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Starting a Business in Bacoor: Why You’ll Probably Hate It at First Glance (But Maybe Not)

@Aria Bennett2/14/2026blog

starting a business in bacoor isn’t exactly the romantic startup fairy tale. i mean, who wouldn’t want to ditch the city’s screamingly loud traffic or the 5m delay in mrt? honestly, that’s the first ‘win’-you get quieter days where your dog won’t sprint away from a neighbor’s K-pop playlist at 3 a.m. but let’s talk money, permits, and whether bacoor is actually for you.

first off, rent here is a mixed bag. i talked to a guy who runs a coffee shop called the brew house at bacoor bayshore, and he says even a tiny space (think: 30 sqm) starts at ₱15,000/month. that’s not chump change, but it’s doable if you don’t wanna shout over a macabebe-style crowd in manila. the problem? business licenses here are tied to the laguna expressway-if you’re within 5km of the expressway toll gate, you might owe extra fees. a local warned me about this over beers at queen of drinking, a spot where oldtimers still use vodka soda as a compliment. it’s not a rule, just a thing.

now, the job market. bacoor’s economy is a bit of a turtle foot. according to the pecb, it’s growing in logistics and agri-processing because of montiflor farms nearby. if you’re an expired freelance blogger trying to pivot to ‘remote work consultancy,’ you might find it harder than selling shaped pastries at a garage sale. but hey, maybe you’ll stumble into something weird. i met a fisherman who sells dried shrimp online. his website crashes weekly, but he lives streamlined.

*bacoor bayshore is the de facto zone for restaurants and small shops, but the area’s hazards are real. i once got stuck in a 45-minute traffic jam because a delivery van decided to use the road as a giant sled. safety stats from the pdpa say it’s lower than manila, but that doesn’t mean it’s ‘safe.’ just don’t open a store near the old gas station with the smoke-waving sign. that’s where the ghosts are.

weathership’s a dummy here. it’s not ‘tropical’-it’s ‘i forgot to turn off the ac last week.’ imagine waking up to 90% humidity and a sun that burns your eyelids if you forget sunglasses. neighbors are either the moms running balay san moon stall or the tech bros building servers in their dad’s garage. talking to a yoga instructor at calm zone bacoor, she said the quiet peak is when taylor’s at their open-mic nights. no kidding.

overheard gossip? a girl at sister jesus tinik said the city gov is cracking down on ‘illegal’ home businesses now. she called it a ‘mala gabi’ move (smart, but vague). another local warned me about the water-ang kuting ka lang if you piped it into your office. i laughed, but she was serious. rumors spread faster than a balakas in a fiesta.

let’s get real about data. the cost of living here is cheaper than manila, but not by a landslide. a monthly water bill might be ₱1,200 if you’re careful. internet? my speed tests via ginga internet* averaged 20mbps download. slow, but livable if you don’t stream 4k.

here’s the thing: starting a business in bacoor feels like opening a bakery in a quiet subdivision instead of a food court. the pros are obvious-low rent, slower pace. the cons? you might accidentally become a penultimate footnote. unless you’re okay with that.

if you’re still leaning in, check out tripadvisor bacoor for spot suggestions. don’t ignore yelp’s local services either. and if you want to scream into a void about permits, join the bacoor reddit board.

lastly, don’t let the vintage radio on my desk fool you. bacoor isn’t stuck in the past-it’s just… analog. like when you realize your business is thriving because someone told you ‘no’ 10 times. weirdly freeing.

stay weird. oh, and bring sunscreen. always brings sunscreen.

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About the author: Aria Bennett

Believer in lifelong learning (and unlearning).

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