asia pacific

Incorporate a Startup in IndiaPrivate Limited (Pvt Ltd)

World’s third-largest startup ecosystem. Startup India benefits + DPIIT recognition.

Key incorporation facts for India

Time to incorporate
10 - 20 days
Estimated setup cost
₹7,000 - ₹25,000
Corporate tax rate
22% (15% for new manufacturing)
Ease of remote setup
Limited
Annual compliance: MGT-7 + AOC-4 + ITR + GST returns \u00b7 Currency: INR \u00b7 10 required materials / 19 total

12-step launch checklist

From pre-launch name reservation through first annual filing.

  1. 01
    Obtain Director Identification Number (DIN) and Digital Signature (DSC)
    Pre-Launch
  2. 02
    Reserve company name via RUN / SPICe+ Part A
    Pre-Launch
  3. 03
    File SPICe+ Part B with MoA + AoA
    Incorporation
  4. 04
    Receive Certificate of Incorporation + PAN + TAN
    Incorporation
  5. 05
    Open current account with bank of choice
    Banking
  6. 06
    Register for GST (if applicable)
    Tax
  7. 07
    Apply for DPIIT Startup India recognition
    Tax
  8. 08
    Complete Commencement of Business (INC-20A) within 180 days
    Compliance
  9. 09
    Register under Shops & Establishment Act in your state
    Compliance
  10. 10
    Set up payroll, EPF & ESI as headcount grows
    Operations
  11. 11
    File first annual return (MGT-7) and financials (AOC-4)
    Compliance
  12. 12
    Report any foreign investment via FC-GPR within 30 days
    Compliance

MCA SPICe+ integrated incorporation plus the standard founder agreements India investors expect.

SPICe+ (INC-32) Form

PORTAL

Integrated MCA form for company name, incorporation, PAN, TAN.

Memorandum of Association (MoA)

PDF

Standard MCA MoA template for a private limited company.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Articles of Association (AoA)

PDF

Table F default articles under Companies Act, 2013.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Founders Agreement (India)

DOCX

India-specific founders agreement with vesting and IP clauses.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

CCPS / iSAFE Note (India)

DOCX

Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares - India seed standard.

Tax & Banking

GST, DPIIT recognition (tax holiday), and current account opening.

GST Registration Portal

PORTAL

Mandatory above ₹40L turnover (₹20L for services).

PAN & TAN (auto via SPICe+)

PORTAL

Permanent Account Number and TDS account issued at incorporation.

DPIIT Startup India Recognition

PORTAL

3-year tax holiday + IP fast-track for recognized startups.

Professional Tax Registration

PORTAL

State-level employer tax - varies by state.

ICICI / HDFC Current Account

LINK

Documents needed to open a current account post-incorporation.

Regulatory & Licenses

DPDP Act 2023, Shops & Establishment, EPF/ESI, and FEMA reporting.

DPDP Act 2023 Compliance

PDF

Digital Personal Data Protection Act - India's new privacy law.

statuteREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Shops & Establishment Act

PORTAL

State-specific registration for any commercial workplace.

EPF & ESI Registration

PORTAL

Mandatory once you cross 20 / 10 employees respectively.

RBI FEMA / FDI Reporting (FC-GPR)

PORTAL

Foreign investment reporting (Form FC-GPR) within 30 days.

Local Infrastructure

Payments, formation, neobanking, and Indian accelerators.

Razorpay / Cashfree

PORTAL

India-first payment gateways with UPI, cards, and EMI.

Vakilsearch / IndiaFilings

PORTAL

End-to-end incorporation + compliance providers.

RazorpayX / Open Money

PORTAL

Neobanking for Indian startups with vendor payments + payroll.

Sequoia Surge / YC India

PORTAL

Top accelerators actively backing Indian founders.

91springboard / WeWork India

PORTAL

Coworking spaces across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to incorporate in India?
Setup typically costs ₹7,000 - ₹25,000, with a 22% (15% for new manufacturing) corporate tax rate.
How long does it take to incorporate in India?
Incorporation usually completes in 10 - 20 days.
Can I incorporate remotely in India?
India typically requires some in-person steps or a local agent.
What annual compliance applies to a Private Limited (Pvt Ltd)?
MGT-7 + AOC-4 + ITR + GST returns

Ready to incorporate?

Open the interactive launch blueprint for India: track your progress, compare with other jurisdictions, ask the AI Launch Copilot, and download a personalised PDF plan.

Open Interactive Blueprint