This illustrative plan is for a small accounting and bookkeeping practice serving micro and small businesses. The Philippine Accountancy Act (RA 9298) shapes the business form: public accountancy, including audit, signing reports for filing with government and representing clients on tax matters, is reserved for registered CPAs, and SEC will not register a corporation for public accountancy.[3,1,2]
Executive summary
[Firm name] will provide [bookkeeping, payroll, BIR filing support, financial statement preparation, and audit if led by a CPA] to [number] small business clients in [city]. Form: [sole practice of a CPA / partnership of CPAs / bookkeeping business owned by a non-CPA, offering only services outside public accountancy]. Founder: [name, credentials].
Start-up budget: ₱____ (office set-up or co-working desk ₱____, computers ₱____, accounting software subscriptions ₱____, professional fees and permits ₱____, marketing ₱____, reserve for three months of costs ₱____). Funding: founder's savings ₱____.
What the firm will and will not do
This section matters more for an accounting practice than for most businesses, because the law reserves certain work for CPAs. RA 9298 Section 4(a) describes public accountancy as including audit, preparing and signing reports for filing with government agencies, designing accounting systems, and representing clients before government agencies on tax and other accounting matters.[3]
Section 28 says single practitioners and partnerships for the practice of public accountancy must be registered CPAs, and a certificate of accreditation requires three years of experience. The same section says SEC shall not register any corporation organised for the practice of public accountancy. If you are not a CPA and plan a bookkeeping-only business, list exactly which services you will offer and ask the PRC Board of Accountancy whether any fall inside public accountancy before you advertise them.[3]
Service list. [Monthly bookkeeping: ₱____ per month], [BIR return preparation: ₱____ per filing], [payroll: ₱____ per employee], [business registration assistance: ₱____], [audit and certified financial statements: CPA only, ₱____].
Clients and other firms
Use these prompts to describe who you will serve and who you compete with:
Example fill-in. "Our first clients will be [online sellers / restaurants / clinics / contractors] in [city]. Through [our Negosyo Center seminar / referrals / an existing employer], we have spoken with [number] owners, of whom [number] said they file their own BIR returns and [number] said they have missed a deadline. Nearby firms charge ₱____ to ₱____ per month for bookkeeping. We will offer [fixed monthly packages / bilingual service / online document upload / a compliance calendar for each client]."
- Which kinds of small businesses near you need help with books and BIR filings?
- How do they handle it now: themselves, a relative, a freelance bookkeeper, a firm?
- What do local firms and freelancers charge for monthly bookkeeping?
- Which deadlines cause clients the most stress?
- Where can you meet owners: Negosyo Centers, business groups, online communities?
How the practice will run
Monthly cycle. Collect client documents by [date] → record transactions → prepare returns → client review and approval → file and pay before deadlines → send a summary report. Keep a deadline tracker for every client.
Professional requirements. Under RA 9298, all CPAs must meet the Board's continuing professional education rules, and licensed CPAs use a Board-prescribed seal; reports they sign show the current Professional Tax Receipt number.[3]
Engagement letters and data. A signed engagement letter for every client listing services, fees and responsibilities. Client files stored [securely online / in a locked cabinet]; access limited to staff on the account.
Permits and registration costs
The fees for each registration and permit are in the cost table below, with their sources.
Financial plan
DTI (₱500 plus ₱30) and BIR (₱0) are the only published figures here. PRC accreditation, CPE and PTR costs are left as blanks to confirm.[1,2,3]
Revenue. Clients [number] × average monthly fee ₱____ + one-time jobs ₱____ = ₱____ per month. Grow the client count month by month only as fast as your referral evidence supports.
Capacity. Hours per client per month [number] × clients = total hours. Compare with available staff hours before taking new clients.
- Computers and printer ₱____
- Accounting and tax software ₱____ per month
- Office rent or co-working ₱____ per month
- DTI ₱500 + ₱30 (or SEC for a partnership); BIR ₱0
- PRC accreditation, CPE units, PTR ₱____ (not published here)
- Barangay clearance and mayor's permit ₱____ (assessed by the city)
- Monthly: staff ₱____, internet ₱____, professional indemnity insurance ₱____, marketing ₱____
Risks and controls
Write how you will prevent each one.
- Missed client deadline. Shared deadline calendar and documents due ten days before filing.
- Offering services reserved to CPAs without a CPA. Keep the service list inside what the law allows.
- Client data leak. Password-protected files, two-factor sign-in, access limited by account.
- Clients pay late. Monthly billing in advance and a written late-payment policy.
Accounting firm registrations and fees
| Registration or requirement | Where | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTI business name, city scope (sole practice or bookkeeping business) | DTI BNRS (online) | ₱500 (₱200 barangay, ₱1,000 regional, ₱2,000 national scope) | DTI BNRS FAQ |
| Documentary stamp tax on the DTI fee | DTI BNRS | ₱30 | DTI BNRS FAQ |
| BIR registration (Certificate of Registration) | BIR RDO or ORUS | ₱0 | BIR RMC 14-2024 |
| Barangay business clearance | Barangay hall | Set by the barangay | Not published nationally |
| Mayor's permit and city or municipal fees | City or municipal hall (BPLO) | Assessed by the city | Not published nationally |
| CPA registration and certificate of accreditation for public practice (3 years' experience) | PRC Board of Accountancy | Not published here | RA 9298 Sec. 28 |
| Continuing professional education | PRC Board of Accountancy | Not published here | RA 9298 Sec. 32 |
| Professional Tax Receipt | City or municipal treasurer | Set by the LGU | RA 9298 Sec. 33 |
| SEC registration of a corporation for public accountancy | SEC | Not allowed | RA 9298 Sec. 28 |
Questions people ask
- Can a non-CPA open a bookkeeping business?
- RA 9298 reserves public accountancy, including audit, reports for filing with government and tax representation, for registered CPAs. If you are not a CPA, limit your services and ask the PRC Board of Accountancy about any service you are unsure of.
- Can I register my accounting firm as a corporation?
- Not for public accountancy. RA 9298 says SEC shall not register a corporation organised to practise public accountancy. CPAs practise as sole practitioners or partnerships.
- How much should I charge per client?
- We do not publish rates. Ask local firms and freelancers what they charge, then price based on the hours each client takes.
Sources
Checked 14 November 2026. We link the agency's own page for every requirement. Rules change; confirm with the office before you pay.
- Frequently Asked Questions · DTI Business Name Registration System
- Digest of Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 14-2024 · Bureau of Internal Revenue · 24 January 2024
- Republic Act No. 9298 (Philippine Accountancy Act of 2004) · Congress of the Philippines (via Lawphil) · 13 May 2004