Philippines company search: check a name or look up a company
Search the SEC company registry by name or SEC registration number, or check whether a business name is available before you register. We check it against the SEC's naming rules and the registry. Free, no login.
How a company name passes the SEC
The naming rules are set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Revised Corporation Code, and applied when you reserve a name through the SEC eSPARC portal. Every later step, from registration to your bank account, chains off an approved name.
Required legal suffix
A corporation's name must end with Corporation, Corp., Incorporated, or Inc. A one person corporation must end with OPC. A partnership uses Company or Co., and a limited partnership adds Limited or Ltd.
Unique and distinct
The name cannot be identical, or confusingly similar, to a name already registered or reserved with the SEC, or to a sole proprietorship business name registered with the DTI. A difference in punctuation, spacing, or capitalization alone is not enough.
Restricted or prohibited terms
Words like Philippine, National, or Republic need authorization, and Finance, Bank, or Engineering are restricted to companies licensed for them. Misleading names, or anything implying illegal activity, are refused.
Language and characters
Names use English, Filipino, or a combination, with standard letters and numbers only, and no symbols or special characters. If the name includes Philippines as a subsidiary of a foreign company, it appears in parentheses, such as ABC (Philippines) Inc.
Clear and relevant
The name should reflect your business activity and be easy to understand. A descriptive term in the name should match the company's stated primary purpose.
Patterns that get a name held up
From the names we reserve and register with the SEC for clients. Each one is easy to spot once you know the pattern.
A name that matches an existing SEC company, or a DTI-registered business name, is rejected. A difference only in punctuation or spacing does not make it distinct.
A corporation without Inc. or Corporation, an OPC without OPC, or a partnership without Company or Ltd. is held up.
Using Bank, Finance, or investment-style terms without the relevant license, or Philippine, National, or Republic without authorization, blocks the name.
A descriptive word in the name that does not match the primary purpose stated in the articles is queried.
Names with symbols or special characters beyond standard letters and numbers are invalid.
How to search the SEC company registry
The Philippines' company registry is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Corporations, one person corporations, and partnerships register with the SEC, while sole proprietorship business names are registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The SEC's online portal, eSPARC, is where names are verified and reserved.
This tool searches the SEC’s company records. Type a company name, or part of one, or an SEC registration number, and it returns matching companies with their registration number, type, status, and registered address. The same search checks a brand-new name against the rules above, so you can run a business name check and a company search in one place. Once your name clears, our company registration in the Philippines service files it with the SEC.
Checking a name is free. For due diligence or an acquisition, our Manila team can obtain a company's official SEC records, the General Information Sheet, Articles of Incorporation, and Audited Financial Statements, through the SEC Express System.
Looking to buy or check a Philippine company? Our team can pull its official SEC records and walk you through what they mean. Talk to our team.
What a company report includes
Company profile
Registered name and any former names, SEC registration number, incorporation date, company type, status, registered address, and business activities.
Ownership and management
Directors and officers with their roles, and shareholders with their respective shareholdings.
Additional details
Registered capital, appointed auditors, and any registered charges or liabilities, depending on the company type and filings.
Company suffixes in the Philippines
What the suffix tells you about a company you find in the registry.
| Suffix | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inc. / Incorporated / Corp. / Corporation | Stock or non-stock corporation | Limited liability; the most common form for foreign investors |
| OPC | One person corporation | A corporation with a single stockholder; the name must end with OPC |
| Company / Co. | Partnership | Two or more partners; a professional partnership need not use Company |
| Limited / Ltd. | Limited partnership | Added when at least one partner has limited liability |
Run another search or name check
Search the registry by name or SEC registration number, or check whether a new business name is available in the same step.
The rules behind every Philippines company name check
Revised Corporation Code
Republic Act No. 11232. Sets the company-name rules, including the required suffix and the bar on names identical to an existing company.
SEC Memorandum Circular 13 (2019)
The SEC's Amended Guidelines on Corporate and Partnership Names, covering distinguishability, restricted words, and suffixes.
Intellectual Property Code
Republic Act No. 8293. The basis, with IPOPHL, for refusing a name that conflicts with a registered trademark.
Company search questions
What people ask before checking a name or ordering a report.
Is the Philippines company name check free?
Yes. Checking whether a company name is available is free. Obtaining a company's official SEC records is a paid service handled by our team.
How long is a reserved company name valid?
An SEC name reservation is valid for 30 days, extendable up to a maximum of 90 days, after which it lapses if registration is not completed.
How do I search the SEC company registry?
Type a company name, part of a name, or an SEC registration number into the tool. It searches the SEC's records and returns matching companies with their registration number, type, status, and registered address.
Can I search by SEC registration number?
Yes. You can look up a company by name or by the SEC registration number assigned at incorporation.
What happens if my proposed name is rejected?
Submit an alternative. It helps to prepare two or three compliant options, so the SEC can approve the first that clears and you avoid a repeat round.
Do company names have to be in English?
Names can be in English, Filipino, or a combination, using standard letters and numbers only. Symbols and special characters are not allowed.
What is the difference between an SEC company name and a DTI business name?
The SEC registers corporations, one person corporations, and partnerships. The DTI registers business names for sole proprietorships. A name must be distinct from both.
Is registering a company name the same as trademarking it?
No. A company name is registered with the SEC, while a trademark is protected separately under the Intellectual Property Code through IPOPHL.
Reviewed by Emerhub's Manila team. Last updated June 2026. We reserve and register company names with the SEC for clients regularly.
Once you have a name
Talk to our Philippines team
Found the name you want, or a company you need records on? Our Manila team can reserve and register an available name with the SEC, or obtain a company's official SEC records for your due diligence.
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1634 Metro Manila, Philippines