Perfume & Cosmetics Business Permits Guide (Philippines)
This guide explains the permits, registrations, FDA cosmetic rules, and realistic startup costs for opening a small perfume or cosmetics blending shop in the Philippines.
What you'll learn in this perfume & cosmetics business guide
This perfume and cosmetics business permits guide walks you through choosing a structure, DTI/SEC registration, barangay and Mayor's permits, BIR registration, social contribution setup, and especially FDA cosmetic compliance (LTO and product notifications) for perfume SKUs.
For related step-by-step topics, you may also want to read our DTI Business Name Registration Guide, Barangay/LGU Business Permit Guide, and BIR Business Registration Guide.
Para ma-model ang permit fees, FDA notifications, at non-government startup costs (rent, renovation, equipment, inventory), puwede mong gamitin ang Budget Calculator, ang Product Costing Calculator para sa per-SKU costing at markup, at ang Stock Management System para bantayan ang inventory ng oils, bases, bottles, at packaging.
Step-by-step requirements and estimated fees (PHP)
1) Decide structure & name
Sole proprietorship — register your trade name with DTI. Ito ang pinakasimple para sa single owner. Gamitin ang BNRS online portal para sa name search, reservation, at payment.
DTI name registration fee (typical): around ₱200 (barangay) → ₱500 (city/municipal) → ₱1,000 (regional) → ₱2,000 (national) depende sa scope (common ranges reported).
Corporation/Partnership — file with SEC (mas mataas na government fees tied to authorized capital at extra filings).
Typical SEC name reservation fee mga ₱100; filing & registration fees depend on capital (filing fee = percentage of capital, may minimum amounts).
2) Barangay Clearance + Mayor's (Business) Permit (LGU)
Barangay Clearance — required bago ang Mayor's Permit. Fee ay kadalasang maliit (approx ₱300–₱1,000 for small shops).
Mayor's Permit / Business Permit — required yearly. Fees vary widely by LGU and business category (sales/retail, occupancy, signage, sanitary, garbage, fire inspection, etc.).
Example breakdowns show combined minimums from around ₱100 up to several thousands depending on city. For a small perfume/cosmetics shop, expect roughly ₱2,000–₱15,000 depending on location; busy metro LGUs charge more. Check your city/municipality revenue code for exact schedule.
3) BIR registration (tax)
Register with BIR to get your Certificate of Registration (Form 2303) at tamang tax type (VAT vs. Non-VAT; Percentage vs. Graduated income tax). Puwede via NewBizReg online o direkta sa RDO.
Documentary stamp tax ay around ₱30. Recent changes removed some old annual ₱500 fee, pero mag-budget pa rin ng small admin costs and possible booklet printing.
Estimated BIR one-time administrative cost: roughly ₱30–₱1,500 depending sa required booklets, printing, at kung kukuha ka ng tax agent.
4) Social contributions (if you hire staff)
SSS / PhilHealth / Pag-IBIG employer registration — walang malaking one-time government fee, pero monthly contributions are compulsory once you hire employees.
Mag-budget ng employer share sa payroll contributions per employee, ayon sa latest SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG tables.
5) FDA — cosmetics / perfume regulatory compliance (critical)
Dahil magbebenta ka o magbe-blend ng finished cosmetic products (perfume, body spray, etc.), kailangan mong sumunod sa FDA Philippines rules:
- License to Operate (LTO) for cosmetic establishment — required bago mag-file ng cosmetic product notification. LTO validity for cosmetics is typically around 1 year.
- Cosmetic Product Notification (CPN) — per SKU/product. Recent fee schedules show basic notification fee around ₱1,000 per product/SKU as baseline (some sources: ₱1k–₱2k, depende sa AO and services).
Important: bawat finished perfume SKU must be notified (with ingredients and label info). Kailangan mo ng Product Information File (PIF), ingredient listing, labels, at posibleng Certificate of Manufacturer (kung imported components).
Ang FDA ay may e-portal para sa notifications; maraming owners ang kumukuha ng FDA consultant para sa first run.
6) Other permits / inspections
As part of LGU processing, kailangan mo rin ng sanitary permit, fire safety inspection certificate, building/occupancy (kung may renovation), signboard permit, at environment/garbage fees.
These usually add small fees (hundreds to low thousands) pero critical for compliance, lalo na sa hygiene and fire safety for flammable ingredients.
7) Labeling, safety & packaging compliance
Sundin ang FDA labeling rules for cosmetics: ingredient list, warnings, manufacturer/distributor info, net volume, batch/lot number, at country of origin kung applicable.
Kung mag-aalok ka ng on-site DIY blending (customers mixing their own scents), siguraduhing may hygiene controls, clear labeling per bottle, at ingredient safety (avoid restricted ingredients and unauthorized flammable concentrations).
One-time startup cost (non-government) — realistic ranges
| Item | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Store rent (deposit + 1 month) | ₱10,000–₱60,000+ |
| Renovation / fixtures / shelving / counters | ₱20,000–₱150,000 |
| Basic lab/equipment (scales, pipettes, glassware, bottles, safety gear) | ₱15,000–₱80,000 |
| Initial inventory (oils, bases, fixatives, packaging) | ₱20,000–₱150,000 |
| Label printing & packaging design | ₱5,000–₱30,000 |
| Professional services (accountant / FDA consultant / lawyer) | ₱5,000–₱30,000 |
| Marketing (launch + social ads) | ₱5,000–₱50,000 |
| Ballpark total (small DIY boutique) | ₱80,000–₱500,000 |
Practical checklist you can follow today
- Choose your business name and decide structure (sole prop = faster). Register with DTI/SEC via the proper portals.
- Prepare scanned IDs, lease contract (if renting), and business name cert. Apply for Barangay Clearance → then Mayor's Permit at your LGU; check the LGU revenue code for exact permit fees.
- Register with BIR (NewBizReg or local RDO). Get your COR and register books and receipts.
- Register with SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG if you plan to hire staff.
- Prepare for FDA: apply for LTO (establishment) then Cosmetic Product Notification for each perfume SKU (~₱1,000 per SKU as baseline). Compile PIF, ingredient lists, labels, and consider an FDA consultant for your first run.
- Get sanitary / fire / signage inspections and clearances as required by your LGU.
- Finalize shop fit-out, train staff on mixing hygiene, label templates, and POS/inventory setup. Then do a soft launch and keep all receipts and digital copies ready for BIR & FDA audits.