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UnionSPACE

Private advisory service — not a Philippine government website. UnionSPACE is a private business consultancy and commercial services provider. We are not part of, affiliated with, or endorsed by the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), any Local Government Unit (LGU), immigration authority or bank. Government registrations, permits, tax status and bank accounts are issued or controlled by the relevant authorities and institutions.

Philippines Market Entry · Private Business Advisory

Planning a Philippines Company? Check Ownership, Capital and Permits Before You File.

A Philippine company setup is more than an SEC incorporation. Foreign ownership, capital, business activity, office location, local permits, BIR registration, officers and banking requirements need to fit the operating model before the structure is finalized.

Start with a Philippines Company Fit Review: tell us what the company will do, who will own it, whether you expect local or foreign majority ownership, where you plan to operate and whether you need office, banking or accounting support.

Foreign-ownership & structure review SEC, LGU & BIR roadmap Office, banking & compliance planning
Download Philippines Company Setup Brochure (PDF)

Page reviewed: 14 September 2026

PRIVATE CONSULTATION

Request a Philippines Company Fit Review

Share the essentials. The form opens WhatsApp with your answers so our team can continue the discussion there.

Submitting this form does not submit an application to SEC, BIR or an LGU and does not guarantee company registration, permits, tax registration or a corporate bank account.

Private Advisor

Commercial advisory and coordination. We do not issue SEC registrations, tax registrations, permits or bank accounts.

Structure First

Ownership, activity, capital and office requirements are reviewed before recommending a setup path.

No Approval Claims

SEC, BIR, LGUs, other agencies and banks make their own independent decisions.

WHY REVIEW FIRST

A Philippines Company Is More Than an SEC Certificate

The attached source separates incorporation, local permits, tax registration, office and banking support. A useful setup plan connects those pieces before filing.

1. Ownership & Structure

Review whether the proposed activity fits a Filipino-majority, foreign-owned, One Person Corporation, branch or other structure before finalizing shareholders.

2. Capital Planning

Capital can depend on foreign ownership, the activity and export/domestic-market profile. Treat capital figures as planning assumptions until the case is reviewed.

3. Address & LGU Permits

Plan the registered business address together with Barangay, Mayor's and other local permits relevant to the location and activity.

4. BIR & Operating Compliance

Tax registration, invoicing, bookkeeping and recurring filings should be activated as part of the operating launch—not treated as an afterthought.

CLEAR RESPONSIBILITIES

What Philippine Authorities and Banks Do — and What UnionSPACE Does

UnionSPACE provides private professional support. Official registration, permits, tax administration and bank decisions remain with the relevant authorities and institutions.

Stage
Government / Institution
UnionSPACE Private Support
Company registration
SEC

Controls company registration, review and issuance of official SEC corporate records.

We prepare & coordinate

Structure review, document preparation, application coordination and follow-up within scope.

Local permits
Barangay / LGU

Controls local permits, inspections and local business requirements.

We coordinate locally

Address planning and permit-document coordination for the agreed setup.

Tax registration
BIR

Controls TIN, tax registration, filing systems and tax administration.

We support onboarding

BIR registration-document coordination, bookkeeping setup and recurring compliance support where engaged.

Corporate bank account
Bank

Controls KYC, source-of-funds review, interview, signatory requirements and final approval.

We prepare & introduce

Document readiness and banking coordination. No account approval is promised.

ADVISORY PROCESS

From Structure Review to Operating Readiness

The original page uses a three-step setup process. The advisory version adds a decision stage before filing so ownership, capital and operating requirements are clearer.

01

Fit Review

Confirm activities, ownership target, proposed structure, officers, office requirement, capital assumptions and expected operations.

02

SEC Preparation

Prepare the proposed names, Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws where applicable, Treasurer's Certificate and other agreed registration documents.

03

Permits & BIR

Coordinate relevant LGU permits and tax registration, then establish the bookkeeping and filing framework needed for operations.

04

Banking & Ongoing Compliance

Prepare bank-account documents and establish the recurring accounting, tax and corporate-reporting calendar.

STRUCTURE FIT

Which Philippines Company Route Are You Evaluating?

The attached source highlights Filipino-majority and foreign-owned corporation paths and also references OPC, branch and representative-office options in its FAQ.

FILIPINO-MAJORITY

Domestic Corporation

This route is presented for businesses with at least 60% Filipino ownership.

  • Source planning capital: PHP 10,000
  • Source timeline: 35–60 business days
  • Best assessed together with activity and genuine ownership arrangements

PRIVATE CASE REVIEW & PLANNING

Start With a Written Philippines Setup Recommendation Before You Commit to Implementation

Before committing to SEC registration, local permits, tax registration, an office arrangement or banking, we first review the commercial facts and map the most suitable way forward for your specific Philippines case.

