Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises (BMBEs) can now register their businesses, free of charge, at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the agency’s Negosyo Centers.

Registered BMBEs can avail of government incentives that include exemption from the payment of income tax for income arising from the operation of the enterprise, exemption from the coverage of the minimum wage law, special credit window of government financing institutions that will service the needs of BMBEs, as well as technology and marketing assistance.

Under Republic Act No. 9178 or the BMBEs Act of 2002, a BMBE is referred to as any business entity or enterprises engaged in the production, processing or manufacturing of products or commodities, including agro-processing, trading, and services whose total assets, excluding land, shall not be more than P3 million. Such assets shall include those arising from loans but not the land on which the plant and equipment are located.

The DTI issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 16-01 last April 22, 2016 which provides guidelines on registering BMBEs at Negosyo Centers. Under DAO 16-01, DTI is the sole agency which shall issue a Certificate of Authority (CA) to registered BMBEs at Negosyo Centers or at DTI offices where Negosyo Centers have not been set up.

BMBEs register at the Office of the Treasurer of the city or municipality where the business is located.

Republic Act 9178 or the BMBE Act of 2002 recognizes the role of BMBEs as an essential driving force for the country’s economic development. According to the law, BMBEs are “seedbeds of Filipino entrepreneurial talents and strengthening them would increase job generation, provide livelihood and augment Filipinos’ quality of life.”

Download the BMBE Application Form.

Below are downloadable files that are useful in starting a business:

Business Ideas

DTI – PCAARRD Business Guides

Archived Business Ideas

Business Information

• First and foremost, it will define and focus your objective using appropriate information and analysis.
• You can use it as a selling tool in dealing with important relationships (lenders, investors, and banks).
• You can use the plan to solicit opinions and advice from people, including those in your intended field of business, who will freely give you invaluable advice. Too often, entrepreneurs forge ahead without the benefit of input from experts who could save them a great deal of wear and tear.
• Your business plan can uncover omissions and/or weaknesses in your planning process.

• Place some reasonable limits on long-term, future projections. Long-term means over one year. Better to stick with short-term objectives and modify the plan as your business progresses. Too often, long-range planning becomes meaningless because the reality of your business can be different from your initial concept.
• Avoid optimism. In fact, to offset optimism, be extremely conservative in predicting capital requirements, timelines, sales, and profits. Few business plans correctly anticipate how much money and time will be required.
• Do not ignore spelling out what your strategies will be in the event of business adversities.
• Use simple language in explaining the issues. Make it easy to read and understand.
• Do not depend entirely on the uniqueness of your business or even a patented invention. Success comes to those who start businesses with great economics and not necessarily great inventions.

• A vision statement. This will be a concise outline of what your business purpose and goals will be.
• The people. By far the most important ingredient for your success will be yourself. Focus on how your prior experiences will be applicable to your new business. Prepare a resume of yourself and one for each person who will be involved with you in starting the business. Be factual and avoid hype. This part of your business plan will be read very carefully by those with whom you will be having relationships, including lenders, investors and vendors. Templates for preparing resumes are available in your library, bookstores and the Internet under “resumes.”
• However, you cannot be someone that you are not. If you lack the ability to perform a key function, include this in your business plan. For example, if you lack the ability to train staff, include an explanation how you will compensate for this deficiency. You could add a partner to your plan or plan to hire key people who will provide skills you do not have. Include biographies of all your intended management.
• Your business profile. Define and describe your intended business and exactly how you plan to go about it. Try to stay focused on the specialized market you intend to serve.
• Economic assessment. Provide a complete assessment of the economic environment in which your business will become a part. Explain how your business will be appropriate for the regulatory agencies and demographics with which you will be dealing. If appropriate, provide demographic studies and traffic flow data normally available from local planning departments.
• Cash flow assessment. Include a one-year cash flow that will incorporate your capital requirements. Include your assessment of what could go wrong and how you would plan to handle problems. Include your marketing plan and expansion plans and refer to helpful government websites such as the Small Business Administration.

1. Write out your basic business concept.
2. Gather all the data you can on the feasibility and the specifics of your business concept.
3. Focus and refine your concept based on the data you have compiled.
4. Outline the specifics of your business. Using a “What, where, why, how” approach might be useful.
5. Put your plan into a compelling form so that it will not only give you insights and focus but, at the same time, will become a valuable tool in dealing with business relationships that will be very important to you.
6. Review the sample plans we furnish and download the blank format to a MS Word document. Fill this in as you progress though the course.

