What is a B2B ecosystem?
Business apps that belong to one platform and share the account and the data, instead of being wired together through paid integrations.
Philippines · BIR EIS + ASEAN
From SEC incorporation to BIR e-invoicing: what a Philippine company has to do, stage by stage.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue is progressively mandating the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS) across large and medium taxpayers, while a 12 % VAT regime, mandatory SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG payroll deductions and ASEAN trade obligations shape every transaction a Philippine company handles. This guide explains the obligations, from SEC registration and TIN enrolment to VAT returns, BPO export billing and ASEAN supply chains. The 4b2b ecosystem offers general online tools alongside (PDF invoices and archive, SMS and e-mail, CRM, HR records, hosting); it does not connect to BIR, SEC, SSS, PhilHealth or Pag-IBIG.
Explore the topic map →Illustrative overview (not measured data)4B2B · LEDGER VIEW
18
Topics
3
Clusters
1
Markets
InvoicingAccountingPayrollOther
Illustrative trend (not measured data)
Currency
PHP
VAT
12 %
Market
ASEAN
Registry
SEC / BIR
Start with the services you can use today
Subscribe online to the first applications of the 4b2b ecosystem, then add more modules to the same account whenever you need them.
Invoicing
Issue and manage invoices online, with plans that start with a free trial period.
from €1 /month
Hosting
cPanel hosting, VPS, dedicated and GPU servers on fast NVMe storage.
from €5 /month
Price monitoring
Track your competitors' prices for your products, with alerts and price recommendations.
from €2 /month
Notifications
Send SMS, e-mail and WhatsApp notifications to your customers from one place.
from €49 /month
Why the Philippines stack is distinct
EIS is live. VAT is 12 %. BPO billing is zero-rated. Three realities — one platform.
The BIR Electronic Invoicing System is not a future roadmap item: it is already mandatory for Large Taxpayers and expanding to medium taxpayers. Pair that with a 12 % VAT rate, a payroll regime with three statutory agencies (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, each with its own remittance portal) and the country's position as the region's leading BPO export hub. The 4b2b products do not connect to any of these systems; this section explains the rules so you know what to do at the source.
BIR-EISBIR / EIS mandateThe Bureau of Internal Revenue mandates EIS for Large Taxpayers and is progressively expanding coverage to medium and eventually small taxpayers. Every covered VAT invoice must be transmitted electronically in the prescribed XML format — OR/SI booklets are being phased out.
VAT-12VAT 12 % — standard + zero-rateStandard VAT is 12 % on taxable domestic supplies. Exports of goods and qualifying BPO/IT-BPM services are zero-rated, preserving input VAT reclaim rights. Returns are filed monthly (Form 2550M) or quarterly (2550Q) through BIR eFPS or eBIRForms.
PHP-BPOBPO exports — zero-ratedThe Philippines hosts the world's largest BPO sector. Cross-border service billing to foreign clients must carry zero-rated VAT treatment and a BIR-accepted export-service description. Errors here forfeit the zero-rating and create substantial VAT arrears.
ASEANASEAN / RCEP founding memberThe Philippines is both an ASEAN founding member and an RCEP signatory. Intra-ASEAN shipments qualify for AFTA preferential tariffs under ATIGA; RCEP extends preferential access further. Correct certificate-of-origin referencing is non-negotiable at customs.
01 · COMPANY FORMATION
Company Formation & Registration
Before the first EIS invoice can be transmitted, a Philippine company must clear five administrative hurdles: SEC or DTI registration, BIR TIN, VAT enrolment, LGU business permit and a corporate bank account. This cluster covers each step.
6 · Open →
02 · OPERATIONS
Operations — VAT 12 %, EIS, Payroll, BIR Filings
Running a Philippine company means filing a monthly VAT return (Form 2550M) via BIR eFPS, transmitting every invoice through EIS, processing payroll against three separate statutory agencies (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG) and — for BPO operators — issuing zero-rated export service invoices in USD or EUR. This cluster covers each operational requirement; filings and remittances are made in the official portals.
