How to Register Your Business Name in DTI?

This guide is for aspiring business owner and/or entrepreneur who want to make his/her business legit.

The first step in Business Registration of a sole proprietorship is to go to DTI Regional/ Provincial/ Satellite/ Field Offices/ Negosyo Center to secure your business name.

If you want to learn how to register your business name in DTI the traditional way, this guide is for you.

After reading this free guide, your will learn about:

1. What are the documents required to submit in DTI?

2. How much is the Registration Fee of Business Name in DTI?

3. What are the Tips in Choosing a Business Name in DTI?

4. What is My Experience in Getting my Business Name in DTI?

1. What are the documents required to submit in DTI?

The documents you need to submit in securing a business name in DTI are:

A. Duly-accomplish DTI’s Business Name Registration Application Form

B. Government–issued valid ID of the Owner

C. Special Power of Attorney or Authorization Letter and Government-issued valid ID of the filer, if the owner is not the one who will file personally.

2. How much is the Registration Fee of Business Name in DTI?

In filling up your application form, you will encounter the need to choose your business territorial scope. These are:

A. Barangay (P200)

B. City/Municipality (P500)

C. Regional (P1,000)

D. National (P2,000)

Business Territorial Scope will determine the limitation and territory of your business name.

If you register your business in region 3 and your business scope is only regional. Other businessmen can use your business name in other region like NCR.

If you decide to open a branch in Makati, you need to register and pay the same business name again because NCR is a different region. That is already P2,000 (P1,000 x 2 Regions).

If you choose National as your business scope, you can operate in any part of the Philippines. Without the need to register and pay again.

Aside from Business Scope Fee. You need to pay P30 for Documentary Stamp Tax.

3. What are the Tips in Choosing a Business Names in DTI?

Securing business name will only take few minutes if you know how to create a business name the right way.

A. Proposed Business Name (PBN) should be descriptive of the nature of the business and must have prefix, infix, and/or suffix (e.g. Bart’s Laundry; Cafeteria ni Greys)

B. PBN should not be used for business that is illegal, offensive, and scandalous. (e.g. Pop’s Jueteng Betting Station; Boobs Massage & Spa)

C. PBN should not be nearly the same as an existing registered business, company, partnership, corporation, cooperative name, or trademark. (e.g. Anne Doks Lechon; Jollibae, Starbax Café)

D. PBN should not be composed of purely generic or geographic words. (e.g. The Drugstore; Bacolod’s)

E. PBN should not be a name which by law or regulation prohibited. (e.g. OTOP; Intelligence; State College)

F. PBN should not be used to designate, distinguish, and suggest quality of goods and services. (e.g. Best Taho Factory; A-1 Auto Repair Shop)

G. PBN should not use by the government in its governmental functions. (e.g. NBI Private Investigation Services, DTI Trading)

H. PBN should not be a name or abbreviation of a name of any nation, inter-governmental or international organization. (e.g. Philippine Manpower Pooling Agency; WHO Health Services)

I. PBN should not be deceptive, misleading, or misrepresent the nature of the business. (e.g. “GOLD Construction Services” where nature of business is recruitment)

J. PBN should have at least three (3) characters. (e.g. CJF Construction Supply)

4. What is My Experience in Getting my Business Name in DTI?

In my experience, it took me three (3) days before my business name got approved in DTI.

Every day, I go to DTI to submit a notebook page with lots of PBN on it. Sad to say, I still got rejected over and over again.

During those two (2) days, I always went home tired and exhausted just thinking my Business name.

The reasons why my business name was disapproved because:

A. I got similar names with SEC registered companies.

B. I don’t know the rules.

It is better if you can make a list of PBN as many as you can before you go to DTI. Ideal number of Proposed Business Names is at least thirty (30).

After getting your business name in DTI, please keep the original copy of your DTI Business Name Certificate in your possession. This original copy DTI Business Name Certificate is needed when you decide to close your business in the future.

References:

Revised Rules and Regulations Implementing Act No. 3883 as Amended, Otherwise Known as an Act to Regulate the use in Business Transactions of Names Other than True Names (Department Administrative Order No. 18-07)