Request
As a new business, we want to establish a language study abroad agency and language school in the Philippines. We would like comprehensive support, including setting up a local entity, hiring and training local staff, listing and negotiating partnerships with local language schools, as well as assistance with office search and contract arrangements.
Our Support
To establish a local corporation in the Philippines and acquire the necessary business licenses, we worked in coordination with local legal counsel. Meanwhile, we recruited pilot members with management or teaching experience in language study abroad. Following this, we supported additional hiring, developed language learning programs, approached various local language schools with partnership opportunities, and assisted in M&A negotiations with resort hotels. This comprehensive support covered everything from corporate registration and licensing to staffing, enabling the client to reach the operational launch phase locally.
- Hiring local pilot members
- Selecting local lawyer
- Selection of local accounting firm
- Employee Training
- Establishment of employee regulations
- Creation of personnel evaluation system
- Acquisition of business licenses
- Office Selection and Contract
- Support for listing, negotiating, and signing contracts with partner language schools
- Creation of in-house English learning programs (in cooperation with head office staff)
- Local company registration work
- Support for M&A negotiations of resort hotel
- Additional local recruitment activities (6 hires from over 1000 candidates)
- Local employee recruitment and management
- Client head office traveler support
- Coordination of local accounting with the client’s head office accounting staff
- Market characteristics training for local managers from headquarters
- Takeover of locally-incorporated businesses
Results
- Local company registration completed
- Recruitment of start-up members based on plan
- Hiring of additional employees to strengthen the system
- Obtained difficult-to-obtain business licenses in cooperation with local attorneys
- Target number of language school partnerships achieved
- Completion of language study program creation within the time frame
- Completed handover with appropriate handover and foundation for business expansion
Comment from the person in charge
At the time of the establishment of the local subsidiary for this project, English study abroad in the Philippines was just beginning to become popular in Japan, and the mission was to establish a study abroad agency and language learning center in anticipation of increased demand in the future.
The Philippines has a large BPO industry, and while there are a large number of English language instructors in the market, it is very difficult to recruit high quality instructors and a pool of people willing to participate in the start-up of the business.
In addition, in less developed countries, including the Philippines, there are many cases where informal transactions are required at public institutions. In this case as well, we received such a request at the official contact point when acquiring a business license. This is a common case for foreign investors to conduct business, and we strongly recommend that you communicate with a strong local lawyer in such cases.
If a foreign national like us goes to the office and makes a request directly, it is rare for it to go smoothly, and because of the high risk involved, we always use a lawyer to obtain registration and licenses.
During the start-up period, the head office frequently sent representatives, executives, and employees on monthly trips to the region, and we repeatedly provided them with training and explanations to gain their understanding of the market. By the time the start-up was complete and business could begin, each stakeholder had a good understanding of the market, the handover went smoothly, and the company continues to expand its business in the region today.
When setting up a local subsidiary for a first-time overseas expansion, as was the case with this client, leaving the task to experts who understand the market and can anticipate risks will ensure a smooth overseas expansion.
