{"id":"ph","country":"ph","kind":"country","name":{"en":"Philippines","local":"Pilipinas"},"languages":["fil","en","ceb"],"currency":"PHP","symbol":"₱","fxPerUsd":60,"cities":{"T1":"Metro Manila","T2":"Cebu City","T3":"Dumaguete"},"basket":{"teaCup":15,"simpleMeal":90,"haircutMen":100,"milkLitre":120,"breadLoaf":75,"unskilledDayWage":550,"minWageMonthly":15130,"shopRentSqftMonth":{"T1":110,"T2":55,"T3":25},"electricityCommercialKwh":14.5,"lpgCommercialCylinder":1100,"petrolLitre":89},"tax":{"salesTax":"VAT 12%; mandatory above ₱3 million gross sales a year; below that 3% percentage tax (or 8% flat option)","smallBizThreshold":"First ₱250,000/yr of income tax-free (TRAIN); 8% flat tax on gross over ₱250k for sales ≤ ₱3m; BMBE (assets ≤ ₱3m) exempt from income tax","localLevies":"LGU local business tax on gross receipts (often ~0.5–2% for retailers), barangay clearance, sanitary, garbage and fire-inspection fees, community tax (cedula)"},"licences":[{"name":"DTI Business Name registration (sole proprietor)","fee":"₱200 barangay / ₱500 city / ₱1,000 regional / ₱2,000 national scope + ₱30 DST; valid 5 years","authority":"Department of Trade and Industry (BNRS online)","source":"Est.: DTI BNRS fee schedule as known (₱200/500/1,000/2,000 + ₱30 DST); search snippet from https://www.globe.com.ph/business/insights/business-registration-philippines (page returned 403, not verified)"},{"name":"Barangay business clearance","fee":"≈ ₱300–1,500 (varies by barangay; estimate)","authority":"Barangay","source":"Est.: barangay ordinances vary"},{"name":"Mayor's / business permit (BPLO)","fee":"≈ ₱2,000–5,000 first year incl. local business tax, sanitary, garbage and FSIC fees; some LGUs waive for sari-sari stores","authority":"City/municipal BPLO","source":"https://www.paymongo.com/blog/business-permit-requirements-philippines"},{"name":"BIR registration (Form 1901) and Certificate of Registration","fee":"Free since EOPT Act 2024 abolished the ₱500 annual registration fee; online via ORUS","authority":"Bureau of Internal Revenue","source":"Est.: RA 11976 (Ease of Paying Taxes Act, 2024) removed ARF; not re-checked this session"},{"name":"BMBE Certificate of Authority","fee":"Free (≤ ₱3m assets excl. land); income-tax exempt","authority":"DTI Negosyo Center","source":"Est.: RA 9178 (BMBE Act 2002)"},{"name":"Sanitary permit and health certificates (food)","fee":"≈ ₱100–500 per worker health card + sanitary permit (estimate)","authority":"City Health Office","source":"Est.: PD 856 Sanitation Code; LGU fees vary"}],"festivals":[{"name":"Christmas season ('ber months') and 13th-month pay","dates2026_27":"Sep–Dec 2026; 13th month paid by 24 Dec","effect":"Longest peak in Asia: food, gifts, salons, tailoring busy from Sep; Noche Buena 24 Dec, New Year 31 Dec"},{"name":"Undas (All Saints/All Souls)","dates2026_27":"1–2 Nov 2026","effect":"Mass travel to provinces; cemetery food and flower stalls boom, city demand dips"},{"name":"Sinulog (Cebu)","dates2026_27":"17 Jan 2027 (3rd Sunday of Jan)","effect":"Cebu City food and street vending surge for a week"},{"name":"Holy Week","dates2026_27":"Maundy Thursday 25 Mar – Easter 28 Mar 2027","effect":"Cities empty; many shops close Thu–Fri; resort towns busy"},{"name":"School opening","dates2026_27":"June 2027","effect":"Spending on supplies and uniforms; tailoring and school-supply stalls peak"}],"seasons":[{"months":"Jun–Nov","what":"Typhoon and southwest monsoon (habagat) season: flooding, class/work suspensions, supply disruption"},{"months":"Mar–May","what":"Hot dry season: cold drinks/halo-halo demand up; water interruptions"},{"months":"Dec–Feb","what":"Cooler amihan season; peak tourism and festival spending"}],"payments":{"digitalShare":"GCash (90m+ users) and Maya widely accepted via QR Ph; but most sari-sari and carinderia sales still cash (estimate 60–80% cash in small