Company registration in India. Make your business legally its own.

Registering a company makes your business a legal entity separate from you, with its own name, assets and liabilities. Define IPR Solutions helps you choose between a private limited company, an LLP and a one person company, and files the incorporation with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Get a free consultation See the five stages

Free consultation. Fees quoted before you commit to anything.

Company law in three numbers

What it takes to incorporate

  • 2

    people, at least

    A private limited company needs two directors and two shareholders. An LLP needs two partners.

  • 200

    shareholders, at most

    The ceiling for a private limited company.

  • 1

    application

    The SPICe+ form covers the name, the incorporation, and the company's PAN and TAN together.

What can be yours

Three structures, and what incorporation gives you

The structure decides who can own the business, how it is run and how it raises money.

  • Private limited company

    Owned through shares. The usual choice for a business that plans to raise outside investment.

  • Limited liability partnership

    Partners share the running of the business, with limited liability and lighter compliance.

  • One person company

    A company with a single owner, who names a nominee.

  • A separate legal entity

    The company owns its assets, signs its contracts and can sue in its own name.

  • Limited liability

    Owners are liable up to what they have put in, not with their personal assets.

  • Perpetual succession

    The company carries on when its owners or directors change.

A company name is not a trademark. Incorporation stops another company taking the same name on the register. Only a trademark protects the brand you sell under.

How it becomes a company

How company registration works in India

Five stages, from choosing a structure to the first filings after incorporation.

  1. 01 Structure

    Choosing the right form

    We go through your plans for ownership, funding and compliance, and advise on the structure that fits.

  2. 02 Name

    Digital signatures and the name

    The directors get digital signatures, and the proposed name is reserved with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

  3. 03 Filing

    The incorporation documents

    We prepare and file the application with the memorandum and articles, or the LLP agreement for a partnership.

  4. 04 Incorporation

    Certificate of Incorporation

    The Registrar issues the certificate, with the Corporate Identity Number and the company's PAN and TAN.

  5. 05 After

    The first compliance steps

    A bank account, the declaration that business has commenced, the first auditor and the statutory registers. We support the filings that follow.

Choosing a structure

Private limited, LLP or one person company?

All three give limited liability. They differ in who they suit.

StructureWho it suitsWhat it needs
Private limited company A business that plans to bring in investors or issue shares. At least two directors and two shareholders.
LLP Partners who want limited liability with lighter compliance. At least two designated partners.
One person company A single founder who wants limited liability. One member and a nominee.

Keeping it yours

What you get from Define IPR

  • Advice on the right structure

    Based on your business goals and what you can keep up with in compliance.

  • The incorporation, filed end to end

    Names, documents and forms, prepared and filed for you.

  • Support after incorporation

    The compliance and filings that follow the certificate.

  • The name and the brand together

    We check your company name against trademarks too, and can register the brand.

What we need from you

  • PAN and identity proof of each director or partner.
  • Address proof for each: a recent bank statement or utility bill.
  • A photograph of each director or partner.
  • Proof of the registered office: a utility bill, and a rent agreement or the owner's consent.
  • Two proposed names, and the main activity of the business.
  • How the capital and the ownership will be divided.

One thing to do first

Check the name twice: against existing companies and against registered trademarks. A name that clashes with a trademark can be refused, or challenged after you have built a business on it.

Companies and LLPs are registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Before you decide

Company registration, answered

What is company registration?

It is the process of legally incorporating a business as an entity separate from its owners. In India, companies are incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 and LLPs under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, both with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Which business types can be registered?

The common ones are a private limited company, a limited liability partnership and a one person company. Which one fits depends on how many owners there are, whether you plan to raise investment, and how much compliance you can take on.

Is a private limited company or an LLP better?

A private limited company suits a business that expects outside investors, because ownership is held in shares that can be issued and transferred. An LLP suits partners who want limited liability with fewer compliance requirements.

Is there a minimum capital for a private limited company?

No. The Companies Act no longer sets a minimum paid-up capital for a private limited company. The founders decide the capital, and the government fee depends on it.

Do I need a registered office?

Yes. Every company must have a registered office address in India, and it can be a residential address. You need proof of the address and the owner's consent if the premises are not yours.

Can a foreign national register a company in India?

Foreign founders can be shareholders and directors, subject to the foreign investment rules for the sector. At least one director of the company must be resident in India.

How long does company registration take?

It depends on the type of entity and on how complete the documents are. Most of the time goes into gathering the documents and getting the name approved.

How much does company registration cost?

The government fee depends on the structure and the capital, and stamp duty varies by state. Our professional fee is added to that. We quote the total after a free consultation, before you commit to anything.

Last reviewed . This page is general information, not legal advice.

Related services

Your move

Tell us what you want to protect

Send a few details and we will come back to you with the next steps and a fee quote. No obligation.

We use your details only to reply to this enquiry. See our privacy policy.