Company Formation in India

The questions every Founder
asks before registering a company.

Answered honestly by a highly experienced CA, before you spend a rupee.

01
Which type of company should I form?
Pvt Ltd, LLP, OPC, Section 8, Public Ltd - the right answer depends on your business model, co-founders, and funding plans. One size does not fit all, and choosing wrong costs real money.
02
How long does registration actually take?
With a complete application: 1 to 12 working days. Common causes of delay - name rejection, incomplete documents, DSC errors. We eliminate every one of these upfront.
03
What will it cost me, all-in?
Government fees vary by state. DSC: Rs. 3,500 per DSC. Professional fee: Rs. 8,000 to 15,000. Total: Rs. 25,000 to 30,000. Fixed, transparent quote before we start - no hidden charges.
04
What documents do I need?
PAN, Aadhaar, passport photo, address proof, and registered office proof for all directors. NRIs need notarised and apostilled equivalents. We give you a precise, personalised checklist.
Download Free Structure Guide ↓
Free 30-Min Advisory Consultation YOUR REGISTRATION JOURNEY 1 Advisory Call (Free) 2 Docs & DSC · 1–2d 3 MCA Filing Name · 3–7d ✓ CIN Issued! Then we guide you through: GST Bank Acct Board Mtg First Auditor Appointment Compliances
Promoters with 40+ years corporate experience
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Company Formation - All States, All India
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Pvt Ltd · LLP · OPC · Section 8 · Public Ltd
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Cross-border company formation
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Free first consultation · No obligation
The hidden cost of getting it wrong

What happens when you choose the wrong company structure

Most founders discover these problems months or years later - when the cost to fix them is 10 times the cost of getting it right at the start. Here is what is at stake.

⚖️
Personal Liability
If your business is not properly incorporated, you are personally on the hook for everything - debts, lawsuits, vendor disputes. Your savings, your home, your assets. A registered company with the right structure puts a legal wall between you and the business. Without it, there is no wall.
Legal risk
💸
High Tax Impact
An improperly structured entity may fall into unfavourable tax categories, leading to higher corporate tax rates or inefficient profit repatriation. Without expert planning, companies may miss out on available exemptions, incentives, or treaty benefits, resulting in avoidable tax leakage and reduced profitability.
Financial loss
📋
Heavy Compliance Requirements
Different entity types come with varying statutory obligations. A poorly chosen structure can impose excessive compliance burdens such as frequent filings, audits, disclosures, and regulatory approvals - which consume management bandwidth and increase the risk of penalties for non-compliance.
Regulatory risk
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High Administration Cost
Administrative overheads such as legal, accounting, secretarial, and reporting costs can escalate significantly if the entity structure is complex or not suited to the scale of operations. Inefficient structuring often leads to duplication of processes, unnecessary governance layers, and increased professional fees.
Operational risk
🏦
Restricted Bank Finance
Banks and financial institutions evaluate the legal structure and governance of a business before extending credit. Certain entity types or poorly structured companies may be perceived as high-risk, limiting access to loans or increasing borrowing costs. Proper structuring improves credibility, transparency, and lender confidence.
Funding risk
🌐
FEMA Restrictions on Overseas Investment
In India, foreign investment is governed by strict FEMA regulations. Incorrect structuring can lead to sectoral caps, approval requirements, pricing restrictions, or even ineligibility for foreign direct investment. Expert guidance ensures compliance with regulatory frameworks, enabling smooth inflow of overseas capital.
FEMA / RBI risk
Why online platforms are not enough

They register your company. They don't advise you.

A low-cost package sounds appealing - until you realise what is missing from it.

