agencies that administer fiscal and non-fiscal incentives vary depending on a company’s proposed nature of activities, industry sector, and business location. These government agencies are attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and cater to specific industry sectors commonly engaged in by foreign investors and enterprises.
The most notable of these agencies are as follows:
- Board of Investments (BOI)
- Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)
- Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)
- Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA)
- Clark Development Corporation (CDC)
- Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)
Philippine Industries Commonly Participated in by Foreign Corporations
- Call Center Company
- IT-BPO, KPO or Outsourcing Company
- Back Office Company
- Shared Services Company
- IT, Software, or Web Development Company
- Animation Development or Design Company
- Internet / E-commerce Company
- Medical Transcription Company
- Legal Transcription Company
- Import, Export, or Trading Company
- Local Manpower Recruitment Company
- Power or Energy Company
- Non-Profit, Non-Stock Company
- Manufacturing Company
- Global In-house Centers