shops)","credit":"'Utang' / 'lista' tab credit at sari-sari stores is near universal; informal '5-6' lenders (20% a month) fund stock"},"notes":"The Philippine small-business economy runs on the sari-sari store and the carinderia: tiny household shops selling sachets ('tingi') on 'utang' credit, alongside food stalls, barbers, tailors and phone repair. National registration is cheap and quick (DTI business name from ₱200, free BIR registration since 2024, BMBE income-tax exemption), but the mayor's permit, barangay clearance and local business tax set by each LGU make costs vary by city. Wages are set by region: Metro Manila's minimum rose to ₱755/day in July 2026 while Central Visayas is about ₱540–582 after the Oct 2026 hike. Electricity is among Asia's dearest (Meralco about ₱15/kWh) and fuel rose with the 2026 oil shock. GCash and QR Ph are common but cash is still king in small shops. Typhoons (Jun–Nov), earthquakes and the long September–December Christmas season shape the trading year.","factors":[{"id":"P01","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage NCR (non-agri)","value":"₱755/day from 25 Jul 2026 (Wage Order NCR-27), up from ₱695; reported ₱780 from 20 Jan 2027","role":"HV","source":"https://wageindicator.org/ai/work/minimum-wage/updates/2026/minimum-wage-revised-in-ncr-national-capital-region-philippines-from-25-july-2026-august-03-2026/","estimate":false},{"id":"P02","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage Central Visayas (Cebu)","value":"₱500–540/day under ROVII-26, +₱42 from 14 Oct 2026 → ≈ ₱542–582","role":"HV","source":"https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/09/28/2559493/p42-wage-hike-okd","estimate":true},{"id":"P03","cat":"Wages","name":"Monthly equivalent Cebu City","value":"≈ ₱15,130 (₱582 × 26 days)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: arithmetic from P02","estimate":true},{"id":"P04","cat":"Wages","name":"Sari-sari / carinderia helper pay","value":"₱300–500/day plus meals; often a relative; micro firms ≤10 staff may apply for wage-order exemption","role":"HV","source":"Est.: RA 6727 exemption for retail with ≤10 workers; informal norms","estimate":true},{"id":"P05","cat":"Wages","name":"13th-month pay","value":"Mandatory 1/12 of annual basic pay by 24 Dec (PD 851)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: PD 851","estimate":true},{"id":"P06","cat":"Wages","name":"Employer contributions","value":"SSS ≈ 10% employer share, PhilHealth 2.5%, Pag-IBIG ₱200/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: 2025 contribution schedules","estimate":true},{"id":"P07","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent T1 Metro Manila","value":"≈ ₱110/sq ft/month (₱1,000–1,500/sqm ground-floor street retail)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: listings for small commercial spaces in QC/Manila; 2 months' deposit + 1 advance","estimate":true},{"id":"P08","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent T2 Cebu City / T3 Dumaguete","value":"≈ ₱55 / ₱25 per sq ft/month; many sari-sari stores run from the owner's home (zero rent)","role":"PD","source":"Est.: roughly half / a quarter of Manila","estimate":true},{"id":"P09","cat":"Power","name":"Meralco rate (Metro Manila)","value":"₱15.0615/kWh residential Oct 2026 (+₱0.32); small commercial similar","role":"HV","source":"https://context.ph/?p=78367","estimate":false},{"id":"P10","cat":"Power","name":"Cebu (VECO) commercial rate","value":"≈ ₱13.5–15/kWh","role":"HV","source":"Est.: VECO tracks Meralco within ~10%; uses ₱14.5 in basket","estimate":true},{"id":"P11","cat":"Fuel","name":"Gasoline RON 91 / diesel, Metro Manila","value":"₱89.13 / ₱94.40 per L common price (week of 6 Oct 2026); diesel near ₱100 in Jul–Aug","role":"HV","source":"https://tribune.net.ph/2026/10/05/gasoline-climbs-as-diesel-gets-relief","estimate":false},{"id":"P12","cat":"Fuel","name":"LPG 