Starting a business and unsure which office comes first

We take you through DTI or SEC, barangay clearance, mayor's permit and BIR registration in the order your city requires, with forms prepared for your signature. Government fees are paid at cost and listed apart from our fee, and every enquiry gets a reply within 48 hours.

Is this you?

  • You've picked a business name but don't know whether DTI, city hall or the BIR comes next.
  • Your city's permit checklist asks for documents you don't have yet.
  • You're setting up a One Person Corporation and want the SEC side handled together with the rest.

Get a quote

What registering a business involves

The steps marked We handle this are the work you hand to us.

  1. Tell us your business type and city

    You

    In the enquiry, pick sole proprietor, One Person Corporation, partnership or corporation, or not sure, and name the city or municipality. No IDs or addresses yet.

  2. We reply with a quote or questions

    We handle this

    Within 48 hours you get a quote, or the questions we need answered to give one. Government fees are listed separately.

  3. Confirm the route

    Together

    Sole proprietors register a business name with the DTI. Corporations, including One Person Corporations, register with the SEC. We confirm which applies and what your city's checklist asks for.

  4. Business name or SEC registration

    We handle this

    We help you check name availability and prepare the DTI application through BNRS, or the SEC registration for a corporation, for your review. The DTI fee depends on territorial scope, plus ₱30 documentary stamp tax.

    DTI BNRS FAQ

  5. Barangay clearance and mayor's permit

    Together

    We prepare the applications to your city's checklist. You sign them and host any inspections your city requires.

  6. BIR registration

    Together

    Form 1901 is prepared for your signature, with ₱30 documentary stamp tax. The BIR's form doesn't ask for a mayor's permit, so the order of the BIR and city steps follows your city's rules.

    BIR Form 1901 (October 2025)

  7. Handover pack

    We handle this

    You get copies of every certificate and a list of renewal dates. A DTI business name registration is valid for five years.

    DTI BNRS FAQ

What is included

Included

  • A check of which route applies to you: DTI for a sole proprietorship, SEC for a corporation
  • DTI business name application through BNRS, or a check of one you've started
  • SEC registration for a One Person Corporation or small corporation, prepared for your review
  • Barangay clearance and mayor's permit applications prepared to your city's checklist
  • BIR registration, as in our BIR registration service
  • A handover pack with every certificate and the renewal dates

Not included

  • Government fees and documentary stamp tax, which you pay at cost
  • Legal advice on which business structure to choose, which needs a lawyer
  • Audited financial statements, which need an independent CPA's signature
  • Tax planning advice, which needs a CPA or tax lawyer
  • Foreign-owned companies, and businesses needing extra licences from regulators such as the FDA

After you send it

  1. 1.You get a reply within 48 hours, with a quote or the questions we need answered to give one.
  2. 2.The quote lists our fee and, separately, the government fees we expect to be paid at cost.
  3. 3.If you go ahead, we agree a secure way to send IDs and documents.
  4. 4.Sending an enquiry doesn't commit you to anything.

What we will ask for

Only after our first reply, never in the form.

  • A government ID for each owner, showing name, address and birth date
  • Two or three business name options, for a DTI or SEC name check
  • Proof of your business address, such as a lease contract or title, as your city requires
  • Your city's checklist items that only you can provide, which we'll list for you
  • For a One Person Corporation: the details of the single stockholder

Questions

How much does business registration cost?

Our fee is quoted after the first reply. It depends on your business type, how many offices are involved, your city's requirements, and whether BIR registration is included. Government fees are paid at cost: a DTI business name costs ₱200 (barangay), ₱500 (city or municipality), ₱1,000 (regional) or ₱2,000 (national), plus ₱30 documentary stamp tax. City fees vary by LGU.

Which comes first: DTI, city hall or the BIR?

The DTI name (or SEC registration for a corporation) comes first, because the BIR form asks for your DTI certificate when you use a business name. After that, the order of the BIR and city steps depends on what your city asks for.

Do I need DTI registration if I freelance under my own name?

No business name registration is needed if you trade under your own name. The BIR asks for a DTI certificate only when you use a business name. In that case, our BIR registration service is the one you need.

Do you handle One Person Corporations?

Yes. A corporation with a single stockholder is a One Person Corporation under the Revised Corporation Code, and it registers with the SEC. Legal advice on whether that structure suits you needs a lawyer.

Can I register the business myself?

Yes. The DTI name can be registered online through BNRS, and our permit guide covers the barangay and mayor's permit side. Help makes sense when your city's checklist is unclear or you can't spare the time for several offices.

What do you need from me?

Not your ID or address in the enquiry, just your business type and city. After our first reply we'll ask for IDs, name options and proof of address, sent through a secure channel we agree with you.

How long does it take?

It depends on your city, its inspections, and how many offices are involved. We don't promise a turnaround before we know your business type and LGU.

Prefer to do it yourself?

Every request gets a reply within 48 hours. See all services.