Business permit and everything

Okay, so last May, I finally decided to get a business permit for my events organizing and marketing consultancy business, Chimes Concepts. I figured if I want to cater to corporate accounts, who would need an official receipt, I would have to go get a business permit. It all started with the business name registration. Dealng with DTI would be the easy part. My business name was registrered in no time, though, I didn’t get to attend an orientation because it was unavailable. DTI said the semnar room was being renovated or something.

The business permit all started with CEMCDO, then barangay clearance then off you go to city hall for all the pitstops. I think the whole process was made difficult with going to and from the different departments. Some are just in the compound. Some are way out of the area like City Health Office. There was always a couple minutes of interrogation when they see my line or nature of business. Hmm… they haven’t seem to have heard about event management. Really? Yup, really.

The BIR part was tedious because it required birth certificates and marriage certificates in my case being a sole proprietor. I had to go to NSO for all the certificates which was not pretty. The place was stuffy, the waiting is tiring. BIR also is not as business-friendly or applicant-friendly unlike business permit. You see, the business permit had a guide or list of things to do, in proper order, to get to the finish line. BIR had a list but it was not a guide. Parang application pa lang, pinahihirapan ka na. Paano na lang sa filing ng returns? If you look stupid, they might make it hard for you. (So I try not to look stupid.)

So bottomline, if you want to get a business permit, go get it in January where they have a one-stop shop in the oval plaza. I am sure it will be much, much easier. Please also come prepared with cedula, change, multiple copies of your documents and all the other things they require.