Here are some tips that can help you get started with your own business

In the Philippines, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise 99.58% of all businesses in the country and employ 64.67% of the entire workforce and are the driving force of the economy. These businesses, which include small community stores or sari-sari stores, water refilling stations, laundry stations, and many others, not only contribute to the country's GDP but also provide essential services to the local communities.

Such is the outsized importance of MSMEs that the United Nations (UN) designated every June 27 asInternational MSME Day to raise awareness on their immense contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These enterprises play a pivotal role in driving local and national economies while also supporting the livelihoods of the working poor, women, youth, and vulnerable groups.

It’s no surprise that many Filipinos want to open their own small businesses. A recent survey by Philippine research firm OCTA Research showed that 81% of adult Filipinos want to be entrepreneurs. This desire to start their own businesses reflects the recognition of the opportunities and potential that MSMEs offer, not only in terms of economic growth but also in empowering individuals and communities.

If you’re one of the Filipinos who want to try their hand at starting their own businesses, here are some tips that can help you get started.

Starting an MSME in the Philippines

The first step of every aspiring entrepreneur is deciding what kind of business to open and where to open it if you plan on having a physical storefront. It’s essential to conduct thorough research whether there’s a market for your product or service, enough foot traffic and if the location is appropriate for it.

Aspiring entrepreneurs can also explore a hybrid phygital (a portmanteau of physical and digital) setup including offering online payments or e-commerce options to widen reach and market.

Second, once you’ve decided on the business and where to open it, get your necessary documentation and permits. In the Philippines, businesses are required to register with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), if they’re a sole proprietorship, or with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) if it’s a partnership or a corporation.

Businesses also need to get a Mayor's permit or municipal license from the city or municipality where the establishment is located. They also need to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ensure proper taxation. If they plan on employing other people to help run the business, registrations with other government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Social Security System (SSS) are also required.

This may seem like a lot of steps but these registrations and permits ensure that you’re able and willing to run your business properly and legally by following applicable laws and regulations. 

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These tips only scratch the surface of what it takes to run a business in the Philippines, but by taking these steps, aspiring entrepreneurs can set themselves up for success and remember: protect your small business with NegosyoCare, available at the GCash GInsure Marketplace.

Robinsons Supermarket partners with DTI for the World Consumer Rights Day

Returns, refunds, and exchanges are all part of doing business if its done in good faith for both the consumers and the store owners.

Have you ever experienced returns, refunds and exchanges?  Is the problem resolved in a timely manner?

Consumers might be unsatisfied with their purchasers for a number of reasons—the product has defects the moment they use it,  they ordered the wrong size, or it simply didn't meet their expectations. So they ask for a replacement or their money back.

Robinsons Supermarket partners with DTI to protect the welfare of its loyal customers and in celebration of World Consumer Rights Day.

Smart shoppers know how important it is to be meticulous in every purchase they make, from basic needs and household goods, to clothing, electronics, and other commodities. Not only should products and services be priced right, they must be of satisfactory quality and give consumers the best value for their hard-earned peso. In line with its commitment to protect the welfare of its loyal customers and in celebration of World Consumer Rights Day, Robinsons Supermarket has opened a Consumer Corner in all of its stores nationwide.

The Consumer Corner provides everyday shoppers with ready access to Department of Trade and industry (DTI) consumer-related information materials, which can help them make intelligent purchases, and enable them to assert their rights and exercise their responsibilities as consumers.

Through the Consumer Corner, shoppers become aware of which products are classified as basic commodities and are therefore subjected to suggested retail prices. They will also learn basic consumer rights, including the right to information, right to make choices, and right to receive compensation.

The facility also promotes awareness on DTI programs, as well as contact information for consumer complaints. “Aside from advocating wellness and a healthy lifestyle among our patrons, Robinsons Supermarket is also about espousing smart shopping, especially among families. Our partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, through this Consumer Corner, will hopefully go a long way towards providing our customers with relevant and timely information, empowering them to become more intelligent and responsible shoppers, whether they are inside our supermarkets or buying in convenience stores,” said Jody Gadia,

Robinsons Supermarket Corporation managing director. The Consumer Corner was unveiled at the Robinsons Supermarket in Robinsons Place Manila by DTI officials led by Secretary Ramon Lopez, Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Atty. Ruth Castelo, Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau Director IV Domingo Tolentino, and Gadia.

In line with the World Consumer Rights Day theme, “Trusted Smart Products”, which seeks to address opportunities and challenges in digital products and services, Robinsons Place Manila and the DTI Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau also hosted a Consumer Forum wherein innovations in smart products and smart technology were presented by the Department of Science and Technology.

The gathering also provided a preview of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) powered smart home, as well as how smart technology can help in disaster risk reduction management.

Find out more about Robinsons Supermarket's Consumer Corner at www.robinsons-supermarket.com.ph.