TO START

Information We Need for the Initial Review

The source page asks for company-name preferences, business details, identity documents and officer information. We use those inputs first to assess structure and filing readiness.

Company Names

Provide three preferred names for availability checking.

Business Activity

Describe what the company will sell, where customers are located and whether the activity may be regulated.

Owners & Directors

Provide clear identity information for proposed shareholders, directors and beneficial owners.

Officers & Address

Confirm the proposed corporate secretary / treasurer arrangement and whether UnionSPACE business-address support is needed.

AFTER INCORPORATION

Accounting, Tax Filing and Corporate Compliance

The attached source emphasizes that setup does not end at SEC registration. BIR obligations, local permits, bookkeeping and ongoing corporate reporting continue after launch.

BIR Filing Calendar

Establish the tax registrations and recurring return schedule that applies to the company, including zero or no-transaction filings where required.

Bookkeeping & Tax Support

Maintain accounting records and coordinate recurring tax compliance under the agreed service scope.

LGU & Business Permits

Monitor renewals and local requirements connected to the operating address and business activity.

Banking Readiness

Keep ownership, business and source-of-funds documents ready for bank KYC. Physical attendance may be required by the institution.

FAQ

Philippines Company Setup FAQs

Answers below are based primarily on the attached UnionSPACE source page, with current official-channel distinctions added for clarity.

No. UnionSPACE is a private consultancy and commercial-services provider. SEC, BIR, LGUs and other authorities control official registrations and permits. Banks independently control account approval.

The attached source says many sectors can permit up to 100% foreign ownership, while restricted activities remain subject to foreign-equity limits. The ownership route should be checked against the current Foreign Investment Negative List and applicable sector rules before filing.

The source page mentions Domestic Corporation, One Person Corporation (OPC), Branch Office and Representative Office. The correct choice depends on ownership, activity and how the investor intends to operate locally.

The source page presents PHP 10,000 as a planning amount for its Filipino-majority structure and USD 200,000 as a planning amount for its foreign-owned structure, while also stating that foreign-owned capital may vary according to activity and export status. We therefore treat capital as a case-specific structuring point rather than a universal capital rule.

The attached source estimates 35–60 business days for its end-to-end setup process. Timing depends on document readiness and processing across SEC, LGU, BIR and other relevant workstreams. Banking is separate and controlled by the chosen bank.

The source page states that a physical office address is required for SEC registration and local permits. The source also highlights 12 months of business-address / virtual-office support for government records and mail handling.

The source page identifies SEC for company registration, BIR for tax registration and the relevant Local Government Unit for local permits such as the Mayor's Permit. Other authorities may be relevant depending on the activity.

The source states that initial incorporation steps can be coordinated without the founder being physically present in the Philippines. Separate bank, immigration, notarization, licensing or other requirements may still require attendance.

The attached page states a 25% corporate income tax rate for large corporations, 20% for qualifying smaller enterprises and 12% VAT. Tax eligibility and current filing treatment should be confirmed for the actual company profile.

No. The source says most banks may require physical presence of the signatory. UnionSPACE can prepare corporate documents and coordinate the application, but the bank controls KYC, attendance and approval.

Official Philippines Information Sources

For direct government information and registration channels, consult the Philippine SEC eSPARC registration system, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the current 13th Regular Foreign Investment Negative List. Businesses may use official channels directly where eligible.

Information on this page is general and is intended to explain UnionSPACE's private advisory service. It does not constitute legal, tax, immigration or investment advice. Requirements and authority practices can change. Obtain case-specific advice before acting.

NEXT STEP

Describe the Business. We’ll Help You Frame the Right Philippines Company Structure.

Start with the real activity, ownership target, capital plan, office needs and operating model—not with a generic filing offer.

WhatsAppFit Review

Contact Our Multilingual Team in Thailand

Our team speaks English, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian, Kazakh, Burmese, Thai, and Indonesian — Monday to Friday, 9AM–6PM Bangkok time.

Get in Touch

Leave us a message and a UnionSPACE representative will contact you within 12 hours.

Location

Suite 201 - Level 2, 29 Sukhumvit Soi 39, Phrom Phong, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Open Hours

Local Team. Regional Reach. One Accountable Partner

Free Initial Consultation Available

Tell us what the business will do, who will own it and how you plan to operate in Thailand. Our Bangkok advisory team will identify the lawful structures available and explain the practical cost and consequences of each.

  • A written structural recommendation
  • Consultation fee confirmed before booking
  • Advice available in seven languages
Arrange a consultation Email the advisory team

Prefer to speak directly? Call (+66) 02 1188 988
Monday–Friday, 9:00–18:00 Bangkok time.