11 kg","value":"≈ ₱1,000–1,200 refill","role":"HV","source":"Est.: ≈ ₱900–1,000 in 2025 plus 2026 LNG/LPG price rise","estimate":true},{"id":"P13","cat":"Prices","name":"Rice retail","value":"Well-milled ≈ ₱45–50/kg; NFA palay buying price raised to ₱21/kg (Jul 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.philstar.com/news-commentary/2026/07/17/2542611/nfa-palay-buying-price-increase-p21kilo","estimate":true},{"id":"P14","cat":"Prices","name":"Carinderia meal","value":"Rice + one ulam ≈ ₱80–100 Cebu; ₱100–130 Manila","role":"HV","source":"Est.: rice ₱48/kg + viand inputs at ~45% food cost","estimate":true},{"id":"P15","cat":"Prices","name":"Coffee / drinks","value":"3-in-1 coffee cup ₱15–20; sachet ₱8–10","role":"HV","source":"Est.: sari-sari retail","estimate":true},{"id":"P16","cat":"Prices","name":"Bread and milk","value":"Loaf ₱70–90 (Pinoy Tasty lower); fresh milk ≈ ₱120/L; pandesal ₱3–5","role":"HV","source":"Est.: supermarket prices 2025 + inflation","estimate":true},{"id":"P17","cat":"Prices","name":"Men's haircut (barbershop)","value":"≈ ₱80–120 Cebu; ₱150–300 Manila malls","role":"HV","source":"Est.: market rates","estimate":true},{"id":"P18","cat":"Prices","name":"Exchange rate","value":"≈ ₱59–61/$ (peso weakened in 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Philippines/ (implied ≈ 61 from diesel PHP/USD)","estimate":true},{"id":"P19","cat":"Registration","name":"DTI business name","value":"₱200 (barangay scope) to ₱2,000 (national) + ₱30 DST; 5-year validity; online","role":"PD","source":"Est.: DTI BNRS fee schedule as known (₱200/500/1,000/2,000 + ₱30 DST); search snippet from https://www.globe.com.ph/business/insights/business-registration-philippines (page returned 403, not verified)","estimate":true},{"id":"P20","cat":"Registration","name":"Mayor's permit and total LGU fees","value":"≈ ₱2,000–5,000 first year for a ₱100k sari-sari store","role":"HV","source":"https://www.paymongo.com/blog/business-permit-requirements-philippines","estimate":false},{"id":"P21","cat":"Registration","name":"LGU waivers for micro stores","value":"Some cities exempt sari-sari/carinderia (e.g. Marikina: capital ≤ ₱10k, sales ≤ ₱180k, no liquor/cigarettes)","role":"PD","source":"https://pia.gov.ph/news/2024/01/16/marikina-extends-business-permit-tax-exemption-for-sari-sari-carinderia-stores","estimate":false},{"id":"P22","cat":"Registration","name":"Time to register","value":"National registrations 1–3 days; full LGU permit 1–3 weeks","role":"HV","source":"https://www.tripleiconsulting.com/how-register-small-business-philippines-how-entrepreneurs-can-hasten-process/","estimate":false},{"id":"P23","cat":"Tax","name":"Income tax exemption and 8% option","value":"₱250k/yr exempt; 8% on gross over ₱250k if sales ≤ ₱3m (instead of graduated + 3% percentage tax)","role":"PD","source":"Est.: TRAIN Law (RA 10963) ₱250k exemption and 8% option; search snippet from https://www.globe.com.ph/business/insights/business-registration-philippines (403, not verified)","estimate":true},{"id":"P24","cat":"Tax","name":"VAT","value":"12% above ₱3m gross sales; else 3% percentage tax","role":"HV","source":"Est.: NIRC as amended by TRAIN; CREATE 1% temporary rate ended Jun 2023","estimate":true},{"id":"P25","cat":"Tax","name":"BMBE exemption","value":"Income-tax exempt and minimum-wage-law exempt for assets ≤ ₱3m","role":"PD","source":"Est.: RA 9178","estimate":true},{"id":"P26","cat":"Payments","name":"GCash / Maya / QR Ph","value":"QR acceptance common in cities; small shops 0% fees on GCash QR for personal accounts","role":"PD","source":"Est.: GCash/QR Ph merchant terms 2025","estimate":true},{"id":"P27","cat":"Payments","name":"Utang (tab credit)","value":"Sari-sari stores routinely carry 10–30% of sales on credit; bad debt a top failure cause","role":"PD","source":"Est.: