SEC Registration Service in the Philippines
At FilePino, we specialize in guiding businesses like yours through the SEC registration process. Our expert team ensures that all documents are drafted, gathered, and filed carefully and promptly. We simplify the process further with our comprehensive knowledge of SEC requirements and transactions, saving you time and effort.
What is SEC Registration?
The Securities and Exchange (SEC) Registration is a compulsory business registration process for your corporation or partnership to legitimize its juridical unit and permit it to participate legally in business, issue receipts, trade with financial assets, and be entitled to the rights under the nation’s corporate and investment laws.
Who Requires SEC Registration?
You need to register with the SEC if your business falls under its mandate. This includes stock corporations (domestic, one-person, or foreign) engaged in income-generating activities with share capital, non-stock corporations like NGOs, foundations, or religious and educational groups formed for non-profit purposes, and partnerships formed by two or more individuals to run a lawful, profit-oriented business.
SEC Registration Requirements
You can register your company online through the SEC’s Electronic Simplified Processing of Application for Registration of Company (eSPARC) by filling out a registration form with the information below, together with the uploading of the necessary documents:
- Preferred Company Names (at least 3)
- Applicant or Authorized Representative’s Details
- Company Type and Industry (e.g., stock corporation, administrative and support service activities)
- Description of the Business (primary purpose)
- Complete Office Address (physical or virtual)
- Corporate Term (e.g., perpetual)
- Incorporators’ Details (i.e., their names, nationalities, addresses, etc.)
- Capitalization (i.e., authorized capital stock, paid-up capital, subscribed shares)
- Corporate Officers (i.e., president, treasurer, corporate secretary)
- Date of Annual General Meeting
- Fiscal Year
- Name Appeal Document (if necessary)
- Other pre-defined additional requirements (if necessary)
SEC Registration Process
SEC registration involves two main phases: online registration through eSPARC and the submission of hard copies of the required documents to the SEC Processing Office. If you choose to avail of our assistance, here’s how we handle the process:
Consult with Corporate Legal Experts
We start with a consultation to provide you with tailored legal and business advice on critical aspects of company incorporation, such as business structure, capital structure, foreign equity, and requirements.
Avail Nominee Directors and Other Corporate Services.
We also offer nominee directors and corporate secretarial services, especially to foreign corporations that need legal representatives in the Philippines to fulfill statutory and regulatory obligations.
Verify and Reserve a Company Name.
Once we settle everything, we start the SEC registration with a company name verification and reservation through the SEC eSPARC. This is to ensure that the preferred corporate name is not in conflict with those existing in the database.
Proceed to eSPARC Registration (SEC Online System).
While waiting for the result of the name verification, we proceed to encoding your company details on eSPARC for company registration. We then generate, review, and initially submit your application with the SEC.
Route the Documents for Signing and Notarization.
We closely monitor the progress of the registration, and once the documents are approved, we download them for printing, signing, and notarization. We must upload the signed and notarized documents within 30 days.
Pay the Registration and Other Fees.
We usually wait for a few days for the SEC to give us the final approval and send us the Payment Assessment Form (PAF), which indicates the fees to settle. After payment, we can receive your digital Certificate of Incorporation.
Submit the Document Hard Copies to SEC.
We also submit the physical or hard copies of the documents to the SEC Processing Office (SEC Main Office) within thirty (30) days from payment. These will undergo further evaluation by the SEC.
Receive the SEC Certificate.
We then receive your SEC Certificate of Incorporation (for corporation) or Recording (for partnership) in a physical copy. You will need this for processing of business permits and other mandatory registrations.
FREE 30-MIN CONSULTATION
Incorporate your company and secure SEC Registration! We, at Filepino, specialize in guiding businesses through the legal, technical, and capital requirements of incorporation and registration.
SEC Registration Fees
SEC registration fees vary based on your company structure (e.g., corporation or partnership), authorized capitalization (e.g., PHP 1 million, PHP 5 million, etc.), and other factors. Here’s a sample breakdown of fees for a stock corporation with an authorized capitalization of PHP 1 million:
- SEC Registration Fee (⅕ of 1% of the authorized capital) : PHP 2,000
-
Stock and Transfer Book (STB)
Registration: PHP 150 - Company Bylaws: PHP 1,000
- Name Verification & Reservation: PHP 100
- Documentary Stamp Tax (DST): PHP 30
- Legal Research Fee: PHP 30
- Total SEC Registration Fees: PHP 3,310.00
What Documents to Receive
After successfully completing your SEC registration, we will provide you with the following documents as proof of your registration and compliance:
- Coversheet
- Reserved Name
- Articles of Incorporation (AOI)
- By-Laws
- Treasurer’s Affidavit
- Purchased and Registered Stock and Transfer Book (STB)
- SEC Certificate of Incorporation (for corporations)
- SEC Certificate of Recording (for partnerships)
Why Choose FilePino’s SEC Registration Service?
