Frequently Asked Questions

Business Name Registration

What are the requirements/procedures in the registration of the business name?

For Sole Proprietorship:

Submit completely filled up New Application Form. The forms are available at the Information Counter of the Business Registration Center, DTI Main Building, 361 Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. Only the owner of the business is authorized to sign all the forms.

1. The applicant must be a Filipino Citizen, at least 18 years old
2. Proof of Citizenship:
1. Natural born Filipinos whose names are suggestive of an alien nationality (e.g. Chua,Taylor,etc.), submit photocopy of any proof of citizenship, such as, birth certificate, voter's ID, PRC ID or passport and present original copies for comparison.
2. If owner is a Filipina married to a foreigner, submit photocopy of any proof of citizenship, such as, birth certificate, voter's ID, PRC ID or passport plus photocopy of the marriage certificate. Present original copies for comparison.
   
   For Citizen of the Philippines by:
   
   
3. Naturalization-submit photocopy of naturalization certificate and oath of allegiance or identification card issued by the Bureau on Immigration and Deportation. Present original copies for comparison.
4. Election- submit photocopy of affidavit of election or identification card issued by the Commission on Elections. Present original copies for comparison.
3. Verify nature of business. (Listed below are examples of nature of business, which have additional requirements on a case to case basis depending on actual examination and processing of the application.)
   
   Examples:
• Photocopy of license from DTI for Real Estate business. (Present original copy for comparison)
• Photocopy of license from DTI for Fire Extinguisher business. (Present original copy for comparison)
• Accreditation from DTI for Service and Repair Shop.
• Merchandise/Ship Broker license from DTI if business travel agency with ticketing as nature of business. (Present original copy for comparison)
• License as General Bonded Warehouse if business is warehousing/storage of goods other than grains.
4. Processing fee of P 300.00 plus P15.00 documentary stamps.

For Franchise Holders

• Consent Certification from Franchisor
• Photocopy of the business name certificate of the franchisor; and,
• Basic requirements in filing an application for the registration of the business name.

Who can apply for a Business Name?
Any natural person who is at least 18 years old (must be a Filipino citizen) or any juridical person who is not disqualified by any existing law or regulations to engage in business and who is using a firm name, business name or style. Corporations/Partnerships registered with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) using only such corporate/partnership name, may no longer register under the Business Name Law.

Is Business Name registration required?
Under the Business Name Law, sole proprietors must be registered with the Department of Trade and Industry. For valid reasons, a corporation, which may want to adopt a business name or style, must be duly registered with DTI.

How long is the validity of my BN registration?
The Business Name registration is renewable every 5 years. Such renewal should be made within the 90 days grace period following the expiration of the 5-year period from the date of the original registration. The Business Name is automatically deleted from the computer files 6 months after the date of expiration and after publication of such in leading newspapers. If applicant registers after 6 months after the date of expiration, his/her application is considered as a new application.

Early renewal or renewal before the expiration date is not allowed.

What are the requirements for RENEWAL of Business Name registration?
For Sole Proprietorship

• Submit completely filled up renewal application form. Only the owner of the business is authorized to sign all the forms.
• Surrender original copy of old business name and the duplicate copy of the application form. An affidavit of loss if either certificate or application was lost.
• Additional requirements on a case to case basis depending on actual examination and processing of the application.
• Processing fee of P 300.00 plus P15.00 documentary stamps if renewed within 90 days grace period,

• If it is within 90 days grace period after the date of expiration - no surcharge
• If it is renewed 90 days after the date of expiration - with P 100 surcharge
• If it is renewed 6 months after the date of expiration and business name was deleted from the records after publication of such in leading newspapers - consider as original application.

• Certified photocopy (by the corporate secretary) in each page of SEC/CDA certificate of registration and articles of incorporation/partnership.
• Board Resolution/Partnership agreement for the authorized signatory, if signatory is not one of the incorporators.
• If address of corporation has changed/transferred, corporation should inform SEC first ( A receiving copy of such notice from SEC should be submitted)
• Additional requirements on a case to case basis depending on actual examination and processing of the application.
• Processing fee of P 500.00 plus P 15.00 documentary stamps.

• If it is within 90 days grace period after the date of expiration - no surcharge
• If it is renewed 90 days after the date of expiration - with P 100 surcharge
• If it is renewed 6 months after the date of expiration and business name was deleted from the records after publication of such in leading newspapers - consider as original application.

Do I still need to register the branches of my business?
Yes, a business name registration is valid only at the business address stated in the Business Name certificate. Hence, the main business and all the branches must be individually and separately registered with their corresponding application.

What are the requirements for registering a Branch?
Basic requirements of business name application plus photocopy of business name certificate of Main Office.

Is there a minimum required capitalization for opening up a business?
A realistic amount of capital sufficient to run the business is strongly recommended. However, there is a minimum amount of capital required for certain lines of business.

• P5,000,000 for financing company. (the form of business organization is always a corporation and not sole proprietorship.)
• Lending Investors should now be registered as a corporation with the SEC first.
• P100,000 for pawnshop for sole proprietorship
• P1,000,000 for sole proprietorship or a partnership for overseas placement; P1,000,000 paid up capital for corporation

What are the requirements/procedures for the Change of Business Name (by the same Sole Proprietor)

• Filled-up new application form. The form is available at the Information Counter of the Business Registration Center at the DTI Main building, 361 Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. Only the owner of the business is authorized to sign all the forms.
• Submit a notarized affidavit of cancellation of the registered business name, stating the reason/s for the cancellation and that the registered owner has no outstanding financial obligation.
• Surrender original copy of the business name certificate and the duplicate copy of the application form. An affidavit of loss if either the business name certificate and/or the duplicate copy of the application form was lost.
• Basic requirements for business name application.
• Processing fee of P 300.00 plus P15.00 documentary stamp

Do we still need to inform DTI when we close our business?
Yes, you have to apply for cancellation of your registered business name.

What are the requirements for Voluntary Cancellation (by the Sole Proprietor)?

What are the requirements for Change of Address (by the Sole Proprietor)?

I lost my original BN registration certificate. How can I secure another copy?
You may be able to secure, as your option, a substitute document to evidence the existence and validity of your business name based on the DTI registration records. This option refers to a request for and issuance of the CERTIFICATION - which is an attestation of the fact of registration of the given business.

Requirements to secure a CERTIFICATION from DTI-NCR are:

1. Letter request signed by the authorized signatory, stating the ff:

• business name (BN)
• address of business name
• reason/s
• Business Name certificate number

What are the requirements if I want to change my Main Outlet to Branch (vice-versa)?
Sole Proprietorship

What are the requirements if I want to request for verification if a certain business name is registered?
You may verify/search a business name through the internet via www.bnrs.dti.gov.ph/bnrspub/inquire.jsp.

If you need a certification from DTI regarding a valid verification, the following requirements are needed:
1. Letter request signed by the requesting party, stating the following:

What are the requirements if I want to secure a Certified True Copy?
Requests for Certified True Copy of the Business Name Certificate is allowed if the applicant has with him/her photocopy(ies) of the Business Name certificate which he/she would want the agency to certify as true and correct. The requirements in securing a certified true copy are:

What are the requirements if I want an additional line of Business (by the Sole Proprietor)?

What are requirements if I increase/decrease my Capital as sole proprietor?

Can a natural person or sole proprietorship use the word "corporation" or "incorporated" as part of his business name? How about company?
No, only a partnership or corporation registered with SEC can use the word "company" or "corporation" as part of their business name.

Is it possible to have more than one business name?
YES.