6 · Open →
03 · CROSS-BORDER
Cross-border — ASEAN, BPO Exports & Tax Treaties
The Philippines occupies a distinctive cross-border position: a founding ASEAN member and RCEP signatory with preferential tariff access across 20+ economies, the world's largest BPO export sector with zero-rated VAT treatment, and PEZA/BOI incentive zones that add a further layer of invoicing and compliance complexity. This cluster covers each cross-border scenario in detail.
6 · Open →
How the 4b2b modules fit a Philippine company
Each product lives on its own brand domain; subscriptions, billing and support are managed there. This view shows the general tools available to a Philippine company. They do not connect to BIR, SEC or the statutory payroll agencies.
4appointments.netOnline booking and appointment scheduling for service businesses.4buildsite.netWebsite and online-store builder with ready-made templates.4hosting.netReliable hosting and VPS infrastructure tailored for the 4b2b stack and partner deployments.4invoices.netInvoicing in 73 countries: PDF invoices, numbering, client records and payment links, with ANAF e-Factura integration in Romania.4mystaff.netTime tracking and shift scheduling for teams.4notify.netSMS and WhatsApp notifications, with an API to send them from your own applications.4pricing.netPrice comparison: monitor competitors and adjust the prices in your online store.
Technologies underpinning the ecosystem
Built on a REST API, Webhooks, PDF invoices and e-mail and SMS. EIS, UBL and ISO 20022 are listed for information only: the ecosystem has no integration with BIR, SEC, SSS, PhilHealth or Pag-IBIG.
Local e-invoicing standards (informational)
EISUBL 2.1Peppol BISISO 20022
Integrations
REST APIWebhooksPDF invoicesE-mail and SMS
Infrastructure
Hosting in EU data centres
Built for accountants, lawyers and compliance advisers
Accounting firms handling multiple TIN registrations, EIS onboardings and monthly VAT returns work in the BIR and SEC portals. The ecosystem adds general tools: PDF invoices and archive, CRM, HR records and notifications.
Accounting firms
Keep client invoices as PDFs in an invoice archive and use CRM and e-mail or SMS for client communication. EIS enrolment, VAT returns and BIR books are handled in the BIR channels, not in the 4b2b products.
Corporate lawyers
Issue engagement invoices as PDF and archive them, and keep client contacts in a CRM. VAT treatment and SEC or BIR deadlines remain your responsibility.
Tax consultants
Use CRM and e-mail or SMS for client follow-up. VAT returns, eFPS submissions and EIS reports are prepared and filed in the BIR systems; the 4b2b products do not monitor EIS rejections.
IT and BPO agencies
Issue service invoices as PDF and archive them, and manage client relationships in a CRM. Zero-rating, BSP conversion and EIS transmission are handled outside the products.
The 4b2b ecosystem
Why an ecosystem instead of separate apps
The 4b2b ecosystem is a group of business apps that share one account, one company record and one customer record. You switch on only the modules you need, and anything entered once shows up everywhere else — from invoicing through contracts to timesheets.
- One login for every module, with permissions set per role.
- Company and customer details are entered once, not six times.
- One subscription, with modules you turn on as you go.
- Local tax compliance included on every market we open.
Questions about the ecosystem
Short answers to what small companies ask most often before choosing. Each one has its own page, with worked examples and the mistakes to avoid.
What is the 4b2b ecosystem?
Invoicing, accounting, CRM, ERP, HR, projects, contracts and notifications under one account, with local compliance on each market.
How does an ecosystem cut software costs?
It removes parallel subscriptions and paid connectors: replacing six separate apps typically takes 40–60 % off the monthly bill.
What does Single Sign-On mean for a company?
One person signs in once and reaches every module; when they leave, access is revoked from a single place.
How is tax compliance handled across 70 countries?
Every market has its own e-invoicing format and channel, and the ecosystem applies them from the market you selected.
Partner programme — Philippines
Accountants, lawyers and IT consultants who introduce the 4b2b ecosystem to their clients earn a recurring commission on every active subscription — no cap, paid monthly.
Accountants
20–30 %
Recurring commission on every active client subscription you refer.
Corporate lawyers
10–20 %
Earned on referrals from SEC incorporation engagements, BIR compliance work or cross-border transaction advisory.
IT / BPO partners
20–30 %
Highest tier — triggered when multiple modules are deployed for a single enterprise client, e.g. invoicing, ERP and HR records together.
