The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is giving entrepreneurs an online platform that allows them to simulate the company registration process as part of efforts to make it easier to do business in the country.

The Commission said it has launched Company Registration Simulation, a feature offered at no cost to users, under its newly revamped SEC Academy platform, accessible at academy.sec.gov.ph.

The portal is designed to guide users in registering a company through Electronic Simplified Processing of Application for Registration of Company (eSPARC) and in creating an account under Electronic SEC Universal Registration Environment (eSECURE) to access all SEC digital services.

Through the simulation, entrepreneurs can explore each step of the registration process, understand the system requirements, and practice filling out the required information before applying.

Apart from giving users room for errors, the feature also helps reduce the number of applications that are unable to move forward due to unmet requirements.

By allowing users to test and refine their entries beforehand, the platform helps manage traffic in the actual registration system and enables SEC personnel to focus their time and resources on processing complete and compliant applications, supporting the Commission’s efforts to improve efficiency and optimize service delivery.

“As the SEC continues to transform the business registration process and shift services online, we want to ensure that it remains easy and accessible to all entrepreneurs, whether they are tech-savvy or not,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said.

He added that, “With the launch of Company Registration Simulation, we aim to demonstrate that registration is simple and straightforward, hopefully empowering entrepreneurs to confidently take the first step in incorporating their business.”

The eSPARC platform can simulate applications for registration of one person corporations, domestic stock and non-stock corporations, as well as foreign stock and non-stock corporations, including their branch offices, representative offices, and regional operating headquarters.

To start, users can head to the rResources tab of SEC Academy and click “Company Registration Simulation.” This will lead them to a portal that mirrors eSPARC, where they can select the processing method of their choice for their application.

Users will then be provided with test email accounts and passwords under eSECURE to proceed with the simulation.

As part of the registration process, applicants can also simulate digitally authenticating system-generated documents through Electronic Submission Authentication Portal (eSAP).

Since the introduction of eSAP in July 2024, applicants for company registration no longer need to submit hard copies of incorporation documents with wet signatures of their officers/incorporators.

Additionally, users can obtain a tentative payment assessment based on their company’s authorized capital, allowing them to plan and prepare the necessary requirements in advance.

Users can likewise simulate the eSECURE account creation process by clicking the “eSECURE account” button beside the login option on the portal. This allows them to become familiar with the platform without undergoing the full credentialing process.

Company Registration Simulation forms part of the Commission’s broader campaign to widen access to its services and provide entrepreneurs with a greater understanding of the SEC’s functions through SEC Academy.

Launched during the 2025 investor protection week, SEC Academy offers free online courses to equip users with the knowledge to effectively manage personal finances, jumpstart businesses, invest wisely, and avoid investment scams and other predatory schemes.