BUSINESS name registrations rose by 7 percent in the first quarter of the year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Latest data from DTI’s Business Name Registration System (BNRS) showed trade name filings reached 464,365 from January to March, up from 432,331 in the same period last year.
Of the total, 384,307 were new registrations while 80,058 were renewals.
Majority of business names were registered online with 382,386 while hybrid registrations were at 79,996.
Wholesale and retail trade accounted for the largest share at 63,460 registrations. The sector includes motor vehicles and motorcycle repair, as well as personal and household goods.
Accommodation and food services ranked second with 61,131 registrations, followed by real estate activities (26,974), manufacturing (22,963), and other service activities (19,714).
By location, Region 4A (Calabarzon) ranked first with 81,675 registrations followed by Region 3 (Central Luzon) with 59,223, Metro Manila (51,025), Ilocos region (28,538) and Region 7 (Central Visayas) with 24,865.
In March alone, business name registrations expanded by 12 percent to 96,601 from 86,428 in the same month last year.
In 2025, the filings fell by 4 percent to 1.02 million from 1.06 million in the prior year.
