Start your Indian business the right way
Registering a company in India is fully online, but the structure, directors, foreign investment rules and tax registrations need to be right from the start. Working with our India partners, we handle the whole process: choosing the right entity, the SPICe+ incorporation filing, PAN, TAN and GST, RBI reporting for foreign investment, and bank account opening, so you are ready to trade from day one.
Expert Indian Company Setup, Tax Registration and Banking Guidance
End-to-end support from incorporation to your first invoice: founding documents, registration, tax and banking, coordinated by one team.
01
Full incorporation with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs through the SPICe+ integrated form, which covers name approval, incorporation, director identification numbers (DIN), PAN, TAN, and provident fund and state insurance registration in one filing. The certificate of incorporation typically follows within one to three weeks once documents are ready.
02
Registration of limited liability partnerships (LLPs) for professional firms and joint ventures, and one person companies (OPCs) for solo founders who are Indian citizens, including NRIs.
03
Every Indian company must have a registered office in India from incorporation, supported by a rent agreement or ownership proof, a utility bill and the owner’s no-objection certificate. We help arrange a suitable address through our India partners.
04
Founding documents tailored to your business, ownership and investor plans, with the key terms of any shareholders’ agreement built into the Articles so they are enforceable.
05
Initial share allocation (there is no minimum capital), appointment of at least two directors including one resident in India for 182 days or more in the financial year, digital signature certificates, significant beneficial owner declarations and, for foreign shareholders, FDI-compliant share pricing.
06
PAN and TAN are issued with incorporation. We advise on choosing your corporate tax regime under the Income-tax Act 2025 (the 22% concessional regime or the default regime), withholding tax (TDS) obligations and advance tax.
07
Managed GST registration once turnover reaches ₹40 lakh for goods or ₹20 lakh for services (lower in some states), or earlier if you sell across state lines, through e-commerce, or simply want to claim input tax credit, which most businesses do.
08
Help opening your company bank account and receiving share capital from abroad, then reporting the foreign investment to the Reserve Bank of India (FC-GPR) within 30 days of allotting shares.
Legal structure: Individual trading under their own or a business name; not a separate legal entity
Owners: One individual
Liability: Unlimited personal liability
Compliance: Registrations such as GST, Udyam (MSME) and shop and establishment licence as needed
Tax: Personal income tax slabs
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Freelancers and small local businesses (not open to foreign investment)
Legal structure: Partnership under the Indian Partnership Act 1932; not a separate legal entity
Owners: Two or more partners
Liability: Unlimited, joint and several
Compliance: Partnership deed; registration with the Registrar of Firms recommended
Tax: Taxed as a firm at 30% plus surcharge and cess
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Small family and professional businesses
Legal structure: Separate legal entity under the LLP Act 2008
Owners: At least two partners; at least two designated partners, one resident in India (120 days in the financial year)
Liability: Limited to agreed contribution
Compliance: LLP agreement; annual statements of accounts and annual return; audit above thresholds
Tax: Taxed at 30% plus surcharge and cess; no tax on profit distributions to partners
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Professional firms, joint ventures and small businesses; foreign investment allowed in automatic-route sectors
Legal structure: Separate legal entity under the Companies Act 2013
Owners: 2 to 200 shareholders
Liability: Limited to unpaid share capital
Compliance: At least two directors, one resident in India; statutory audit; annual ROC filings
Tax: Corporate tax: 22% concessional regime (about 25.17% effective) or 25%/30% default regime
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Startups, SMEs, investor-backed businesses and foreign subsidiaries
Legal structure: Separate legal entity with a single member
Owners: One Indian citizen (resident or NRI), with a nominee
Liability: Limited
Compliance: At least one director; simpler meetings and filings than a private company
Tax: Corporate tax, as for a private company
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Solo founders who want limited liability (not open to foreign nationals)
Legal structure: Company formed for charitable or social objects under section 8 of the Companies Act
Owners: Members, as for a private or public company
Liability: Limited
Compliance: Licence from the Central Government; profits must be reinvested; no dividends
Tax: Tax exemption available on registration with the income tax authorities
Capital: No minimum
Best for: NGOs, social enterprises, education and research organisations
Legal structure: Separate legal entity that can raise capital from the public
Owners: At least seven shareholders; no upper limit
Liability: Limited to unpaid share capital
Compliance: At least three directors; stricter governance; SEBI rules if listed
Tax: Corporate tax
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Larger companies planning to list or raise public capital
Legal structure: Offices of a foreign company; not separate legal entities
Owners: The foreign parent company
Liability: The parent company is fully liable
Compliance: RBI approval through an authorised bank; registration with the Registrar of Companies; annual activity certificates
Tax: Branch and project office profits taxed at foreign company rates; liaison offices cannot earn income
Capital: Not applicable; expenses funded by the parent
Best for: Foreign companies testing the market (liaison), operating limited activities (branch) or delivering a specific project
Why Form a Company in India?
