A founder once came to us angry.
Her SEC papers were approved. Her BIR registration was done. But the bank refused to open her account.
She couldn’t understand why, until she learned she was missing two small documents:
the Barangay Clearance and Mayor’s Permit.
She had done everything right… except the one thing everyone forgets.
What Most Founders Miss
Most new business owners think once they get SEC or DTI and BIR done, they’re “official.”
They stop there.
But your local government doesn’t care what your SEC certificate says. You can’t open a bank account, hire employees, or even print official receipts without your Barangay Clearance and Mayor’s Permit.
These are not extras.
They’re the final documents that allows you to start your business.
Why It Happens So Often
People skip them because they either don’t know, or assume they can handle it later.
But:
- Barangay Clearance is proof your business is allowed in that location.
- The Mayor’s Permit makes your business legal to operate in the city.
- Without both, you’re still seen as unregistered locally, even if the national agencies approved you.
Every week we meet founders who can’t launch, invoice, or even renew contracts because of this.
They thought they were done.
Nope.
How To Fix It Before It Costs You Weeks
Once you get your SEC or DTI and BIR registration, head straight to your Barangay Hall, then to City Hall.
Bring photocopies of:
- SEC/DTI certificate
- BIR COR
- Lease contract or proof of business address
Pay the small fees, wait for inspection or approval, and you’ll get the permits that prove you can actually operate.
It’s boring.
But it will save you weeks because you missed one document.
The Real Lesson
Your business isn’t complete until your local government says so.
The national papers make you exist on record. The local permits make you legal to operate. They’re part of the same process.
Handle them early, and you’ll save yourself days, frustration, and fines.
If you want someone to guide you through every step, from SEC to BIR to Barangay and Mayor’s Permit, we made something for you.
It’s a free 5-day email course called The Business Registration Blueprint.
It shows you the five biggest mistakes first-time founders make when registering a business in the Philippines, and how to avoid every one of them.
Join the free course here and learn how to make your registration 100% complete the first time around.
