Contact or Call Center Registration Services in the Philippines

With a large and highly educated labor force, the Philippines is recognized as one of the most ideal investment locations for foreign enterprises seeking to establish a contact or call center office in the country.  

When establishing a business in the Philippines, we provide end-to-end assistance from business registration, corporate secretarial work, corporate housekeeping, corporate restructuring, and general compliance work.

Call Center Industry in the Philippines

Globally recognized as the “call center capital of the world,” the Philippines is one of the most prominent outsourcing industries in the ASEAN region. Its significantly large and highly educated labor force places it ahead of the competition in contrast to neighboring countries. 

The call center industry in the Philippines contributes at least 11% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is one of the largest employers in the Philippine economy, recruiting over 1.13 million individuals spread across more than 1000 Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies nationwide.

Types of Call Center Companies

Call centers fall under the BPO industry, providing services that mainly cater to customer service and support. These companies focus on providing the following services: 

• Customer Service
• Lead Generation
• Billing and Collections
• Technical Support

Depending on your business needs, setting up a contact center and outsourcing such services allow you to maximize business activities and costs towards other company functions. 

Legal Entity Options for Foreign Investors

Foreign entities seeking to establish a call center in the Philippines must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to legally operate in the country. Additionally, such enterprises must decide on the type of business entity they must register as with the SEC:

• Branch Office
• Regional Operating Headquarters (ROHQ)
• Domestic Corporation
  • 60% Filipino-owned and 40% Foreign-owned Domestic Corporation
  • 40% to 100% Foreign-owned Domestic Corporation

Branch Office

A Branch Office is a revenue-generating entity that carries out the business activities of its foreign parent company into the Philippines. It does not have a separate legal entity from its parent company and its liabilities are incurred by the head office from abroad.

To register a branch office, foreign entities must secure the following: 

• Reserve or register a company name. 
• Appoint a Resident Agent
• Paid-Up Capital
• Board Resolution
• Registered Office Address

Regional Operating Headquarters (ROHQ)

A Regional Operating Headquarters (ROHQ) is a revenue-generating entity that carries out the business activities of its foreign parent company into the Philippines. It can only be set up by foreign corporations with affiliates, subsidiaries, and branches worldwide in the form of a service center for the entities owned by the parent company.

To register an ROHQ, foreign entities must secure the following:

• Appointment of Resident Agent
• Proof of Official Business Address
• Paid-up Capital

Under Philippine laws, ROHQs are not allowed to directly or indirectly solicit or market goods or services on behalf of their parent company, subsidiaries, branches, or affiliates. The law also prohibits ROHQs from offering qualifying services to third-party enterprises other than its associated entities.

Domestic Corporation

Similar to a Limited Liability Company (LLC), a domestic corporation incurs its own liabilities and is legally responsible for the payment of its obligations. This limits the liability of shareholders only to their capital contribution.

The documentary requirements for domestic corporations may vary depending on the amount of equity between foreign and local ownership. 

For 60% Filipino-owned and 40% Foreign-owned Domestic corporations: 

• Bank Certificate showing paid-up capital
• Articles of Incorporation and By-laws
• Treasurer’s Affidavit
• Registration Data Sheet
• Endorsements/Clearances from other government agencies (if applicable)

For 100% Foreign-Owned Domestic Corporations:

• Form F-100
• Articles of Incorporation and By-laws
• Treasurer’s Affidavit
• Bank Certificate showing paid-up capital
• Proof of Inward Remittance by non-resident aliens and foreign corporate subscribers who would like to register their investment with the Central Bank of the Philippines.

Foreign-owned corporations are allowed in the Philippines. However, they are subject to restrictions depending on the type of industry listed in the government’s Foreign Investments Negative List (FINL). 

Outsource Your Back-Office Operations in the Philippines

Starting a business in the Philippines can be an advantage for your business. Its strategic location, high-quality labor force, and business-friendly regulations allow foreign investors to maximize its business operations and increase their chances of securing a successful business venture.