Online Company Formation Platforms - Unbelievably Low Prices
What a low-cost package actually gets you
  • ✗No advice on which structure is right for your specific business - they assume you already know
  • ✗Junior executives processing your documents - not a qualified CA reviewing your application
  • ✗No one to call when the MCA rejects your company name or the RoC raises a query
  • ✗Post-registration compliance is a separate, upsold package you didn't budget for
  • ✗Your MOA objects clause is generic - may limit your business activities later without you knowing
  • ✗No guidance on mandatory post-registration steps - GST registration, first board meeting, bank account opening, INC-20A
  • ✗When you have questions 6 months later, you start from scratch with a new support ticket
  • ✗Foreign national founders are particularly vulnerable - FEMA compliance is rarely covered properly
CMBC Advisory - what you get instead
A free consultation with a CA who actually understands your business
  • ✓Free 30-minute call before anything is filed - we understand your business, then recommend the right structure
  • ✓Highly experienced CA with decades of corporate finance experience reviewing your specific situation - not a template approach
  • ✓A direct phone number you can call when the RoC raises a query. We handle it.
  • ✓MOA objects clause drafted specifically for your business activities - not copy-pasted from a library
  • ✓Post-registration obligations checklist provided with every registration - no nasty surprises
  • ✓GST registration, auditor appointment, first board meeting guidance, current account opening facilitation - included in our advisory
  • ✓You will have one CA who knows your company's history - for every future need
  • ✓Specialist knowledge for foreign nationals and NRI investments in businesses in India - FEMA, RBI Rules
Company structures in India

Which type of company is right for your business?

Five structures. Very different implications for tax, liability, fundraising, and compliance. Here is a plain-English guide — and what fits whom.

Pvt Ltd LLP OPC Section 8 Public Ltd Raise VC/Equity Limited Liability Low Compliance Tax Efficiency ✓ ✓ – ✓ ✗ ✓ ✓ Best ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ – Non-profit ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓
Most Popular
Private Limited Company
Best for: Startups planning to raise investment

The gold standard for Indian startups. Gives you limited liability, the ability to issue equity to investors, and the credibility banks and corporates expect. Mandatory if you plan to raise from angels or VCs.

Min. 2 directors Equity fundraising FDI eligible Medium compliance
Professionals & Agencies
LLP
Best for: Consultants, agencies, professional firms

Lower compliance burden, limited liability, significantly more tax-efficient for service businesses. Pass-through taxation. Ideal if you are not planning to raise VC funding.

Min. 2 partners Low compliance Pass-through tax No DDT
Solo Founders
One Person Company
Best for: Solo entrepreneurs wanting Pvt Ltd benefits

A single founder gets all the advantages of a Pvt Ltd - limited liability, separate legal entity, bank credibility - without needing a co-founder or second shareholder.

1 shareholder Nominee required Limited liability
Impact & NGO
Section 8 Company
Best for: Non-profits, social enterprises, foundations

The preferred corporate form for non-profits. Significant tax benefits (80G, 12A), higher credibility with CSR donors than a trust or society, and eligibility for FCRA foreign funding. Profits must be reinvested in the mission.

80G eligible FCRA eligible CSR preferred Non-profit only
Scale Ambitions
Public Limited Company
Best for: Businesses planning a future IPO

The only path to a stock exchange listing. Can raise capital from the public. Significantly higher compliance obligations - but the only route for businesses with serious public market ambitions.

Min. 7 shareholders IPO eligible High compliance Public capital
Still unsure?
The right structure takes 30 minutes to determine correctly.
Our advisory call covers your business model, co-founder situation, funding plans, and tax position - and gives you a clear recommendation before you spend anything.
Why CMBC Advisory

What our Promotors' 40 years of experience actually means for your company.

It means we have seen the problems that arise when a company is structured incorrectly - and we prevent them from happening to you in the first place.

01
Structure advice before paperwork
We spend our first consultation understanding your business - not collecting your documents. The right structure recommendation comes before we file a single form. Most platforms skip this step entirely.
02
A CA who picks up the phone
Not a support ticket. Not a chatbot. You get connected to an experienced CA who knows your company, knows your case, and answers when you call. That is our basic promise.
03
Cross-border Setup and Compliance Capabilities
We have strong capabilities to support clients in establishing and managing businesses across key global jurisdictions, including United States, Australia, Singapore, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates. Our services extend beyond incorporation to comprehensive ongoing support in accounting, regulatory compliance, tax filings (including withholding tax and VAT/GST), and transfer pricing.
04
Beyond Incorporation: End-to-end Post-registration Support
Your CIN is day zero - not the finish line. We stay with you after registration, guiding you through every post-registration compliance relating to MCA, GST, FEMA, Income Tax and more.
Our Strength
INDIA USA Kenya Australia Singapore UAE Cross-border business formation & compliance support
  • Highly Experienced Promoters
    Senior finance professionals with over four decades of corporate experience in India and international markets.
  • Professional Guidance by Senior Chartered Accountants
    Every engagement is supervised and advised by a qualified, practising CA — not delegated to support staff.
  • Experience in India and Cross-border Businesses
    Deep expertise spanning Indian domestic regulations and international jurisdictions including UAE, USA, Singapore, and more.
  • Free First Consultation
    A no-obligation, 30-minute advisory call - before you commit to anything or pay anything.
  • Registration in 1 to 12 Business Days
    Efficient, complete processing with no unnecessary delays - across all states in India.
Important for NRIs & Foreign Nationals