Get started with your company incorporation — and secure SEC Registration! We, at FilePino, provide expert consultation on the essential and critical aspects of company incorporation and offer tailored support throughout the entire SEC registration process.
FilePino is a leading and trusted SEC Registration service provider in the Philippines. Based in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig, Metro Manila—one of the country’s most dynamic and thriving business hubs—we are strategically positioned to serve your business needs.
Corporate Law
Expertise
We have a team of corporate experts who can walk you through the legal, technical, and financial requirements of your company incorporation and provide comprehensive advice on mitigating risks and handling complex legal matters.
Comprehensive
Incorporation
We offer a complete range of services to support your SEC registration and the succeeding processes, including legal documentation (apostille, notarization, etc.), visa processing, nominee directors, corporate secretarial services, and more.
eSPARC Technical
Know-How
We are adept in the use of eSPARC, the SEC’s online platform for company registration. We can leverage our technical knowledge to streamline the application process, troubleshoot common issues, and ensure accurate and timely submissions.
Time-Saving
Solutions
We understand how valuable business time is, so we keep on finding effective strategies and solutions to ensure the quickest turnaround times for all our services without compromising legal compliance, service standards, and positive client experience.
SEC Registration FAQs
What is Company Incorporation?
Company incorporation is the legal process of forming a company or corporate entity. In its basic sense, a corporation is the resulting juridical entity with income, assets, and liabilities independent or separate from its owners and investors.
What is SEC Registration?
In the Philippines, company incorporation starts with registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). SEC registration is a compulsory business registration process to legitimize the juridical unit and permit it to participate legally in business, issue receipts, trade with financial assets, and be entitled to rights under the nation’s corporate and investment laws.
What is the mandate of the SEC?
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), with its main office at 7907 Makati Avenue, Bel-Air, Makati City, is the registrar and overseer of the Philippine corporate sector. It supervises the capital market participants, the securities and investment instruments market, and the protection of the investing public.
What business structures or entities require SEC Registration?
Business entities under the mandate of the commission and thus, require registrations include domestic and foreign stock corporations (i.e., including one person corporations), non-stock corporations, and partnerships. Sole proprietorships and cooperatives do not require registrations with the commission, rather with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), respectively.
Can the SEC Registration be processed online?
Yes, the SEC allows online registration via the SEC Electronic Simplified Processing of Application for Registration (eSPARC); however, the signed and notarized documentary requirements still require in-person submission.
With expert assistance, however, the registration process can be streamlined, effectively addressing potential bottlenecks, obtaining permits and licenses promptly, and ensuring timely launch of the business.
What are the SEC Registration requirements?
Documentary requirements, such as the Application Summary Form, Cover Sheet, Articles of Incorporation (AOI), Certificate of Authentication, and By-Laws are system-generated based on the encoded company details upon online registration. The uploading of supporting documents is optional, but it is important to examine the business structure and anticipate whether documents, such as incorporation files of a juridical entity or appeal letters for company or trade names, shall be required.
Clearances or endorsements from appropriate government agencies may also be required, depending on the industry in which the business belongs. For example, schools need clearances from the Department of Education (DepEd), banks from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), hospitals from the Department of Health (DOH), and so on.
How long does the SEC Registration take?
The SEC registration usually takes about two (2) to four (4) weeks, depending on the completeness of documentary requirements and operational efficiency in the SEC Office.
What are the SEC Registration fees?
Normally, the SEC assesses the registration fees based on the authorized capital stock and business structure. Aside from the registration or filing fees, other fees include name verification, legal research, documentary stamp tax, and Foreign Investments Act (FIA) fees, if applicable.
What documents are received after registration?
After successful SEC registration, the registrant receives a Certificate of Incorporation or Partnership and other incorporation documents, such as the Articles of Incorporation (AOI) and Bylaws. With these documents, the company may already be registered or licensed with other government regulatory agencies (i.e., BIR, BPLO, statutory agencies, etc.)
Why do you need expert assistance in SEC Registration?
SEC registration may be convenient and straightforward given the existence and utilization of SEC eSPARC, but in reality, it is complex and complicated. Before starting off with the registration, it is crucial to deal with and decide on many legal, technical, and financial aspects of the company, such as business structure, corporate term, capital requirements, and other incorporation details. Thus, it is strongly recommended to consult a business expert or corporate lawyer.
