Every permit, explained
Plain-English guides to every registration a small business in the Philippines deals with, each checked against the agency's own page.
Start here
- Business permit requirements for a new business
- Registering a home-based business
- How to register a business in the Philippines: the four steps and how they connect
- How to start a small business in the Philippines
- How to register an online business in the Philippines
- Sole proprietorship vs OPC vs corporation
Registration steps
- Get your barangay business clearance
- Late business permit renewal: surcharge and interest
- Community tax certificate (cedula): who pays and how much
- Register your business name with DTI
- Check if your business name is available on DTI BNRS
- Renew your DTI business name registration
- DTI territorial scope: barangay, city, regional or national?
- Get your Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC)
- Health certificates for food business workers
- Get your mayor's permit (business permit)
- Get a sanitary permit for your food business
BIR and taxes
- The 8% income tax option for small businesses
- BIR Form 1701, 1701A or 1701-MS: your annual income tax return
- The ₱500 BIR annual registration fee is gone
- How to register your BIR books of accounts
- BIR Form 1901: registration for sole proprietors
- BIR Form 1903: registration for corporations and partnerships
- BIR Form 1905: updating or closing your registration
- BIR Form 2303: your Certificate of Registration
- BIR invoices under EOPT: what to issue now
- BIR rules for online sellers and RR 16-2023
- How to use BIR ORUS to register your business online
- Percentage tax: the 3% quarterly tax for non-VAT businesses
- BIR Form 1701Q: quarterly income tax for individuals
- How to register your business with BIR
- BIR tax calendar 2027 for small businesses
- BIR taxpayer classification: micro, small, medium, large
- The ₱3 million VAT threshold explained
Agencies, employers and other registrations
- BMBE registration: income tax exemption for micro businesses
- How to close a business in the Philippines
- Register a cooperative with the CDA
- DOLE establishment registration (Rule 1020)
- How to cancel a DTI business name registration
- Your DTI Certificate of Business Name Registration
- Hiring your first employee: what a small business must do
- Minimum wage in Metro Manila and other regions
- Negosyo Center: free help from DTI near you
- Certificate of Occupancy: when your business needs one
- One Person Corporation (OPC): rules, fees and steps
- How to register as an employer with Pag-IBIG
- Register a partnership with the SEC
- How to register as an employer with PhilHealth
- Register a corporation with the SEC
- How to register as an employer with SSS
- Zoning clearance (locational clearance) for your business