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Countries/India/India Business Setup

India · Business Setup

India Business Setup.
Pvt Ltd, LLP, branch or GIFT City — incorporate the right vehicle.

India offers multiple incorporation vehicles for foreign investors, each with distinct tax, ownership, repatriation and compliance profiles. The GIFT City IFSC adds a USD-denominated, tax-advantaged option. We coordinate through regulated Indian counsel.

Private consultationSee the process

What it is

The full picture, in plain language.

India business setup covers MCA-registered Private Limited (Pvt Ltd), LLP, Branch and Liaison Office vehicles plus IFSC Units in GIFT City, with all associated GST, PAN, TAN, RBI and FEMA filings.

Who it's for

Designed for these situations.

International groups entering India

Pvt Ltd subsidiary for operating presence.

Funds and family offices

GIFT City IFSC for USD-denominated, tax-favoured structures.

Service businesses

LLP for advisory and professional firms.

Representative offices

Liaison Office for market exploration.

Benefits

What the right structure delivers.

Large domestic market

1.4bn consumer base, fastest-growing major economy.

100% FDI in most sectors

Automatic-route FDI across most industries.

GIFT City tax advantages

10-year tax holiday, USD-denominated, simplified regulation.

Deep talent pool

Engineering, tech, financial services and back-office capacity.

USMCA-style trade depth

Growing FTA network across ASEAN, UAE, UK.

Capital markets access

NSE/BSE for eventual listing.

The process

Step by step — nothing hidden, nothing skipped.

  1. 01

    Vehicle design

    Week 1

    Pvt Ltd vs LLP vs Branch vs IFSC; FDI route; capital.

  2. 02

    Name reservation & DIN

    1-2 weeks

    MCA name reservation, Director Identification Numbers, Digital Signatures.

  3. 03

    Incorporation

    2-3 weeks

    MoA/AoA, MCA SPICe+ filing, Certificate of Incorporation, PAN, TAN.

  4. 04

    GST & sector registrations

    Weeks 3-4

    GST, Shops & Establishment, MSME, IEC, sector-specific licences.

  5. 05

    Banking & FDI inflow

    Weeks 4-8

    Bank account, FIRC and FC-GPR filings on FDI inflow.

  6. 06

    Annual compliance

    Ongoing

    MCA annual filings, ROC returns, audit, GST, TDS.

Timeline

What a typical engagement looks like.

  • Weeks 1-3

    Design, name, incorporation.

  • Weeks 3-6

    Registrations and banking.

  • Weeks 6-8

    FDI inflow and operational setup.

Documents required

The evidence pack we will ask for.

  • Director/shareholder ID

    Passport, address proof — apostilled for non-residents.

  • Parent company documents

    COI, MoA/AoA, board resolution; apostilled.

  • Registered office documents

    Lease and utility bill.

  • Photographs

    Recent, passport-style.

Costs & fees

What you should budget for.

Government fees are modest; professional and compliance fees form the bulk of cost.

  • MCA incorporation fees

    INR 5,000 - 30,000

    Capital-dependent.

  • DIN & DSC

    INR 2,000 - 5,000 per director

  • Stamp duty (state-dependent)

    INR 1,000 - 50,000+

  • Year-1 compliance

    From INR 60,000

    Via Indian CA.

  • Morifar coordination fee

    From INR 250,000

FAQs

Questions we are asked, and the honest answers.

Pvt Ltd or LLP?+

Pvt Ltd for FDI inflows and operating businesses; LLP for service partnerships.

Director residency?+

At least one director must be resident in India (182 days+ in the previous FY).

What is GIFT City?+

India's International Financial Services Centre at Gandhinagar — USD-denominated, tax-favoured, simplified regulatory regime for funds, banks and family offices.

Repatriation rules?+

Dividends and capital repatriable subject to FEMA compliance and applicable taxes.

Common mistakes

What we see go wrong — so it doesn't happen to you.

Missing FC-GPR

Reporting of FDI inflow within 30 days is mandatory. Penalties for delay.

Wrong sector classification

Automatic vs Approval route depends on activity. Get it right at the start.

Late annual filings

MCA penalties accrue daily.

Ignoring GIFT City for fund structures

Onshore Indian funds often suboptimal compared to GIFT alternatives.

Explain like I'm 10

The simplest version of the whole thing.

Setting up a company in India means picking the right kind, registering it with the government, getting a tax number, opening a bank account, and bringing money in the right way. We help with each step.

Related services

Private consultation

Discuss india business setup with the team.

A confidential first conversation — no obligation, no sales pitch. We listen, map your situation, and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.

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