New year, new businesses: DTI sees January surge to record 251,168 filings
Business names and renewals registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) rose by six percent to over 250,000 in January, reflecting increased entrepreneurial activity at the start of the year.
The latest data from the DTI’s Business Name Registration System (BNRS) showed that business name registrations reached 251,168 last month, up from the 236,059 recorded in January last year.
The month’s filings marked the highest monthly level recorded by the DTI since its BNRS began aggregating data in 2022.
Of the total registrations for the month, 199,325 were new registrations, while 51,843 were renewals.
The majority of business names were registered online, accounting for 197,087 or 78.52 percent of total.
Hybrid registrations accounted for 51,154 or 20.37 percent, while the remaining 2,927 or 1.17 percent were processed through walk-in registration.
As of Feb. 5, the DTI recorded a total of 272,668 new business names and renewals, with wholesale and retail trade accounting for the largest share at 166,386 registrations, or 61 percent of total. The sector also covers the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, as well as personal and household goods.
Accommodation and food service activities ranked second with 34,155 applications, followed by real estate activities with 34,155, manufacturing with 16,588, and other service activities with 46,615.
In terms of location by region, business activity was highest in Calabarzon, with filings last month reaching 45,392.
This was followed by Central Luzon with 31,483 filings, Metro Manila with 22,578, Ilocos Region with 17,244, and Central Visayas with 14,680.
Data from BNRS showed that business name registrations declined by nearly four percent to 1.02 million in 2025 from the 1.06 million recorded in the prior year.
January posted the highest number of monthly registrations last year, while December recorded the lowest.
The decline in business name filings in 2025 was largely attributed to slower economic growth amid domestic and external headwinds.