DTI BUSINESS PERMIT PRINT GUIDE
A comprehensive legal primer for entrepreneurs in the Philippines
1. Introduction
In Philippine practice, two closely related—but legally distinct—documents are sometimes blurred in everyday speech:
- DTI Certificate of Business Name Registration (BN Certificate) – issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) under the Business Name Law (Act No. 3883, as amended).
- Mayor’s / City or Municipal Business Permit – issued by the local government unit (LGU) under the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160).
When entrepreneurs say they need to “print the DTI business permit,” they usually mean one of three things:
- printing the DTI BN Certificate after registering online,
- printing the mayor’s permit issued by the LGU’s Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS),
- or printing both to complete a compliance file.
This guide untangles those concepts and walks you through every legal and practical step—from registration to printing—focusing on the DTI side while showing how it feeds into LGU permitting.
2. Legal Foundations
| Instrument | Key Provisions (relevant to printing) |
|---|---|
| Act No. 3883 (Business Name Law) as amended by R.A. 863 | Requires registration of any business name other than the true name of the owner. Empowers DTI to issue certificates evidencing registration. |
| DTI Department Administrative Order (DAO) 18-07 (2018) | Institutionalizes end-to-end online Business Name Registration System (BNRS). §9 & §10 recognise the electronically generated certificate with QR code and e-signature as the original, printable by the registrant. |
| Republic Act 11032 – Ease of Doing Business & Efficient Government Service Delivery Act (EODB) | Directs agencies (DTI and LGUs included) to accept electronic or printed self-generated certificates and prohibits demanding additional “original” copies. |
| Republic Act 8792 – E-Commerce Act | Grants legal validity to electronic documents and digital signatures. |
| Local Government Code (RA 7160) & DILG–DTI–DICT Joint Memorandum Circulars on BOSS | Require LGUs to recognise the DTI BN Certificate (printed or digital) when evaluating business-permit applications. |
3. Step-by-Step: Registering and Printing Your DTI BN Certificate
Account Setup
- Go to bnrs.dti.gov.ph → “Register New” → create an account.
- A working e-mail is critical; the system e-mails the OR (Official Receipt) and certificate link.
Name Verification
- System performs Automatic Name Check against the national database, applying DAO 18-07 rules on dominant name and descriptor.
- Disallowed words (e.g., “bank,” “finance,” “medical”) need supporting licenses or are outright barred.
Filling the BN Application
- Choose territorial scope (Barangay, City/Municipality, Regional, National).
- Indicate business address—ensure it matches the address you will put in the LGU permit.
Payment
- Fees vary by scope (₱200 barangay to ₱2,000 national) + documentary stamp tax ₱30.
- Pay via GCash, PayMaya, Landbank Link.Biz, credit/debit or over-the-counter partners.
E-Certificate Issuance
Within minutes of confirmed payment, the BNRS Dashboard shows a “Download Certificate” button.
The PDF contains:
- Unique BN number
- QR code (verifiable by any QR scanner)
- Sec. 10 DAO 18-07 electronic signature of the DTI Regional Director.
Printing Tips (The “Print Guide”)
Item Best Practice Why It Matters Paper Plain white bond, A4 or Letter LGUs routinely photocopy; A4 fits most scanners. Color vs. B/W Color for client-facing display; B/W acceptable for filing QR code clarity is key—test scan after printing. Multiple Copies Prepare 3: one for BIR registration, one for LGU permit, one for your records Reduces queue time in multi-agency processes. File Storage Save the PDF locally and in cloud storage with version/date in filename DAO 18-07 accepts re-printing anytime within validity; avoids lost-certificate hassles. Verification Use any smartphone QR app before leaving your printer Ensures print quality hasn’t corrupted the code.
4. Using the Printed Certificate in LGU Business-Permit Processing
Barangay Business Clearance
- Present the printed BN Certificate and valid ID. Barangays rarely require an “original”; the EODB law compels acceptance of printed e-certs.
Mayor’s Permit (Business Permit)
LGU BOSS counters require:
- Barangay clearance
- Printed BN Certificate
- Lease contract or tax declaration of premises
- BIR Certificate of Registration (Form 2303)
- Sanitary, fire, zoning clearances (varies by LGU)
Digital Upload in OBPLS-Enabled Cities
- Many LGUs now accept the PDF upload directly. They may still ask you to bring a printed copy for inspection upon release of the Mayor’s Permit.
Retention Period
- Keep the printed BN Certificate for the whole validity term (five years) and five years thereafter (BIR record-retention schedule) in case of audits.
5. Renewal and Re-printing
| When | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Every 5 years | File renewal in BNRS within 180 days before expiry; late renewal allowed up to 90 days after expiry with surcharge. |
| Lost copy | Simply log back into BNRS Dashboard → “Transactions” → “Download.” The re-print is automatically recognised by the QR validator. |
| Change of scope or address | Requires a new registration, not a renewal; old BN must be cancelled. Print the new certificate and keep the cancellation acknowledgment. |
6. Compliance, Inspections & Penalties
Display Requirement – DTI BN Certificate and Mayor’s Permit must be conspicuously displayed at the principal place of business (Art. 13 of DAO 18-07 & most LGU ordinances).
Failure to Register / Renew – Using a business name without valid registration may lead to:
- administrative fines (₱5,000 – ₱20,000 under DTI Citizen’s Charter),
- closure orders by LGU,
- criminal prosecution under Act No. 3883 (up to ₱5,000 fine or imprisonment up to 5 years, rarely invoked).
Forgery or Tampering of Print-outs – Penalised under the Revised Penal Code (Art. 172, Falsification) and the Cybercrime Prevention Act if digital signatures are altered.
7. Practical FAQs
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the e-certificate valid even if printed in black & white? | Yes. Legality rests on the digital signature and QR code; color is cosmetic. |
| DTI site is down; can the LGU accept a screenshot? | Under RA 11032, agencies must apply a “whole-of-government” approach and may verify later. Most LGUs, however, insist on the downloadable PDF once the system is back. |
| Can I laminate the printed BN certificate? | Not prohibited, but avoid covering the QR code with glossy film that causes scanner glare. |
| Do online sellers need to print and display? | For purely online businesses without a physical store, display isn’t possible; retaining the files for inspection (upon BIR or DTI request) suffices. |
| What if the QR code won’t scan? | Re-download and print; persistent failure could indicate a corrupted file—contact the DTI regional office. |
8. Checklist Summary
- Register or renew via BNRS ✅
- Download PDF e-certificate ✅
- Verify QR code on-screen ✅
- Print at least three clean copies ✅
- Test-scan QR on print-outs ✅
- Use one copy for Barangay, one for LGU, keep one filed ✅
- Store the PDF in redundant drives/cloud ✅
9. Conclusion
Printing the “DTI business permit” is really about producing a legally valid hard copy of an electronically issued BN Certificate—the very first credential every single-proprietor enterprise must secure in the Philippines. Thanks to DAO 18-07, RA 11032, and the E-Commerce Act, the printed output is fully equivalent to the “original.” Mastering the registration-to-print workflow not only smooths your follow-on interactions with LGUs, the BIR, and banks, it also shields you from fines and business disruption. File it, display it, and reprint it whenever necessary—your certificate’s legal force travels with the QR code, not the piece of paper.