• A sound business concept. The single most common mistake made by entrepreneurs is not picking the right business to begin with. The best way to learn about your prospective business is to work for someone else in that business before beginning your own. There can be a huge gap between your concept of a fine business and reality.
• Understanding your market. A good way to test your understanding is to test market your product or service before your start. You think you have a great kite that will capture the imagination of kite fliers throughout the world? Then hand-make some of them and try selling them first.
• A healthy, growing and stable industry. Remember that some of the great inventions of all time, like airplanes and cars, did not result in economic benefit for many of those who tried to exploit these great advances. For example, the cumulative earnings of all airlines since Wilber Wright flew that first plane are less than zero. (Airline losses have been greater than their profits.) Success comes to those who find businesses with great economics and not necessarily great inventions or advances to mankind.
• Capable management. Look for people who you like and admire, have good ethical values, have complementary skills and are smarter than you. Plan to hire people who have the skills that you lack. Define your unique ability and seek out others who turn your weaknesses into strengths.
• Solid financial control. You will learn later the importance of becoming qualified in accounting, computer software and cash flow management. Most entrepreneurs do not come from accounting backgrounds and must go back to school to learn these skills. Would you bet your savings in a game where you do not know how to keep score? People mistakenly do it in business all the time.
• A consistent business focus. If you think of specific products or services you will find that specialists will outperform non-specialists. Zero in on something you can do so well that you will not be subject to competing with someone with a lower price.

It is necessary to register your business with this agency to gain the exclusive rights to use your business name. Single proprietors are required to register.
Businesses can be registered at any DTI Regional or Provincial office. The directory of DTI Regional and Provincial offices may be viewed on the Contact Us page.

You may also apply online at www.bnrs.dti.gov.ph. Registrants outside Metro Manila may secure and accomplish their application at the nearest DTI regional or provincial office.
Here is the business name registration application form for the Sole Proprietorship BN application. Click on the said link and download the form to fill up and submit to the DTI office for walk-in applications.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

It is essential for a Partnership or Corporation to register with the SEC to be treated as a legal or judicial entity.

Register at:
Head Office: Secretariat Building, PICC Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, 1307
Trunkline: (+632) 8818-0921
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sec.gov.ph

Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)

All cooperatives must register with the CDA as per Republic Act 6938/6939.

Register at:
6/F Benlor Building, 1184 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Tel. No.: (+632) 373.6895
Website: www.cda.gov.ph

Local Government

All businesses, whatever the legal form, are required to secure a mayor’s permit or municipal license from the city or municipality where they are located. Permits or licenses are required to ensure that the standards are met and that business complies with the specific requirements of the business locale. Registration procedure varies across cities and municipalities. To view the list of local government units (LGUs), please visit the Department of Interior and Local Government website or https://dilg.gov.ph/.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

Every business enterprise has to register with the BIR for taxation purposes. The Bureau will furnish your business with its own tax identification number (TIN) and the authority to print receipt, invoices, and others.

Register at:
BIR National Office, Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City
Trunkline: (+632) 981.7000 / 981.8888
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bir.gov.ph

Social Security System (SSS)

Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC)

The PTTC designs and develops training curricula and corresponding instructional materials and conducts training programs for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), business support organizations, and the government sector. It provides post-training advisory and counseling services; customized in-company/firm-level training programs and services; a venue for MSMEs and large enterprises to promote their products by marketing, renting out and maintaining exhibition facilities; and events management support.

Programs and Services: Training Programs

1. Entrepreneurship Development

A. Business Start-Up Briefings

• How to Start a Business
• BEST Game Workshop
• Understanding Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights
• Financing Facilities for MSMEs
• Business Opportunities in Franchising
• Finding the Right Market for the Right Product
• Putting Your Business Online
• Exporting Made e-Z

B.    Quality and Productivity Improvement Briefings

• Corporate Culture: Filipino Values in the Workplace
• Food Safety
• Kaizen Philosophy
• 5S of Good Housekeeping
• Cleaner Production
• Waste Minimization

2.    Business Capability Building

A.    Business Management Seminars

• Strategic Marketing
• Effective Selling Skills
• Developing an Effective Purchasing Systems
• Supply Chain Management
• Business Plan Preparation
• Effective Market Research
• Developing an Effective Financial Plan
• Market Intelligence: How to Compete Effectively
• Logistics Management
• Basic Business Recording and Cash Flow Management
• How to Participate in Trade Fairs
• Dynamic Negotiation Skills
• Effective Customer Service
• Improving Business Key Accounts Selling
• Setting Up an Effective Customer Payment System for Your Business
• Customer Relations Management

B.    Export Management Seminars

• Expanding Business Through Exports
• Import Procedures and Documentation
• Product Costing and Pricing
• Understanding Customs Valuation
• Market Opportunities (Selected Countries)

