Question 1

What types of Philippine MSMEs benefit most from a booking platform?

Accepted Answer

Service MSMEs see the most immediate benefit: home-based food and catering, baking and custom cakes, beauty salons and nail salons, massage services, tutoring and review centers, photography and events, tailoring and clothing alterations, laundry services, cleaning services, and professional services like bookkeeping and IT support. Product MSMEs with made-to-order items (custom cakes, personalized gifts, custom clothing, custom printing) also benefit significantly — the order form collects all customization details upfront with the deposit, eliminating the back-and-forth in Messenger that delays production.

Question 2

How is Suriya different from Shopee, Lazada, or Facebook Marketplace for Philippine MSMEs?

Accepted Answer

Shopee, Lazada, and Facebook Marketplace are discovery platforms — they help new customers find you. Their tradeoffs: commission fees (1–10%), the customer belongs to the marketplace, you compete on price with other sellers, and your visibility depends on their algorithm. Suriya is your own direct platform — no commission, your customer relationship, your brand. Best approach: use marketplaces to acquire new customers, then move repeat buyers to your direct Suriya link. Over time, your direct customer base grows and your marketplace dependence decreases — you keep the discovery benefit while eliminating the ongoing fees.

Question 3

How do I get Philippine customers to use my booking link instead of Messenger?

Accepted Answer

Set your Messenger auto-reply to include your booking link: 'Hi! For orders, please use our booking link for faster processing and secure payment: [link]. Thank you!' Add the link to your Facebook Page About section, Instagram bio, and every post caption. When existing customers message you on Messenger, reply with the link and explain it's faster and includes secure DP. Most Filipino customers switch to the direct link within 1–2 interactions once they experience the convenience of seeing your catalogue and paying DP in one flow.

Question 4

Do Philippine MSMEs need to register with DTI or BIR to use Suriya?

Accepted Answer

No registration is required to start using Suriya or earning income as a Philippine MSME. However, for professional legitimacy and legal compliance: DTI business name registration costs ₱200–500 and gives you a registered trade name. BIR registration is required once your annual gross income exceeds ₱250,000. For MSMEs earning regularly, both registrations add credibility — customers feel more comfortable booking from a registered business. Register when you're ready to scale; start earning first.

Question 5

How does Suriya handle the common Philippine MSME problem of customers who don't pay?

Accepted Answer

Suriya's GCash deposit requirement is specifically designed to solve this. Every booking requires the customer to pay a defined deposit amount (you set it — typically 30–50% of the order value) before you receive a confirmation. You don't prepare, bake, cook, sew, or schedule until the deposit is confirmed in your booking dashboard. Customers who are serious pay the DP immediately — non-serious customers don't complete the booking. This simple change eliminates the most common cause of MSME revenue loss in the Philippines: time and materials invested in orders that don't get collected or paid.

Your MSME deserves more than
Facebook Messenger orders.

Your business. Your professional platform.

Share one link — not a DM inbox

No more ghost orders

Stop managing orders through screenshots

Own your customers, not rent them

From Messenger to professional platform.

Gumawa ng app. Palaguin ang negosyo.

Questions from Philippine MSME owners upgrading their business platform.

Your MSME deserves more thanFacebook Messenger orders.