Company Registration India
Pvt Ltd, WOS, Branch, LLP
Legal entity formation in India for foreign companies - Private Limited Company, Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Branch Office, or LLP. Complete SPICe+ filing on MCA21 through to Certificate of Incorporation, post-incorporation registrations, and bank account opening.
At a glance
3-5 weeks
Certificate of Incorporation
100% FDI
IT/ITES automatic route
30 days
FC-GPR filing window
INR 1
minimum paid-up capital
What is included
11 registration services - name to bank account
From RUN name reservation on MCA21 and SPICe+ incorporation to DPIIT Startup India recognition, GST registration, and bank account opening - every step managed end-to-end.
Name Reservation (RUN on MCA21)
Reserve Unique Name (RUN) is the MCA21 name approval service. We check name availability against the MCA database, trademark register, and domain registry, then submit up to two name choices with the objects clause. Approved names are reserved for 20 days within which the SPICe+ form must be filed.
Private Limited Company Incorporation (SPICe+)
The most common GCC structure. SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) is the MCA's integrated form handling name reservation, incorporation, DIN allotment, PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, PT, and bank account opening simultaneously. We prepare all annexures (eMOA, eAOA, INC-9, AGILE-Pro-S) and track the ROC filing to Certificate of Incorporation.
Branch Office Registration (RBI approval route)
A Branch Office is not a separate legal entity - it is an extension of the foreign company, taxed at 40% (foreign company rate vs 22% for domestic Pvt Ltd). RBI approval via Form FNC is required before establishment. Branch Offices can earn and remit profits but cannot expand into activities not approved by RBI. Suitable only for specific use cases such as liaison and project offices.
LLP Registration
A Limited Liability Partnership combines the liability protection of a company with the flexibility of a partnership. LLPs are taxed at 30% flat, have simpler annual compliance (Form 11, Form 8), and no Dividend Distribution Tax applies. 100% FDI in LLPs is permitted only under the government approval route for most sectors, making Pvt Ltd preferred for IT/ITES GCCs.
Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) Setup
A Wholly Owned Subsidiary is a Private Limited Company where 100% of shares are held by the foreign parent. This is the standard GCC structure - it provides full managerial control, 22% corporate tax rate (domestic company), the cleanest path to ESOP pools, and unrestricted dividend repatriation (subject to withholding tax). We handle the complete SPICe+ filing and parent company document apostillation.
One Person Company (OPC) for Liaison
A One Person Company allows a single Indian shareholder (Indian citizen and resident only - not suitable for FDI). OPCs have simplified compliance with no requirement for an AGM or audit committee. Sometimes used for Indian liaison structures where a key employee holds the entity on behalf of the group, pending main entity incorporation. We advise on OPC limitations before recommending it.
DPIIT Startup India Recognition
Entities incorporated after April 2016 with turnover below INR 100 crore and working on innovative products or services can apply for DPIIT Startup India recognition via the Startup India portal. Benefits include 3-year income tax holiday (Section 80-IAC), ESOP tax deferral, and simplified IPR filing fees. We prepare the application with the required innovation narrative and documents.
MSME/Udyam Registration
GCC subsidiaries meeting MSME criteria (investment in plant & machinery up to INR 50 crore, turnover up to INR 250 crore for medium enterprises) can register under Udyam to access priority sector lending, collateral-free loans under CGTMSE, and protected payment timelines under MSMED Act 2006 (mandatory payment within 45 days). Registration is self-certified on the Udyam portal.
PAN, TAN, GST Registration
Post-incorporation, the entity needs PAN (issued simultaneously via SPICe+ or within 7 days), TAN for TDS deductions (also via SPICe+), and GSTIN on the GST portal (3-7 working days with complete documentation). For GCCs providing IT/ITES services to the foreign parent, a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) must be filed at the start of each financial year to supply zero-rated services without paying IGST.
Bank Account Opening (HDFC/ICICI/Kotak)
Current account opening for a newly incorporated Indian company requires the Certificate of Incorporation, PAN, GST registration, registered office address proof, and KYC of all directors and beneficial owners (UBO). We liaise with relationship managers at HDFC, ICICI, and Kotak who are familiar with GCC account openings, substantially reducing the back-and-forth document requests.
Post-Incorporation Compliance Setup
After receiving the Certificate of Incorporation, several time-bound steps are mandatory: INC-22 (registered office filing within 30 days), first auditor appointment within 30 days, share allotment and FC-GPR filing within 30-60 days, EPFO and ESIC registration before first hire, Shops Act registration within 30 days of commencement. We run the full post-incorporation checklist.
Coverage
Company registration across 5 India states
The state of incorporation determines which state incentive programs you qualify for and which Shops Act, Professional Tax regime, and labour inspectorate you fall under.