India is one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, with a huge domestic market, a deep pool of skilled talent, fully online company registration and 100% foreign ownership allowed in most sectors.
An Indian company builds trust with customers, suppliers, government buyers and investors, and is often required to sign contracts and bid for work locally.
Business bank accounts, UPI and India’s digital public infrastructure, and access to Indian credit schemes and investors.
Access to more than a billion consumers, a major technology and services talent base, and trade agreements with partners including the UK and the EFTA states (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).
A 22% concessional corporate tax rate, startup tax benefits, double tax treaties with the UK, Ireland, Hungary and many others, and a common law legal system with IP protection.
Who Is This For?
Our service is for entrepreneurs and businesses who want a compliant, scalable Indian company set up correctly.
- Indian residents starting their first company or moving from a proprietorship or partnership
- NRIs and overseas entrepreneurs establishing a business in India
- Foreign companies setting up a subsidiary, liaison office or global capability centre
- Startups that need an investor-ready structure and DPIIT recognition
- Existing businesses restructuring or creating an Indian holding company
4-Step Process
Step-01
Discovery
A free consultation to understand your goals, ownership and plans for India.
Step-02
Analysis
We assess the right entity, foreign investment route and sector caps, director residency, and your tax and GST position.
Step-03
Strategy
A clear formation plan with documents, timeline and costs, including notarised or apostilled documents for foreign founders, registered office and banking.
Step-04
Execution & Support
With our India partners we file your incorporation, obtain your registrations, open your bank account and complete RBI reporting, then stay on as your adviser for accounting, payroll and ongoing compliance.
Trusted by Businesses Across Three Continents
From startups to multinationals, we have helped clients in the UK, Ireland, the EU, India, North America and beyond set up, expand and stay compliant.
- 18+ Years Experience
- 30+ Satisfied Clients
- 25+ Expert Team
- 4 International offices
- Glasgow
- London
- Dublin
- Budapest
Frequently asked question
Once documents and digital signatures are ready, the SPICe+ filing usually results in a certificate of incorporation within one to three weeks. Foreign founders should allow extra time to notarise or apostille their documents. Sectors that need Government approval for foreign investment take longer.
A private limited company has shareholders and directors, pays corporate tax (22% under the concessional regime) and is the structure investors usually expect. An LLP has partners, is taxed at 30% but pays no tax on profit distributions, and has lighter compliance, which suits professional firms and smaller businesses.
Yes. Every Indian company must have a registered office in India, with proof of address and the owner’s consent. We help you arrange one.
Not in a private limited company, which needs at least two shareholders and two directors (one person can hold both roles, so two people are enough). A single founder who is an Indian citizen can form a one person company instead.
The main obligations are:
- filing the commencement of business declaration within 180 days and appointing an auditor;
- board meetings, an annual general meeting and statutory registers;
- annual financial statements and annual return to the Registrar of Companies, and annual director KYC;
- statutory audit and income tax return, plus GST and TDS returns throughout the year;
- for foreign-owned companies, the annual Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) return to the RBI.
Yes. Foreign nationals and companies can own up to 100% of an Indian company in most sectors under the automatic route, with no prior approval. At least one director must be resident in India for 182 days in the financial year, and investors from countries sharing a land border with India need Government approval. We guide you through each requirement.
work with us
We would love to hear more about your India project
Whether you are forming your first company in India or setting up an Indian subsidiary, we will get you registered and ready to trade.
Monday - Thursday : 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
