Business setup

Decide the structure before filing

The right starting point depends on who will own the business, how decisions will be made, funding plans and the obligations the team can manage. Incorporation, tax registrations, recognition schemes and premises permissions are separate decisions.

What a setup engagement produces

A setup assignment can cover an entity comparison, a document and signature plan, application preparation and an initial obligations handover. The proposal states which registrations are included and which depend on further facts.

• Domestic owner-managed businesses: compare company, LLP, partnership and proprietorship arrangements.
• Purpose-specific organisations: address charitable objects or producer membership before drafting.
• Foreign participation: coordinate the ownership and activity analysis with foreign-exchange and banking requirements.

Choose the question you need to resolve

• Several founders or planned investment: compare private limited company incorporation with LLP incorporation, using the intended ownership, management and funding arrangements.
• One owner: explore proprietorship setup and OPC incorporation. Compare the record-keeping and future ownership implications before selecting a form.
• A partner-managed firm: start with partnership formation to organise contributions, authority and the working agreement.
• Purpose or membership-led activity: use Section 8 incorporation or producer-company incorporation to assess the relevant objects, membership and governance questions.
• Foreign participation: distinguish an Indian subsidiary from a branch, liaison or project office. Begin with the actual activities, ownership and funding flow.
• An existing entity changing form: use entity conversion to map the route and operational transition.
• Registrations or recognition: a registration roadmap organises activity and location questions. DPIIT recognition support addresses a separate recognition application.

These starting points are not a determination that a structure or scheme fits your facts. The entity comparison tool can help organise a discussion of the alternatives.

Prepare a brief before collecting signatures

Describe the proposed owners, decision-making arrangement, activity, premises and funding plan. Separate facts already agreed from decisions still open. Include any existing business assets or contracts expected to move into the new arrangement, as those need their own assessment.

For example, a founder setting up a company while continuing an existing proprietorship should identify which customer work belongs to each operation, how existing assets will be used and which registrations need attention. Forming the company is one part of that transition.

Finish with a usable formation record

The handover should distinguish issued documents, submitted applications, authority queries and tasks not included in the assignment. Keep the final signed versions and acknowledgements together, with an owner for the next banking, accounting, governance or permission step.

The start-a-business journey connects those steps. Ongoing support and advisory pricing are explained on the pricing page; the written proposal identifies the actual applications, professional work and separate charges for your setup.