Once you’ve obtained your Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) certificate of incorporation and your barangay permit, the next step in registering your Philippine-based corporation is to get a business permit – also called the mayor’s permit – from city hall.
The process of business permit application tends to vary among localities. In some places, the actual processing time can be as short as one hour, but the queues can be long, especially in January, when all businesses flock to the city hall for their annual permit renewal.
And then, there are localities where the process is more convoluted – but still navigable.
Requirements
The basic documents necessary for business permit application are your
• SEC registration;
• barangay clearance;
• your community tax certificate, which you can get at the city hall; and
• your office lease contract.
Now depending on where your company office is located, you may also be required to present your homeowner’s clearance, business insurance, etc. The city hall will inform you of these additional requirements.
Steps
1. Get an application form at the city hall’s Business Permits and Licensing Office, and fill it out.
2. Submit your application form for the computation of your basic fees and the encoding of your data. The fees are based on your stated business capitalization and size of your office.
Now you will pay the fees, or you may be instructed to visit other offices first and get your required clearances.
Be sure to have your application printout photocopied. If you’ve already paid for something, photocopy the official receipt as well before going to the next step.
3. Make the rounds to secure other necessary clearances. You’ll need to visit
• the engineering office for your certificate of occupancy or building permit,
• the city planning and development council for your location clearance,
• the health center for your sanitary permit, and
• the fire department for your fire safety clearance.
Some of these offices may require additional fees and inspections. They may also issue you a temporary clearance, pending on-site investigation, just so you can finish your registration at the city hall. If that is the case, you will need to secure the actual clearances within 90 days after registration.
5. Submit your papers (clearances, receipts, and application printout) back at the city hall. You will be informed when to return to claim your permit. This could be within the day, but in some cases, it will be after a few days or even a few weeks. Make sure to get a contact number so you can call ahead and confirm that your permit is indeed ready before you return to claim it.
With your business permit (or at least, your official receipt) on hand, you may now proceed to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for the last step in your business registration process.
Avoid the hassle of multiple visits and long lines at city hall. Hire Dayanan Business Consultancy to obtain your permits from city hall for you.
About David Elefant
Philippines business consultant specializing in assisting companies setup their operations in the Philippines.
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