If you are an Indian national based abroad or a foreign national looking to set up in India, company formation involves FEMA regulations, apostilled documents, and RBI reporting obligations. Getting any of these wrong attracts serious penalties. We handle this complexity for you - fully remotely.

Why clients trust us

Our commitment to every client

We do not offer generic services. Every engagement starts with understanding your specific situation and ends only when your company is fully operational and compliant.

Post-Registration Compliance Calendar — First 12 Months Day 0 CIN Issued 30 Days First Board Meeting 30 Days First Auditor Appointment 180 Days INC-20A Declaration ₹50K penalty if missed Sep 30 Income Tax Return (ITR) Oct 31 MCA Annual Return (ROC)
40+
Years of corporate experience
1-12
Business days from application to CIN
5
Company structures - all states, all India
Free
First 30-minute advisory consultation
🎯
Right structure, first time
We spend our first consultation on understanding your business model, co-founder situation, funding plans, and tax position - before recommending any structure. We have never had a client need to restructure because of our advice.
📞
One CA, one relationship
From your first call to your annual filings, you work with the same senior CA who knows your company's history. No handoffs, no starting from scratch every time you have a question.
✅
Zero compliance surprises
Every client receives a comprehensive post-registration obligations calendar - First Auditor Appointment, INC-20A, first board meeting, GST timelines, annual filings and more - so you know exactly what is required and when, from day one.
🌏
India & cross-border capability
We handle company formation and ongoing compliance across all Indian states, and have extensive experience with NRI and foreign national clients setting up in India - including FEMA, RBI approvals, and international structuring.
📄
Business-specific documentation
Every MOA objects clause, every SHA structure, every board resolution we draft is tailored to your specific business activities and future plans - not copied from a generic template library, as is common with online platforms.
🔒
Complete confidentiality
Your business plans, financial situation, and personal information are treated with complete professional confidentiality. We are bound by professional ethics at every stage of the engagement.
Free download

The Founder's Guide to Choosing the Right Company Structure in India

Everything a first-time entrepreneur needs to know - written by a CA with 40 years of experience, not a content marketer. Honest, specific, and completely free.

A practical decision framework - based on your business model, not a generic checklist
Real tax numbers: Pvt Ltd vs LLP vs OPC in plain language
The 6 most expensive mistakes founders make when choosing a structure
Post-registration compliance checklist - first 180 days after your CIN
Complete NRI guide - FEMA, RBI, apostille, and remote setup
✓ ✓ FREE 12-page guide · Instant download Get it free →
Free PDF Guide · 12 Pages
Which company structure is right for your Indian business?
Pvt Ltd vs LLP vs OPC - plain-English comparison with actual tax numbers
The 6 most expensive mistakes in choosing a company structure
Decision framework: match your business model to the right structure
What happens if you choose wrong - how to fix it and what it costs
Post-registration checklist: first 180 days after your CIN arrives
Complete NRI guide - FEMA, RBI, apostille, and remote setup
No spam. Your email is only used to send you the guide.
Take the next step

Ready to get started? Two ways to reach us.

Choose whichever is easier. Both lead to the same place - personalised, honest advice from a senior CA.

Recommended · Fastest response
Book a Free 30-Minute Advisory Consultation
Pick a time that suits you. We call you - ready with specific advice for your case, not starting from scratch.
Unbiased advice on which structure fits your specific business and co-founder situation
Clear picture of the full process, realistic timeline, and all-in cost before you commit
Answers to your most urgent questions on registration, GST, compliance, or NRI structuring
Available for all-India founders, NRIs, and foreign nationals - fully remote
No sales pressure. No obligation. If we are not the right fit, we will tell you honestly.
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