Can A Canadian Own A Business In The Philippines: The Philippines is a beautiful country with many opportunities across its emerging markets but can a Canadian owner business in the Philippines?
Foreign citizens, including Canadians, can legally own a business in the Philippines. Typically, a Canadian can own a maximum of 40% of the business, but a Canadian entrepreneur can own 100% of a business in the Philippines in some circumstances.
So now that we know Canadians can own businesses in the Philippines, let’s take a look at the business industry in a little more detail.
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What Business Can A Canadian Own In The Philippines
This is a great question, and in theory, most types of businesses are open to foreign business owners. However, some businesses are not open for foreign ownership, and these tend to be private in-house companies such as security or teaching.
Nevertheless, there are only a small handful of businesses that foreigners cannot start. The type of business that lets you start in the Philippines from Canada will depend on how much ownership you will be entitled to as a business owner.
For example, if your business generates more than 60% of its income from overseas, you will be able to own 100% of your business in most circumstances. However, if you are selling to a local Filipino market and most of your income comes from the Philippines, the maximum ownership percentage will be 40%.
Requirements For A Canadian To Start a Business In The Philippines
If you are starting a business in the Philippines targeting the domestic market, you need a minimum financial requirement of $200,000 ($250,373 CAD) as a Canadian citizen. However, if more than 60% of your income is from overseas outside the Philippines, the financial requirement can be as low as 5000 Pesos.
You may also need to hire Filipino staff and find business partners depending on the business. For example, if you are opening a corporation, you may decide to be the president. Still, you will also need to hire somebody to be the vice president and administration. They will be given a small share of the business in some cases, but this can be as low as 1%.
Naturally, some businesses are a lot easier to open than others, and this will depend on what type of business you are opening in the Philippines. So let’s look at the next stage of opening a business in the Philippines from Canada.
How To Start A Business In The Philippines From Canada
A common question asked is, is it possible to start a business in the Philippines from Canada? Of course, technically, it is possible to start a business from overseas. Still, it would help if you had a Filipino representative in most cases, as several key elements need to be completed when starting a business in the Philippines from Canada.
In most cases, it is not recommended to start a business in the Philippines if you are in Canada because physically being in the Philippines will save you a great deal of effort and speed up your application process.
So let’s say you have left Canada, and you are now in the Philippines (or you plan to leave for the Philippines). What’s the next stage? It’s recommended that you hire a business lawyer.
In the Philippines, business lawyers have their jurisdiction meaning that if you are starting a business in Cebu city, you will need to find a business lawyer who is located and deals with business on the island of Cebu. Prices can vary depending on the location; some will set up your business for as low as 30,000 Pesos, while others charge 50/60K per foreign business.
It’s recommended to bring a Filipino citizen with you as this will naturally decrease the price in most circumstances. You can also open the business yourself. However, several permits and requirements are needed, and the process can be fairly long, so it’s often recommended to hire a professional for guidance in these areas.
Is Starting A Business In The Philippines As A Canadian A Good Idea
Starting a business in the Philippines has many benefits for a Canadian citizen. First, there are opportunities in the developing markets, but there are also other advantages, including a long-term business visa.
Business of any kind has its challenges, the same as starting a business in the Philippines. If you target the Filipino market, you will quickly discover different interests in the marketplaces. Therefore, market research is paramount when starting a business in the Philippines from Canada.
One other consideration for any foreign citizen when starting a business in the Philippines is a partnership. Having a reliable and trustworthy Filipino makes all the difference when starting a business in the Philippines, so it’s a good idea to search and network when you are in the planning stages of your business. Find out more about starting a business in the Philippines from the UK, USA, Australia, and more.
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