Startup India registration. Claim the benefits that are yours.

A business recognised as a startup by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) pays lower fees to protect its intellectual property and can apply for tax relief. Define IPR Solutions prepares the application, and files the patents and trademarks that recognition makes cheaper.

Get a free consultation See the five stages

Free consultation. Fees quoted before you commit to anything.

Recognition in three numbers

What the certificate is worth

  • 80%

    off patent fees

    The rebate on patent filing fees for a recognised startup, with faster examination available.

  • 50%

    off trademark fees

    The rebate on the government fee for a trademark application.

  • 10

    years

    How long a business counts as a startup, measured from its incorporation.

What can be yours

What DPIIT recognition gives a startup

Recognition is free to apply for. These are the benefits it opens.

  • Income tax exemption

    An eligible startup can apply for a tax holiday on profits for three years in a row. It needs a separate approval.

  • Lower IP fees

    Reduced government fees on patents and trademarks, and expedited patent examination.

  • Self-certification

    Startups can certify their own compliance with several labour and environment laws.

  • Government e-Marketplace

    Sell to government buyers, with relaxed conditions on prior experience and turnover in tenders.

  • Easier winding up

    A faster route to close the business if it does not work out.

  • Access to funding schemes

    Eligibility for government-backed startup funds and credit guarantee schemes.

Recognition and the tax exemption are two separate things. The DPIIT certificate comes first. The exemption has its own conditions and its own application.

How it becomes yours

How Startup India registration works

Five stages, from the eligibility check to using the benefits.

  1. 01 Eligibility

    Does the business qualify?

    We check the type of entity, its age, its turnover and what makes the product or model innovative or scalable.

  2. 02 Entity

    Incorporating, if needed

    Recognition is open to private limited companies, LLPs and registered partnerships. We can incorporate one first.

  3. 03 Application

    The write-up and documents

    We prepare the description of the innovation and file the application on the Startup India portal.

  4. 04 Recognition

    The DPIIT certificate

    DPIIT reviews the application and issues a certificate of recognition with a number.

  5. 05 Benefits

    Putting it to work

    We file your patents and trademarks at the startup fee, and help with the tax exemption application.

Who qualifies

The four conditions for recognition

A business must meet all four.

ConditionWhat the rules sayWhat it means
Type of entity A private limited company, an LLP or a registered partnership firm. A sole proprietorship does not qualify.
Age Up to ten years from the date of incorporation. After that, the business stops being a startup.
Turnover Not above ₹100 crore in any financial year since incorporation. One year above the limit ends eligibility.
Innovation Working on a new or improved product, process or service, or a scalable model. A business formed by splitting up an existing one does not qualify.

Keeping it yours

What you get from Define IPR

  • An honest eligibility check

    We tell you before you apply if the business is unlikely to qualify.

  • The application prepared

    The innovation write-up is the part that decides most applications. We draft it with you.

  • IP filed at the startup fee

    Patents, trademarks and designs, filed by the firm that handled your recognition.

  • The company, if you need one

    Incorporation and GST, handled by one firm.

What you need to apply

  • The certificate of incorporation or registration.
  • PAN of the business.
  • Details of the directors or partners.
  • A short description of the product or service, and what is innovative about it.
  • Supporting material: a website, a pitch deck, or a product video.
  • Any patent or trademark already filed, and any funding received.

One thing to do first

Get recognised before you file your patent or trademark. The reduced fee applies only if you hold the certificate when you file.

Applications are made on the government's Startup India portal.

Before you decide

Startup India registration, answered

What is Startup India registration?

It is recognition of a business as a startup by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Startup India initiative. Recognised startups get reduced intellectual property fees, simpler compliance and access to tax and funding schemes.

What is the difference between DIPP and DPIIT?

They are the same department. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) was renamed the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in 2019, so "DIPP registration" and "DPIIT recognition" mean the same thing.

Who is eligible for DPIIT recognition?

A private limited company, LLP or registered partnership firm that is up to ten years old, has never crossed ₹100 crore in yearly turnover, and is working on innovation or a scalable business model.

Does a recognised startup automatically get the income tax exemption?

No. The exemption is a separate approval with its own conditions. Recognition makes a startup eligible to apply for it.

How much do startups save on patent and trademark fees?

A recognised startup gets an 80% rebate on patent filing fees and a 50% rebate on the government fee for trademark applications. Patent applications can also be examined faster.

Can a sole proprietorship register under Startup India?

No. Recognition is limited to private limited companies, LLPs and registered partnership firms. A proprietor would need to incorporate first.

How much does Startup India registration cost?

The government charges no fee for DPIIT recognition. Our professional fee covers preparing and filing the application. We quote it after a free consultation.

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.