C.    IT and Webpage Development Seminars

• Basic MS Word
• Basic/Advanced MS Excel
• Basic/Advanced MS Powerpoint
• Build Your Own Website
• Open Office
• Basic Webpage Development Using Dreamweaver MX
• Web Graphics Design and Production Using Adobe Photoshop
• Webpage Development: Creating Interactive Content and Animation using
• Flash
• Webpage Development: Creating Interactive Content Using Macromedia Fireworks
• Webpage Development: Advanced Dreamweaver MX
• Basic Printed Advertisement Design Using Pagemaker

D. Business Language Seminars

• Japanese Business Language
• Let Your English Work at Work
• Chinese Mandarin Business Language

3.    Quality and Productivity

A.    General Seminars

• Materials Management and Inventory Control
• Production and Operations Management
• Six Sigma
• Effective Leadership Skills
• Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
• Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Techniques
• An Introduction to Ergonomics
• Supervisory Effectiveness for Improved Quality and Productivity
• How to Become an Effective Quality Management Representative
• Process Optimization through the Design of Experiments
• Time and Motion Study
• Total Quality Management
• Work Improvement Tools
• Lean Manufacturing
• Statistical Process Control

B.    International Standards Seminars

• ISO 9000 Quality Management System
• ISO 9000 Quality Management System Documentation
• Internal Quality Audit
• ISO/IEC 17025 Standard for Laboratory Competence
• ISO/IEC 17025 Laboratory Internal Audit
• ISO 1400 Environmental Management System
• ISO 1400 Documentation

C.    Food Seminars

• Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP)
• Food Packaging and Labeling
• Packaging as a Marketing Tool
• Awareness on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)
• Documentation of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points
• HACCP Auditors’ Course

Training and Exhibition Facilities

1. Information Access Center (IAC)
   • Comprises a computer lecture room with 36 desktop computers for small or big training programs on IT and webpage development and other computer-related courses;
   • Comprises a seminar room that can accommodate up to 100 participants;
   • Comprises an Internet Plaza with 28 desktop computers that provides free use of the Internet and MS Office tools for seminar participants, trade fair exhibitors and visitors, MSME clients and the general public, including students. A minimal fee is charged for printing and scanning services;
   • The entire IAC facility has two scanners, three 4-in-1 multicopier machines (fax, phone, scanner and printer), one copier machine, two LCD projectors, two audio mixers and microphone units.

2. WTO Reference Center
3. Comprises selected CD-ROMs and print publications on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other WTO-related publications by the International Trade Center (ITC).
4. Comprises one desktop computer containing WTO electronic publications and databases.

3. Rental of Seminar Rooms and Exhibition Halls
   1. Basic Amenities for Seminar Rooms and Exhibition Halls •    General overhead lighting •    Standby generator sets for general lighting and outlets
   2. Basic Amenities for Halls •    Public address system •    Podium, flag and outdoor flagpoles •    Opening ceremony reception area •    Use of show window
   3. Specific Amenities for Rooms •    LCD Projector (with separate rental fee) or OHP and screen •    Desktop or Notebook computer (with separate rental fee) •    Audio system with microphone •    TV monitor and VHS/DVD player

   How to avail of these services: Seminars in Metro Manila are held at the PTTC building. Interested participants may pre-register by calling PTTC, or by sending a fax or e-mail. Walk-in participants are also allowed. Participants must pay the seminar fee before the seminar date, or on the first day of the seminar. Seminar fees are paid in cash or company check (manager’s/cashier’s check). The annual schedule of seminars is published at the PTTC website at www.pttc.gov.ph.

   Regional seminars are generally conducted in co-sponsorship or as requested by the DTI regional or provincial offices, local government units (LGUs) and regional/provincial trade and industry associations or chambers of commerce. Announcements concerning regional seminar schedules and registration of participants are done by the DTI regional and/or provincial offices.

   All training programs and projects, trade fairs and exhibits and other events held at the PTTC must clearly promote the business activities of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as large enterprises, whether these activities are intended for the domestic market or the international market. PTTC-organized seminars and trade events are given first priority in the use of the seminar rooms and exhibition halls. As such, seminar rooms and exhibition halls may be rented out to public and private sector organizers only in the absence of any scheduled PTTC as well as DTI activity.

   For inquiries on training programs, you may contact the Trade Business Management Division (TBMD) for entrepreneurship briefings and trade business management seminars (Phone: 468.8962 or 831.9988 Email: [email protected]); or the Testing and Inspection Division (TID) for quality and productivity briefings and seminars (Phone: 468.8963 to 64 or 833.0809 Email: [email protected]).

   For inquiries on the rental of seminar rooms and exhibition halls, you may contact the Trade Exhibition Division (TED) (Phone: 468.8968 or 834.1350 Email: [email protected]).

   For inquiries on the Information Access Center and the WTO Reference Center, you may contact the Planning and Programming Division (PPD) (Phone: 833.9913 Email: [email protected]). Visit the PTTC Website.