Updated , Published at 1:01 PM PHT,
by
Dennis Cabrera
How to Register Your MSME Startup in the Philippines
Introduction
The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic was both an obstacle and an opportunity for many. An obstacle and an opportunity are two sides of the same coin. We just flip the "dark side of the coin" to see the "brighter side of the coin," where more opportunities are present. And often, a positive mindset finds opportunities where you are already located. All that is needed is to use the resources you already have. It is the determination to work, live, and win that can see good in any negative situation. This attitude can foster a new business idea. Webinars are given by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to build positive energy to register a startup. This blog post outlines the steps needed to register an MSME startup in Pasig City.
Registration in Pasig City
Important update for : Pasig business registration or renewal is now at the Mega Business One-Stop Shop at Silver 4, Ortigas East, Barangay Ugong, Pasig City. Disregard the information in the Mayor's Permit section which referred to Ayala Mall the 30th as the site for Business One-Stop Shop. The Facebook Page of Pasig City Public Information Office gives a Commuter's Guide to the site at Silver 4, Ortigas East, Barangay Ugong. You can check and update all information there even without a Facebook account.
The following steps are location-specific - those whose business idea needs to be registered in Pasig City. Some of the information in this post are from the years to ; updating has been done in . Other updates can be searched at AI Overviews in Google Search. The results will obtain real-time data and information from the Pasig Business Permit and Licensing Division.
Steps to Register
MSME Registration Steps - Pasig City
The 10 key requirements for establishing your business.
Initial Things to Consider: Type of Business Entity/Industry
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has complete information on its website. They also give free webinars online or face-to-face seminars that help anyone decide what business industry to enter and what type of business entity to establish. They also give higher-quality webinars at an affordable fee, for any special needs in establishing your business in the Philippines.
Establishing a Business Name for an MSME Startup
Choose a business name that is easy to remember. For starters, go to the business name registration web page of the DTI, and pick a specific name accepted by the format given by the DTI. Think of your business like a distinct entity separate from other business entities. The DTI website helps in establishing the name for your business. No need to give too much importance to the name as there is more to the business entity than just the name. Also, there are other practical components of the business that need to be kept in mind to make it work.
Certificate of Authority
An easy business entity to begin with is the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE). This type of business has many incentives, such as exemption from the minimum wage law, credit privileges, and exemptions from annual income tax. To know more about the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise, you can visit its web page at https://bmbe.dti.gov.ph/index/ (BMBE Registration, Anytime, Anywhere!) There are also many videos of the DTI on YouTube to guide you in understanding this business entity. Once registered, you receive a Certificate of Authority granting the privilege to do business with a BMBE entity (a category of the Microbusiness in MSME) and the option to renew after a period of two years.
There are also other business entities you can opt for:
- one-person corporation (OPC)
- partnership
- corporation
Sole proprietorships are registered with the Department of Trade and Industry. One-person corporations, partnerships, and corporate entities are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Barangay Clearance
A clearance is also required from your Barangay office before proceeding to get a Mayor's Permit.
Mayor's Permit at Business One Stop Shop
Since , to establish a business in Pasig City, this was what was required:
- register at the Business One Stop Shop service in Ayala Mall the 30th Meralco Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila, 1605, PH
- most of the steps to establish a business in Pasig City are sped up through this service
- bring the requirements listed below for the business permit (Mayor's Permit)
- Barangay Clearance,
- Business Name Certificate,
- DTI Certificate of Authority,
- photo of business establishment
- photo of a map showing the location of the business
- payment for the business permit
Unlike the year , from , business registrations (and business renewals) are all serviced in the Business One Stop Shop. The national government required all LGUs to speed up the process by upgrading the system of registration. Each year becomes easier because of the Law on the Ease of Doing Business. Important update: Disregard the information as regards Ayala Mall the 30th as the site for business registration and renewal. The new site for is at Silver 4, Ortigas East, Barangay Ugong. The Facebook Page of Pasig City Public Information Office gives a Commuter's Guide to the site at Silver 4.
Other Certificates required for Mayor's Permit (Business Permit)
City Planning and Development Office (Zoning)
This certifies where your business is located within the city of Pasig.
Environmental Permit to Operate (CENRO)
This certificate is given upon payment of the fees for the Mayor's Permit. The fee will contribute to the Pasig Green City Program and other environmental projects.
