Navigate the Foreign Investments Act (FIA) with absolute legal certainty. We help global founders bypass the $200k capital requirement, unlock PEZA tax holidays, and guarantee VIP corporate banking.
Navigating the Foreign Investments Act (FIA) requires more than just filling out forms. We structure your business to avoid legal traps, criminal liabilities, and unnecessary capital lock-ups.
Different business goals call for different legal structures. This comparison helps founders and overseas companies understand which route may fit their ownership model and operating plans.
A strong route for businesses seeking an active operating base and long-term market presence in the Philippines. Scalable operating structure, suitable for broader growth plans.
A practical option for established foreign companies that want a more direct market-entry extension. Direct parent-company link with clear operating control logic.
Often used for support, coordination, research, and early market-entry activity before deeper expansion. Lighter local operating posture.
A cleaner ownership path for solo founders who want a formal corporate structure without a more complex setup story. Lean founder-friendly setup.
| Factor | Domestic Corp | Branch Office | Representative | OPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Long-term operations | Foreign parent expansion | Support or liaison | Solo founder setup |
| Revenue activity | Yes | Yes | Usually no | Yes |
| Ownership style | Local or foreign | Parent company | Parent company | Single owner |
| Commercial posture | Scalable market base | Direct foreign extension | Light market footprint | Lean founder setup |
Getting your SEC certificate is only 20% of the battle. The real challenge for foreign founders is clearing local government red tape and tax agency hurdles to legally issue your first invoice.
Reserving the name and securing the Certificate of Incorporation. This legally establishes your entity but does not permit you to trade yet.
The most notoriously difficult step. We navigate the Local Government Unit (LGU) for your Barangay Clearance, Zoning, Fire, and Sanitary permits.
Registering with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to print Official Receipts (OR). Plus, mandatory setup for SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG for your payroll.
We provide the mandatory local components required by Philippine law, ensuring your company remains in good standing while you manage the business from anywhere in the world.
By law, every Philippine corporation must have a Corporate Secretary who is a Filipino citizen and resident. We provide trusted, licensed professionals to fulfill this statutory requirement and manage your board resolutions.
Local Government Units (LGUs) conduct physical inspections before issuing Mayor's Permits. We provide premium, commercial-zoned addresses (Virtual or Physical) guaranteed to pass SEC, LGU, and BIR site inspections.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) requires strict monthly filings (Withholding Tax, VAT, etc.) immediately after registration, even with zero revenue. Our CPAs handle your books so you avoid hefty penalties.
Challenge: The founders needed 100% foreign equity to protect their IP, but wanted to avoid locking up $200,000 in dormant capital required by the FIA.
Solution: We structured their business as a PEZA-registered Export Enterprise, bypassing the capital requirements while unlocking multi-year tax incentives.
“Atlas Advisory navigated the PEZA bureaucracy flawlessly. We retained full control, avoided the $200k trap, and saved massively on corporate taxes.”
Solution: To enter the domestic retail market, we implemented a robust multi-class share structure (Common + Preferred). This ensured the EU founders retained economic control and board veto rights while remaining strictly compliant with the Anti-Dummy Law.
Solution: Avoided the traditional requirement of finding multiple local incorporators. We set up an OPC, allowing the solo founder to act as the single stockholder and sole director, maintaining 100% ownership with minimal governance friction.
These packages help founders choose the level of guidance they need, from early planning to broader market-entry support.
For early assessment and route planning
For founders who want stronger end-to-end support
For overseas businesses with more complex needs
For Registration: No. You can sign incorporation documents remotely, provided they are Apostilled or authenticated by the Philippine Embassy (Red Ribbon) in your home country.
For Banking: Yes. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) strictly requires the foreign bank signatory to be physically present in the Philippines for a face-to-face interview with the branch manager. We coordinate this to take just a few hours during your visit.
Beware of agencies promising "2-week setups." While the initial SEC certificate takes about 2-3 weeks, securing the mandatory LGU (Mayor's Permit) and BIR (Tax) registrations will take an additional 4 to 8 weeks depending on your city (e.g., Makati vs. BGC). Plan for a realistic 2 to 3-month timeline before you are legally permitted to operate and issue Official Receipts (OR).
You can freely repatriate profits, but it requires strategic foresight. To buy foreign exchange from the local banking system for profit remittance, your initial foreign capital injection MUST be registered with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). We handle this BSP registration upon your initial capital wire to ensure frictionless profit repatriation later.
A Philippine company cannot sponsor a 9(G) commercial working visa until it is fully registered with the SEC, LGU, and BIR. Once your corporate entity is fully compliant, the visa application process through the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and DOLE takes approximately 2 to 3 months.
Philippine labor laws are highly pro-employee. Two critical things to know: 1) The 13th-Month Pay is a mandatory statutory bonus given to rank-and-file employees before December 24 every year. 2) Security of Tenure: After a 6-month probationary period, it becomes legally difficult to terminate an employee without "just or authorized causes."
Absolutely. Our nominee Corporate Secretary only handles statutory filings, not your funds. While the law requires a Resident Treasurer, we implement strict internal controls and Board Resolutions ensuring that only you (the foreign founder) have sole signatory rights over the corporate bank account. Our nominees have zero access to your money.
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