Post: #1

Hi,

I know there's a huge thread on Philippines but the aspect of business wasn't really discussed there so I thought I'd make this since I'm sure it's something that a lot of people would have thought of.

I was confused as to where to put this thread but I chose the travel section since it involves moving to a new country, just for a different motive than women and sex.

So here's the thing. I have a successful business here in India which makes me enough to live comfortably here but I really want to move out.

I'm thinking of Philippines as a possible outlet for my business. My business is location-independent in the sense that it's not completely online but it can be set-up anywhere in the world if there's demand for it. And after doing some quick research, I found a lot of businesses in my niche in Manila who seem to be doing very well.

So the question is - How does a foreigner start a business there?

I don't have the millions usually required for entrepreneur visas of some of the more advanced countries but I do have enough savings to go to Manila, start from scratch, hire a few people there and weather even 6-8 months of loss if required.

But is it even allowed by the government? Or will I need a Filipino citizen as a partner?

Thank you!

Post: #2

Do some basic googling and you'll find out why this is a bad idea. Hint: Filipino stakeholders need to be greater then 50%.

Post: #3

Have you ever been to the Philippines?

Do you have any idea what type of business would you start in the Philippines?

Do you have any knowledge of what products and services you could provide at an income that you would be satisfied with for which there is demand in the Philippines?

Have you researched the demand in the Philippines for the products/services you sell in India?

Do you have $75K USD to invest? That's the minimum investment required for a Philippines Special Investors Resident Permit.

From: https://www.profitableventure.com/starti...foreigner/

Quote:Generally speaking, the Philippines have restrictions on the percentage of equity foreigners can own of a domestic/Philippine corporation.

From: https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/com...ilippines/

Quote:Sec. 3. "Retail Trade" shall mean any act, occupation or calling of habitually selling direct to the general public merchandise, commodities or goods for consumption, but the restriction of this law shall not apply to the following:

(a) Sales by a manufacturer, processor, laborer, or worker, to the general public the products manufactured, processed or produced by him if his capital does not exceed One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00);

(b) Sales by a farmer or agriculturist selling the products of his farm;

© Sales in restaurant operations by a hotel owner or inn-keeper irrespective of the amount of capital: Provided, that the restaurant is incidental to the hotel business; and

(d) Sales which are limited only to products manufactured, processed or assembled by a manufacturer through a single outlet, irrespective of capitalization.

XXX

Sec. 8. Qualifications of Foreign Retailers. - No foreign retailer shall be allowed to engage in retail trade in the Philippines unless all the following qualifications are met:

(a) A minimum of Two Hundred Million US Dollars (US$200,000,000.00) net worth in its parent corporation for Categories B and C, and Fifty Million US Dollars (US$50,000,000.00) net worth in its parent corporation for Category D;

(b) Five (5) retailing branches or franchises in operation anywhere around the world unless such retailers has at least one (1) store capitalized at a minimum of Twenty-Five Million US Dollars (US$25,000,000.00);

© Five (5)-year track record in retailing; and

(d) Only nationals from, or judicial entities formed or incorporated in, countries which allow the entry of Filipino retailers, shall be allowed to engage in retail trade in the Philippines.

XXX

Sec. 10. Prohibited Activities of Qualified Foreign Retailers. - Qualified foreign retailers shall not be allowed to engage in certain retailing activities outside their accredited stores through the use of mobile or rolling stores or carts, the use of sales representatives, door-to-door selling, restaurants and sari-sari stores and such other similar retailing activities: Provided, that a detailed list of prohibited activities shall hereafter be formulated by the DTI.

Likewise, under Section 5, a foreigner may own and operate a retail establishment in the Philippines if the business itself has a minimum paid up capital of $2,500,000.00 or more (I did not include the whole provision since it's too long and contains many categories).

A small-scale restaurant will definitely not make you a qualified foreign retailer. Some foreigners have circumvented this rule, albeit illegally, like having a Filipino dummy as a front in the registration and business papers.

Looks like the odds are against you.

Post: #4

as someone who has lived here for 2 years full time ---


HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH​HHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH​AHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHH​HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA​HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHH​AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH​AHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHA​AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA​HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAA​HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH​AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAH​AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Post: #5

(03-09-2018 04:16 AM)Kale_anonymous Wrote:  as someone who has lived here for 2 years full time ---


HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH​HHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH​AHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHH​HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA​HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHH​AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH​AHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHA​AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA​HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAA​HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH​AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAH​AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Post: #6

Forget all the legal things, a foreigner making money in the Philippines will draw the attention of people whose attention you don't want.

Post: #7

(03-09-2018 04:16 AM)Kale_anonymous Wrote:  as someone who has lived here for 2 years full time ---


HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH​HHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH​AHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHH​HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA​HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHH​AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH​AHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHA​AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA​HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAA​HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH​AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAH​AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Judging by Suits informative reply and yours, maybe I'm guilty of thinking it was too easy and should have probably research a bit more. But the businesses in my niche (photography) all seem to be doing really well as I've been following their Facebook pages. But I've got this kind of reaction on other forums too. Are you guys pointing to the corruption/inefficiency in the system or is it actually physically dangerous for foreigners as they can attract the wrong type of attention? Cause I've been hearing that their economy is one of the fastest growing ones in Asia.

Post: #8

Foreigners get killed all the time and it's always over money or women.

Post: #9

So what ever happened to your plans of moving to Vancouver or New Zealand?

Post: #10

(03-09-2018 01:43 PM)scotian Wrote:  So what ever happened to your plans of moving to Vancouver or New Zealand?