Sanitary Permit and Health Certificate
This is required if your business involves the manufacturing and handling of food and drinking water.
Fire Safety and Inspection Certificate
This is a basic requirement. Upon registration for the Mayor's Permit, an Inspector from the Pasig Branch of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will schedule a visit to your business location. He may also require you to have fire extinguishers for your business. If you already have one or two at hand, all that is needed is to refill the extinguishers with new contents. Once the Inspector takes camera shots of your business premises and it gets approved, you can obtain your Fire Safety Inspection Certificate at the Pasig Branch of the BFP.
Final Step: Payment
After securing all of the required certificates, the next step is the payment of fees. There are three modes of payment: quarterly, semi-annual, and annual. Select whatever is applicable for your business. Once payment has been made, you will receive your Mayor's Permit Certificate and a Business Plate Number from the Business Permit and License Office Division.
2025 photo of skyline with Unimart Capitol Commons Capitol Commons, Meralco Avenue corner Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City, Metro Manila, 1605, PH (in the foreground) The BIR RDO of Pasig is in the 5th floor of Estancia Mall, East Wing, Capitol Commons
Registering Your Business with the Bureau of Internal Revenue
Things to Consider
The important documents to consider when applying for BIR Registration:
- your TIN
- DTI Certificate
- and Mayor's Permit Certificate
Certificate of Registration
A lot of service is given when you need to register at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). The security guards and the employees at the reception desk are ready for any form you need and will give you the initial guidance for the registration process. You just need to properly fill in the necessary forms and pay the required fees. Once the right forms are filled out and the required fees are paid, a Certificate of Registration will be issued after a waiting period of several days to a week. All the necessary tax information you need to know, and the schedules to pay for your business taxes, are printed in that BIR Certificate of Registration.
Back to topAuthority to Print
With your Certificate of Registration secured, you can apply for the Authority to Print. This is the authority to have your invoices printed by an authorized printer. Prior to the year , there was an expiry of five years for all business receipts and invoices. Now there is none.
Back to topBooks of Account
This step is a decision the BMBE (MSME) owner needs to make. You can begin with manual books of accounts. Or you can use a digital system for accounting. This decision is important if you are just beginning. A graduate of any Business Management degree or any degree in Commerce will need to understand the actual accounting required by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Whatever your form of business (sole proprietor, one-person corporation, partnership, or corporation), an organized accounting system is important. You can contract an accountant or have one of your hired employees study it through free or paid webinars given by Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) in partnership with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. PICPA has offered an "Accounting for Non-Accountants" (AFNA) program in the past, which is free and covers topics from business transactions to taxation.
For a manual book of accounts, a journal, a ledger, and two columnar books for cash receipts journal and cash disbursement journal are required. There are other manual books of accounts needed if your business is VAT-registered. Whether VAT or non-VAT, the manual books of accounts have to be stamped by the B.I.R. officer in charge of the books at the B.I.R. branch of Pasig City in Estancia Mall, 5/F.
Business is about people, money, laws, institutions, practicing good manners, and exercising the right use of freedom and responsibility - especially, social responsibility.
If you need to hire workers, you can ask for advice from your local branch of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Tips from Rosauro's Legacy Archive
Be hands-on with your business. Make time for it. The more you work smartly with AI apps as your tools, the more you can produce the income and connections you need. With the right focus, no matter the size of your Philippine MSME, you not only help the PH economy in nation-building, but you also learn to love and enjoy your work, and take necessary steps to make your dreams and hopes come true.
All government agencies mentioned above are on Facebook, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn. If you have an account in any of these three social media networks, you can easily update on any news relevant to your Philippine MSME. You can also update on banks and corporations where the industry of your business is networked.
Be aware of the schedules of your tax obligations. Failure to pay on time incurs penalty fees. Tax compliance is a must in all types of businesses - Micro, Small, Medium, or Large.
Summary
Registering an MSME startup in the Philippines, especially in Pasig City, is simplified through updated government systems
- like the Business One Stop Shop.
- Key steps include obtaining a DTI business name,
- Barangay Clearance,
- and Mayor's Permit,
- followed by BIR registration.
Utilize DTI webinars for guidance on business types and stay updated on tax obligations through social media to streamline the process and reduce hassle.
Enjoy and live life to the fullest
Business can be enjoyable and fun too, with the right attitude. And as Paljug and Zeigler said in one of their business articles, "Have fun and always remember why you started working for yourself and running your business in the first place."
