Company Registration in India: The Complete Guide

What "company registration" actually covers

"Company registration" is often used loosely to mean starting any kind of registered business, but strictly speaking, only Private Limited Companies and One Person Companies are "companies" under the Companies Act, 2013. LLPs are registered under a separate law, and Proprietorships aren't registered as a distinct entity at all — they're identified through the licenses the business holds.

The right starting point isn't the paperwork — it's picking the structure that matches how you plan to run and grow the business.

The main structures at a glance

• Private Limited Company — separate legal entity, limited liability, the standard choice if you plan to raise funding.
• LLP — separate legal entity, limited liability, lighter compliance than a company, can't raise equity funding.
• One Person Company (OPC) — a company structure for a single founder, with a mandatory nominee.
• Partnership Firm — two or more partners, unlimited liability, simpler than an LLP but with less legal protection.
• Proprietorship — a single owner, no separate legal identity, the fastest way to start.

What you'll need before you start

Regardless of structure, you'll generally need identity and address proof for every director, partner, or owner, a registered office address with proof of ownership or a no-objection certificate from the owner, and — for companies and LLPs — a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and Director Identification Number (DIN) for each director or designated partner.

How long it takes and what it costs

Turnaround depends on the structure — a Proprietorship's registrations can often be done in a few days, while a full company incorporation through SPICe+ typically takes about two weeks once documents are in order. Costs split into professional fees (what we charge for the work) and government fees (fixed by the relevant authority) — see our pricing page for the current numbers for each structure.

After registration: what compliance looks like

Registration is the start, not the finish — companies and LLPs both have ongoing annual filing obligations that apply whether or not the business has any revenue. Skipping them leads to penalties and, eventually, the risk of the entity being struck off. Our annual compliance guide covers what's actually required, year to year.