widely documented sari-sari practice","estimate":true},{"id":"P28","cat":"Payments","name":"5-6 lending","value":"Informal lenders charge 20% per month","role":"PD","source":"Est.: well-known informal credit practice","estimate":true},{"id":"P29","cat":"Business types","name":"Common small businesses","value":"Sari-sari stores (~1m+), carinderias, street food (isaw, fishball), barbershops/parlors, tailoring/alterations, cellphone repair and load retail, water refilling stations, laundry","role":"HV","source":"Est.: DTI/PSA MSME listings and observation","estimate":true},{"id":"P30","cat":"Regional rules","name":"Liquor/cigarette rules near schools","value":"No tobacco sales within 100 m of schools (RA 9211); LGU liquor bans/curfews","role":"HV","source":"Est.: RA 9211 Tobacco Regulation Act","estimate":true},{"id":"P31","cat":"Regional rules","name":"Plastic bag ordinances","value":"Many LGUs (QC, Makati, Cebu) restrict single-use plastic","role":"HV","source":"Est.: local ordinances","estimate":true},{"id":"P32","cat":"Regional rules","name":"Sidewalk clearing operations","value":"MMDA/LGU clearing removes sidewalk vendors and extensions","role":"HV","source":"Est.: recurrent DILG directives","estimate":true},{"id":"P33","cat":"Climate","name":"Typhoon season","value":"~20 tropical cyclones a year, Jun–Nov peak","role":"HV","source":"Est.: PAGASA averages","estimate":true},{"id":"P34","cat":"Festivals","name":"Ber-months peak","value":"Sep–Dec sales 1.3–1.8× normal; 13th-month pay in Dec","role":"HV","source":"Est.: seasonal pattern","estimate":true},{"id":"P35","cat":"Language","name":"Languages","value":"Filipino and English; Cebuano in Cebu/Visayas/Mindanao","role":"HV","source":"Est.: general reference","estimate":true},{"id":"P36","cat":"Demographics","name":"Income and urbanisation","value":"GDP/capita ≈ $4,000; ≈ 48–54% urban","role":"HV","source":"Est.: World Bank WDI order of magnitude","estimate":true},{"id":"P37","cat":"Risk","name":"Typhoon / flood","value":"Stock loss, 1–7 days closure, price spikes","role":"RE","source":"Est.: PAGASA history","estimate":true},{"id":"P38","cat":"Risk","name":"Earthquake","value":"Cebu M6.9 Bogo quake (Sep 2025) closed businesses in N. Cebu","role":"RE","source":"Est.: PHIVOLCS Sep 2025 event","estimate":true},{"id":"P39","cat":"Risk","name":"Rice / fuel price spike","value":"Fuel up ₱2–3/L in a week; rice price shocks","role":"RE","source":"https://tribune.net.ph/2026/07/20/diesel-nears-p100liter-as-fuel-price-surge-hits-anew","estimate":false},{"id":"P40","cat":"Risk","name":"Clearing operation","value":"Stall removed by LGU road-clearing drive","role":"RE","source":"Est.: DILG road-clearing directives","estimate":true},{"id":"P41","cat":"Risk","name":"Brownouts (grid alerts)","value":"Yellow/red alerts in hot months; rotating outages in some provinces","role":"RE","source":"Est.: NGCP grid alerts 2024–25","estimate":true},{"id":"P42","cat":"Risk","name":"Utang default","value":"Customers fail to repay tabs, wiping out margin","role":"RE","source":"Est.: sari-sari practice","estimate":true}],"regions":[{"id":"ph-ncr","name":"Metro Manila (NCR)","why":"Highest wage (₱755/day), Meralco, highest rents, 17 LGUs with different permits and plastic rules"},{"id":"ph-cebu","name":"Cebu (Central Visayas)","why":"Wage ≈ ₱540–582, Sinulog peak, VECO power, 2025 earthquake exposure"},{"id":"ph-davao","name":"Davao City","why":"Strict local ordinances (smoking, liquor curfew), Mindanao grid, lower wages"},{"id":"ph-calabarzon","name":"CALABARZON","why":"Industrial belt with mid-level wages and fast growth outside Manila"},{"id":"ph-western-visayas","name":"Western Visayas (Iloilo)","why":"Lower wages, typhoon exposure, frequent power issues"},{"id":"ph-barmm","name":"BARMM","why":"Muslim autonomous region: Ramadan pattern, Shari'a holidays, lowest wages"}]}