Five ways Indians actually start
| Structure | Best when | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietorship | You are testing a trade alone and do not need outside investors. | You and the business are the same person for liability and tax. |
| Partnership | Two or more people share a simple business and want a written deed. | Partners are generally exposed to the firm’s debts. Registration under the Partnership Act is optional, but useful. |
| LLP | You want limited liability with lighter ongoing company-style filings. | Investors and some large buyers still prefer a private limited company. |
| One Person Company | A single Indian resident wants a separate legal body. | You need a nominee. A person can be a member of only one OPC. |
| Private limited | You may raise funds, issue shares, or look larger to banks and marketplaces. | Annual MCA filings are real. Missed forms mean additional fees. |
There is no universal “best” structure. A food stall and a software product should not be forced into the same form. Tell us who owns it, who will sign cheques, and whether you expect a second founder in the next year.
What a private limited file actually contains
Incorporation runs on the MCA’s SPICe+ route. In one integrated filing a new company can receive its CIN, PAN and TAN, and can apply for EPFO, ESIC, a professional-tax registration where the state is covered, a bank account and GST. That last set sits in the AGILE-PRO-S part of the same journey. We do not tick every box by habit. GST, for example, is only filed with incorporation when you actually need it.
- Digital signature certificates for the proposed directors, from a licensed certifying authority.
- Name options that are not already taken and do not use a restricted word.
- Director and shareholder identity: PAN, Aadhaar, photograph, mobile and email for the OTPs.
- Registered office proof, and a no-objection letter if the premises are rented or belong to a relative.
- Share capital and who holds how many shares. There is no meaningful “minimum capital” hurdle anymore; the number should still match your plan.
The week after the certificate
The certificate of incorporation is the start of the calendar, not the end. A private company with share capital has a commencement declaration, INC-20A, that is easy to miss and is generally due within 180 days. The first auditor has to be appointed, and directors have a yearly KYC on the MCA portal. We put those dates in writing when we hand the certificate over.
Startup India recognition on the DPIIT portal is a separate application. It is not created automatically by incorporation, and it is not, by itself, a tax holiday. If you want it, we say what the eligibility screen actually asks.
Where a chartered accountant or company secretary must sign — a statutory audit, for example — that signature stays with a qualified professional. We will tell you when the work has reached that line.
Questions people ask before they pay
How long does a private limited company take?
A clean file often moves in about 7 to 15 working days. A name objection, an address proof that does not match, or a DSC that is not yet in the director’s name is what usually stretches it.
What is the minimum number of people?
A private limited company needs at least two directors and two shareholders. They can be the same two people. An OPC is for one Indian resident shareholder, with a nominee. An LLP needs at least two designated partners.
Do you guarantee the name I want?
No. MCA can object if the name is too close to an existing company or uses a restricted word. We check before filing and keep a second name ready.
Is a proprietorship a company?
No. A proprietorship is you, trading in your own name or a trade name. There is no separate incorporation. You may still need GST, Udyam, a shop registration or a current account, depending on the work.
Checked 10 November 2026. Thresholds, fees and form numbers change. Vissgro confirms the live rule on the official portal before anything is filed. A certificate is issued by that authority, or by Dun & Bradstreet in the case of a D-U-N-S Number — not by Vissgro.