I made a trip to Auckland a few months back and did not like the place. It's beautiful and all but I do not think it's a fit for my business or any startup for that matter since it's too laid back and outside the downtown, it's practically a village. Though I did have a great time there and quite liked the kiwi women too. Just don't think it's commercially viable especially with a less population. Another issue is that unlike Canada and Australia, NZ does not offer a direct visa unless you have a job or blood relative there. So that means at least 1 yr of time and a considerable sum of money (study + settle route) will go in getting to a stage where I can become eligible to start a business.

As far as Canada is concerned, I have my IELTS (english exam) on the 24th of this month, which is the first step towards filing an express entry profile to get a PR. I'm going to see what kind of a score I get and the prospective CRS I'm getting. If it's really good (which hopefully should be the case), I'll be going ahead with it. I applied for a Canadian tourist visa but it got rejected. I'm also hearing that Canada and especially Vancouver is not small business friendly due to the tax regime. And Vancouver is my primary option since climate is a huge factor for me.

Keeping all my options open so considering Singapore and Philippines too.

Post: #11

If you want to open a business here in the Philippines.

One-You need 2 or 3 people you can trust. (This is the most difficult part) You want to keep your circle small for obvious reasons. This is including a good lawyer.

Two-You need some connections in the local government in the area you plan to open.
(Both of the these takes years of rapport and doesn't happen overnight.)

Three-Never be the face of the business, what I mean by this is you can call the shots and invest behind the scenes, but any issues always have a Filipino partner handle the situation.

There are plenty of businesses where you can earn a lucrative income. Don't let the naysayers drag you down. But it takes a vast amount of research and looking at the market in your local area. There are many services lacking here in the PH, where you can fill that void.
But also there is a high risk involved and you need to look at those risk and have a contingency plan.

Live here a couple of years and get a feel of the area, learn the language, and then decide if you want to go forward.
Don't come here blindfolded, not having a business plan, not having operated a business before, and dont invest in a business your asawa(wife) or gf wants(the last one will never be profitable, her and her family members will just use it as a piggy bank and never reinvest the profits to improve or expand). That's how 99.9 percent of expats fail miserably then get on forums crying about not to invest in the Philippines, because they lost everything.

Its a dog eat dog world here, where the PH ranks in 173rd in starting a business. Doing Business in the Philippines
With greater risk comes greater reward in an economy growing at 6-7 percent annually.

There are multiple other steps to consider and do, but that is too much information to divulge. You need to come here then decide, go to the local government offices to ask questions, research online, and move forward from there.

PS- Pay the most attention to the ownership rules in the PH for the sector you plan to open a business. It varies widely from 0-100 percent.

Post: #12

Is it a brick and mortar business?

Many businesses operate without everything being 100% official and by the book as long as they fly under the radar. Maybe not the best solution long term, but might be an option to test the market until everything has been figured out.

Then when/if everything needs to be legit, you can follow calwinston's advice. There are many successful foreign owned businesses, but they often take considerable research and capital to set up properly. Don't forget PLDT is de facto fully foreign owned.

You can live in the Philippines permanently on a tourist visa as long as you do a visa run every couple years. Not sure if the limit is 18 or 36 months right now.

Post: #13

(03-09-2018 09:06 PM)calwinston Wrote:  If you want to open a business here in the Philippines.

One-You need 2 or 3 people you can trust. (This is the most difficult part) You want to keep your circle small for obvious reasons. This is including a good lawyer.

Two-You need some connections in the local government in the area you plan to open.
(Both of the these takes years of rapport and doesn't happen overnight.)

Three-Never be the face of the business, what I mean by this is you can call the shots and invest behind the scenes, but any issues always have a Filipino partner handle the situation.

There are plenty of businesses where you can earn a lucrative income. Don't let the naysayers drag you down. But it takes a vast amount of research and looking at the market in your local area. There are many services lacking here in the PH, where you can fill that void.
But also there is a high risk involved and you need to look at those risk and have a contingency plan.

Live here a couple of years and get a feel of the area, learn the language, and then decide if you want to go forward.
Don't come here blindfolded, not having a business plan, not having operated a business before, and dont invest in a business your asawa(wife) or gf wants(the last one will never be profitable, her and her family members will just use it as a piggy bank and never reinvest the profits to improve or expand). That's how 99.9 percent of expats fail miserably then get on forums crying about not to invest in the Philippines, because they lost everything.

Its a dog eat dog world here, where the PH ranks in 173rd in starting a business. Doing Business in the Philippines
With greater risk comes greater reward in an economy growing at 6-7 percent annually.

There are multiple other steps to consider and do, but that is too much information to divulge. You need to come here then decide, go to the local government offices to ask questions, research online, and move forward from there.

PS- Pay the most attention to the ownership rules in the PH for the sector you plan to open a business. It varies widely from 0-100 percent.

thanks a ton. repped you.this is exactly what i was looking for. There is this filipina I met in SIngapore whom I share a decent relationship and was planning to take her help but just like you, other people have told me not to go that route.

Post: #14

What works best with the Philippines is:

"Moving to the Philippines with money that I already have and continuing to make money overseas while enjoying the better lifestyle for less bucks."

Post: #15

Do not start a brick and mortar business in the Philippines. Why would you? Especially as someone with no business experience? It's laughable. Now, an online business you do yourself or with a distributed team, that's different. Hint: no one in the Philippines government or bureacracy ever needs to know what you're doing with your fiber connection. You're independently wealthy, here as a tourist taking in the culture, and spend all your time at home watching anime.