Lower registration costs aim to ease business formalization and expand access to financing for small enterprises.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended its 20% discount on incorporation fees for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), keeping reduced rates in place until December 31, 2026. The move continues a pricing policy designed to make it less costly for small firms to register and operate formally in the country.
Since the discount was introduced in July 2025, MSMEs have already saved a total of ₱54.7 million as of March 26, 2026. The Commission said the reduced fees are intended to encourage more entrepreneurs to complete registration early, giving their businesses legal standing that can support access to credit and broader market opportunities.
Once formally registered, businesses are typically better positioned to engage banks, suppliers, and larger commercial partners that require official documentation. The shift also supports smoother participation in government and private sector supply chains, where compliance and registration are often prerequisites.
Alongside the extension, the SEC is maintaining a 50% discount on securities registration fees until June 30. The coverage includes MSMEs as well as selected industries such as power generation and distribution utilities, real estate development, agriculture, and healthcare-related enterprises.
Under the Magna Carta for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs are classified based on asset size, ranging from micro enterprises with assets of up to ₱3 million, small enterprises up to ₱15 million, and medium enterprises up to ₱100 million.
The sustained fee reductions reflect a continued push to lower entry barriers for formal business registration, with the goal of widening participation in the formal economy while improving access to financing channels that often require SEC-registered status.
The SEC is keeping the door open for small businesses. With ₱54.7 million already saved by entrepreneurs, the Commission has extended its 20% incorporation fee discount through 2026 to boost MSME credit access and legal standing.
