The business name registration process with DTI can now be done online.

Transactions with government agencies often cause apprehension among business owners, particularly first-timers. Many think that they have to line up for hours and go through multiple steps and procedures just to get permits and certificates. Fortunately, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has made business name registration more convenient and efficient. For online business owners, registering with DTI is still required, but there are exemptions to this rule. 

These days, business name registrations can now be done online without the hassle of falling in line for hours. While the process is now digital, there is still a set number of steps that business owners need to go through to complete their registration. 

Register Your Business Name Online

The business name registration process begins by heading to the New Registration page of the Business Name Registration System (BNRS) website. The business owner must agree to the Terms and Conditions first before the process can begin. 

Once that has been cleared, business owners must go through the following steps in order to register their business name:

1. The business owner will be required to fill out the Owner’s Information form
2. The business owner must then fill out the required fields pertaining to the business name and the scope of the business. This step involves selecting the territorial scope of the business and entering the dominant name of the business and a business name descriptor. The dominant name refers to the main identifying words or numerals attached to your business. The descriptor, on the other hand, should describe the nature of the business based on the Philippine Standard Industrial Classification. 
3. The business owner can now check if the proposed business name is available by entering the words in the given field and clicking “Check Name Availability.” The system will flash the result of the verification. Once satisfied with the proposed business name, they can proceed with the rest of the process. 
4. The system will assign a reference code. Business owners should not forget this code as it will be used across all transactions with BNRS.
5. The business owner must then provide information on the business address, residence address, and other details. The system will likewise ask for personal information to be provided. 
6. Upon completion, the business owner will be provided with a series of forms for double-checking of information. Once the forms have been reviewed, the business owner must confirm that all information is correct. 
7. Conformity to the Undertaking is required in this process. This can be done by clicking “Proceed.” 
8. The business owner must now pay the registration fee within seven calendar days from the date of application. Payment can be done through a credit or debit card, GCash, Landbank Link.Biz, Paymaya, or by paying directly to a DTI teller. Failure to pay the registration fee will result in the nullification of the registration. A Certificate of Business Name Registration will be sent to the owner’s email upon payment of the fee.
9. Upon confirmation of payment, the business owner can now click “Register New Business” to finish the registration. 

What Your Business Name Should Not Have 

It should be noted that business names should abide by the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 3883. This is otherwise known as the Business Name Law. 

Accordingly, business names should follow the following guidelines:

• Business names should not pertain to activities and norms that are considered unlawful, immoral, or scandalous 
• Business names should not contain words that designate, distinguish, or suggest the quality of any class of goods, articles, merchandise, products, or services;
• Business names should not be the same as any trade name, trademark, or business name registered by any government agency authorized to register names or trademarks;
• Business names should not be inimical to the security of the State
• Business names should not be composed of purely generic words or group of words
• Business names should not be a name whose use is restricted by law or regulation (examples include Red Cross and ISIS)
• Business names should not be officially used by the government in its non-proprietary functions
• Business names should not be a name or abbreviation of any nation, inter-governmental or international organization (unless otherwise authorized by a competent authority of that nation, inter-governmental, or international organization)
• Business names should not be the subject of an order by any administrative agencies/bodies or regular courts prohibiting the registration thereof
• Business names should not contain names of other persons
• Business names should not be deceptive or misleading, especially when it comes to the nature of the business