Bangalore
KATech & SaaS GCC incorporations
Karnataka IT/BT Policy 2020-2025 - SGST reimbursement for Tier-2
- Koramangala
- Whitefield
- Electronic City
- Outer Ring Road
Hyderabad
TSCloud & platform GCC incorporations
TS-iPASS single-window - IT/ITES exemptions and stamp duty waivers
- HITEC City
- Gachibowli
- Kondapur
- Madhapur
Pune
MHER&D & semiconductor GCC incorporations
MIDC IT Parks - Maharashtra IT/ITES policy incentives
- Hinjewadi
- Kharadi
- Baner
- Magarpatta
Chennai
TNManufacturing-adjacent & BFSI incorporations
TIDCO single-window - Tamil Nadu IT/ITeS policy 2018
- OMR
- Sholinganallur
- Perungudi
- Tidel Park
Delhi NCR
HRConsulting & fintech GCC incorporations
Haryana IT policy - Gurgaon Cyber City SEZ benefits
- Gurgaon Cyber City
- Noida Sector 62
- Connaught Place
- Aerocity
Deliverables
From name reservation to bank account - fully managed
We manage the complete registration stack - MCA21 name reservation, SPICe+ incorporation, foreign director DSC and DIN, post-incorporation registrations, and bank account opening - with no gaps between steps.
Entity structure analysis
Tax, repatriation, and exit scenario modelling
RUN name reservation (MCA21)
Name searched and reserved with 2 alternatives
SPICe+ filing - all annexures
eMOA, eAOA, INC-9, AGILE-Pro-S prepared and filed
Certificate of Incorporation (CIN)
From Registrar of Companies within 3-5 weeks
DSC procurement for all directors
Including apostillation for foreign national directors
PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, PT registrations
Issued via integrated SPICe+ simultaneously
GST registration with LUT filing
GSTIN + Letter of Undertaking for zero-rated exports
Post-incorporation compliance checklist
INC-22, auditor appointment, FC-GPR, Shops Act
Important compliance note
The registered office must be filed with ROC in Form INC-22 within 30 days of incorporation. The first statutory auditor must be appointed within 30 days. FC-GPR (reporting the equity infusion to RBI) must be filed within 30 days of share allotment - not from the date of capital receipt. Missing any of these three deadlines in the first 30 days results in late filing penalties, and in the case of FC-GPR, a FEMA compounding requirement with RBI.
FAQ
Common questions about company registration in India
What documents are needed from the foreign parent company for incorporation?
The foreign parent must provide: Certificate of Incorporation apostilled or notarized in the country of origin, Memorandum and Articles of Association, Board Resolution authorizing India subsidiary formation and nominating directors, and proof of registered address. Individual foreign directors need a passport copy, overseas address proof, and a No Objection Certificate if they are directors in other Indian companies. All foreign documents must be apostilled under the Hague Convention.
Can a single person incorporate a company in India?
Yes, via a One Person Company (OPC) - but OPCs are not suitable for FDI as foreign shareholders cannot hold shares in an OPC. For GCCs, the minimum is 2 shareholders and 2 directors, with at least one director resident in India for 182 or more days in the previous calendar year.
What is the corporate tax rate for a foreign-owned Indian subsidiary?
A foreign-owned Indian Private Limited Company is a domestic company for tax purposes if it is incorporated in India. It pays corporate tax at 22% under Section 115BAA (plus 10% surcharge on income above INR 10 crore, plus 4% health and education cess), resulting in an effective rate of approximately 25.17%. Transfer pricing rules apply to transactions with the foreign parent.
How long does GST registration take after incorporation?
GST registration is typically granted within 3-7 working days of submitting a complete application on the GST portal. For GCCs providing IT/ITES services to foreign clients, a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) must be filed on the GST portal at the start of each financial year to supply zero-rated services without paying IGST. We handle LUT filing as part of post-incorporation setup.
What is the registered office requirement?
Every Indian company must have a registered office (physical address, not a PO Box) within 15 days of incorporation, notified to ROC in Form INC-22. The address must have a valid utility bill (not older than 2 months) and a No Objection Certificate from the property owner. Many GCCs use a business center or co-working space address initially. We can facilitate registered office services.
Is a local auditor mandatory?
Yes. Every Indian company must appoint a statutory auditor who is a Chartered Accountant (or CA firm) registered with ICAI. The first auditor is appointed by the Board within 30 days of incorporation and holds office until the first AGM. Auditors file Form ADT-1 with MCA within 15 days of appointment. Annual statutory audit is mandatory regardless of turnover or profit.
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Learn moreGet started
Your India company, registered in 3-5 weeks.
We handle the entity structure analysis, MCA21 name reservation, SPICe+ filing, DSC/DIN for all directors, post-incorporation registrations, and bank account opening - so your India entity is fully operational from Day 1 without compliance gaps.