How do I register a company in India online?

By the India Law Simplified editorial team · Verified against the bare Acts & official portals · Updated 2026-07-28 · ~4 min read

⚡ Quick answer

Registering a company in India is fully online through the MCA's SPICe+ form. In short: get a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for the directors, apply for Director Identification Numbers (DIN), reserve the company name in SPICe+ Part A, then file SPICe+ Part B with the MOA, AOA and the AGILE-PRO form (which also gets you GST, EPFO, ESIC and a bank account). The Certificate of Incorporation, PAN and TAN are issued together, usually in 7–15 working days. There is no minimum capital requirement.

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Turning your idea into a registered company gives it a legal identity, limited liability, and the credibility investors and banks expect. The whole process is now online through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) — no running between offices. This guide walks you through registering a Private Limited company step by step: the documents you need, the SPICe+ form, the cost, the timeline, and the common reasons applications get rejected.

1Choose your structure first

Before registering, decide the structure. A Private Limited Company suits founders who want to raise funding or issue ESOPs. An LLP suits a low-compliance partnership. An OPC suits a single founder. A proprietorship is quickest for testing an idea. This guide covers the most common choice — a Private Limited Company.

2What you need to get ready

For a Private Limited you need:

At least 2 directors (one must be resident in India) and 2 shareholders (they can be the same people)
PAN and Aadhaar of every director/shareholder, plus passport-size photos
A registered office address with proof (utility bill not older than 2 months) and a No-Objection Certificate from the owner
Two or three unique proposed company names
There is no minimum paid-up capital — you can start with ₹1, though ₹1 lakh authorised capital is common

3Step by step: the SPICe+ process

Incorporation is done on the MCA portal through the integrated SPICe+ form:

Get a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each director — needed to sign forms electronically.
Apply for a Director Identification Number (DIN) — this can be done within SPICe+ itself.
Reserve the company name in SPICe+ Part A (give 1–2 options and a business description).
File SPICe+ Part B with the MOA (objects) and AOA (rules), and the AGILE-PRO-S form for GST, EPFO, ESIC, professional tax and bank account.
Pay the fees and stamp duty; the Registrar reviews and issues the Certificate of Incorporation with PAN and TAN.

✅ TipMost rejections happen at the name-approval stage. Avoid names that are too similar to existing companies or trademarks, and add a unique coined word — it clears far faster.

4Cost and timeline

Government fees vary by authorised capital and state stamp duty — often ₹1,500–₹10,000 for a small Private Limited, plus DSC costs (₹1,000–₹2,000 per director). Many states charge zero MCA incorporation fee for authorised capital up to ₹15 lakh.

Once all documents are correct, incorporation typically takes 7–15 working days. Delays usually come from name rejections or mismatched address/identity documents.

5What to do right after incorporation

Getting the Certificate of Incorporation is not the end — a few things must follow:

File INC-20A (declaration of commencement of business) within 180 days, after depositing the subscription capital
Open the company current account and deposit the paid-up capital
Appoint an auditor (Form ADT-1) within 30 days
Register for GST if applicable, and complete Udyam (MSME) registration if eligible

Key takeaways

Company registration is fully online via the MCA SPICe+ form.
You need 2 directors (one resident), KYC documents, a registered-office proof + NOC, and a unique name.
There is no minimum capital — you can incorporate with as little as ₹1.
SPICe+ bundles incorporation, PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC and a bank account into one filing; it takes 7–15 working days.
After incorporation, file INC-20A, appoint an auditor (ADT-1) and open the bank account.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to register a company in India?

Government fees vary by authorised capital and state stamp duty — often ₹1,500–₹10,000 for a small Private Limited, plus DSC costs. Many states have zero MCA incorporation fee for authorised capital up to ₹15 lakh.

How long does company registration take?

Typically 7–15 working days once documents are correct. Name approval can clear in 1–3 days; the rest is DSC issuance and SPICe+ processing. Errors or name rejections reset the clock.

Can one person register a company?

Yes — a single founder can register a One Person Company (OPC), which needs one director and a nominee. A Private Limited needs at least two directors and two shareholders.

Do I need a commercial office to register?

No — you can use a residential address as the registered office, as long as you have an electricity/utility bill and a No-Objection Certificate from the owner. You can change it later.