New business name registrations up in January

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February 10, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Business names registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) went up by six percent in January from a year ago, indicating an improving business outlook.

Data from the DTI showed that 251,168 business names were registered in January, higher than the 236,105 filings in the same month last year.

Around 79 percent or 199,325 of the total filings were new registrations, while 51,843 were renewals.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies senior research fellow John Paolo Rivera said that the increase in business name registrations likely reflects improving entrepreneurial sentiment at the start of the year.

He said that more people are setting up businesses in retail, online selling, food services and personal services as economic conditions stabilize and digital platforms make it easier to get into entrepreneurship.

“(The data) also suggests households are seeking additional income sources amid still-uneven job and wage growth, making small business formation a practical adjustment strategy,” he said.

DTI data showed that wholesale and retail trade accounted for the bulk of business name registrations in January with 154,380 filings.

This was followed by accommodation and food service activities with 31,226 registered business names.

Real estate activities placed third with 15,275 filings.

For the coming months, Rivera said maintaining the growth in business name registrations would depend on various factors.

“Sustaining the pace will depend on overall consumer demand, access to financing, EODB (ease of doing business) and confidence in the economic outlook, factors that could either support continued MSME (micro, small and medium enterprise) formation or temper it if growth and spending remain modest,” he said.