HOW TO REGISTER BUSINESS NAME AT DTI PHILIPPINES

Today, we'll be talking about registering your business name with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines. 

When you've already decided on your business name by knowing how to name your business, the next step for you is to register it. 

Proper Agencies for Business Name Registration

Depending on your business structure, here are the following agencies that you need to get a certificate of business name registration from: 

• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – for sole proprietorship
• Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – for partnerships or corporations
• Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) – for cooperatives

For this post, we'll be discussing DTI business name registration. So, sole proprietors, listen up! 

Business Name Approval 

For your business name to be registered at DTI, it needs to be approved first. According to DTI, it's your responsibility to ensure that your proposed business name is NOT:

• To be used for business that is  illegal, offensive, scandalous, or contrary to propriety 
• (e.g. Popoy's Jueteng Betting Place, Boobs Massage Services);
• Identical or which nearly resemble business names already registered with government office authorized to register names 
• (e.g. Starbax Cafe, Nasyonal Bookstore);
• Composed purely of generic words 
• (e.g. Cubao, The Drinking Place);
• A name by which by law or regulation cannot be appropriated
• (e.g. Intelligence, State College, CALABARZON);
• Used to designate or distinguish or suggest the quality of any class of goods, articles merchandise or service
• (e.g. Best Sisig Factory, Top 1 Repair Shop);
• An abbreviation of names of any nation, inter-governmental or international organization
• (e.g. WHO Marketing, DTI Health Services);
• Misleading, deceptive or which misrepresent the nature of business
• (e.g. XYZ Marketing Services where the business is actually of business nature)

General Instructions in Registering Business Name 

You can either apply online or over-the-counter. I'd advise you to do over-the-counter instead so that you can be able to ask questions personally. Also, when I went there, most application forms of online applicants were misplaced so it was actually inconvenient. We'll be talking about OTC business name registration at DTI here.

1. To save you the hassle of being asked to go to another office, find out which area office you should go to.

2. Accomplish the application form through the office itself. Only the owner of the business or his/her Attorney-in-Fact (who is authorized in a proper legal instrument) is authorized to sign all the forms.

Business Details 

• Business Location: Indicate full business address. Make sure that your address is correct as officials are very particular about this. 
• TIN: Indicate the TIN duly issued by BIR to you as an individual taxpayer. 

Owner's Details

• Must be of legal age (at least 18 years old)
• For Filipino applicants, present (1) nationally-issued valid ID:
• Birth certificate
• PRC ID
• Voter’s ID
• Valid passport.
• For Foreign nationals, present the following, if applicable: 
• Certificate of Authority to Engage Business in the Philippines
• Certificate of Authority to Engage in Retail Trade

3. Submit duly filled out application form to the DTI processor. If it's available, good for you! If it's not, then, think of a better business name and try again. You can even ask the official for some help.

4. Pay the applicable fees and get the receipt.

Applicable Fees 

• Business Name Registration Fee 
• Barangay - P 200.00
• City/Municipality - P 500.00
• Regional - P 1,000.00
• National - P 2,000.00
• Documentary Stamp Tax - P 15.00
• Surcharge for late Renewal Application - 50% of Registration Fee

5. Show the receipt to the Processor and wait for your Business Name Certificate to be released. It'll only take about ten minutes or so. 

6. Give yourself a congratulatory pat on the back. Great work, your business name is now registered with DTI Philippines! 

source: thewiseliving


List of IDs
• Passport
• Valid Driver’s License
• Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
• National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
• Police Clearance
• Postal ID
• Voter’s ID
• Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Unified Multi-Purpose ID
• Social Security System (SSS) ID
• Tax Identification Number (TIN) ID
• Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID
• Seaman’s Book
• Government Office and GOCC ID, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ID, Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) ID, Philpost ID, Philhealth ID
• Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID
• Senior Citizen Card
• Person with Disability Card