Any individual or natural person conducting business is required to register a Business Name for such under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). This business name will be used in a printed receipt, receipts for business taxes, business contracts, or in any written or printed evidence of a business transaction.
For the convenience of the public, the DTI has established a web-enabled Business Name Registration System or e-BNRS.
For the time being, the application for renewal of business name may be processed online at https://bnrs.dti.gov.ph/renewal.
Photo credit: BNRS
Once there, the applicant must accept the BNRS Terms and Conditions before he or she may proceed with the process of renewing his or her business name.
The applicant will then be taken into another page where he or she will have to provide information which is needed to verify his or her business name.
Afterward, the applicant may pay the corresponding charges through the GCash online payment facility that is also accessible at the site.
Meanwhile, applications for new business names are done at the DTI offices or Negosyo Centers. Applicants need to present one valid-government issued ID and a completely filled-up application form. The list of the DTI’s offices around the country and overseas may be accessed here.
Rules on business name registrability
A business name should be comprised of the dominant portion and the descriptor.
The dominant portion should be a word, group of words or a combination of letters and numerals.
A descriptor is a word or group of words describing the nature of business based on the Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC).
For example, in the business name, Jonas’ Café, ‘Jonas’ is the dominant portion while ‘Café’ is the descriptor.
On the other hand, the following business names are not registrable;
- Those that connote activities or norms that are unlawful, immoral, scandalous or contrary to propriety;
- Those names, words, terms or expressions used to designate or distinguish or suggestive of quality, of any class of goods, articles, merchandise, products or services;
- Those that are registered as trade names, trademarks, or business names by any government agency authorized to register names or trademarks;
- Those that are inimical to the security of the State;
- Those that are composed purely of generic word or words;
- Those that by law or regulation is restricted or cannot be appropriated;
- Those that are officially used by the government in its non-proprietary functions;
- Those names or abbreviations of any nation, intergovernmental or international organization unless authorized by the competent authority of that nation, inter-government or international organization;
- Those ordered or declared by administrative agencies/bodies or regular court not to be registered;
- Those names of other persons other than that of the owner or applicant; and
- Those names which are deceptive, misleading or which misrepresent the nature of the business.
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