Shop & Establishment Act Registration

Who can use this

• Retail shops and businesses
• Offices and commercial establishments
• Restaurants, cafes, and hospitality venues
• Salons, clinics, and service centers
• Factories and manufacturing units (supplementary to factory act)
• Warehouses and trading establishments

Who cannot use this

• Home-based businesses with no employees
• Agricultural establishments
• Government offices (exempt)

Documents required

• PAN certificate of owner
• Aadhaar card copy
• Shop/office address proof (lease deed, property tax receipt, electricity bill, water bill)
• Building approval or municipal permission
• Employee list (if any)
• Bank account statement (first page)
• ID proof (Aadhaar, Passport, DL)
• Authorization letter (if registering through representative)

Step-by-step process

1. Access your state's labor department website — Visit your state's labor department website. Shop and Establishment Act registration portal varies by state. Search for 'Shop & Establishment Registration' or 'Labor License' on the state portal.
2. Create new account and log in — Click 'New User Registration'. Provide email, mobile, and create password. Verify email OTP. Log in to access the registration form.
3. Fill shop/establishment basic details — Enter shop/establishment name, owner name, PAN, Aadhaar, email, mobile, and type of establishment (retail shop, office, restaurant, clinic, etc.).
4. Provide shop/establishment address — Enter complete address: street, shop/office number, locality, city, district, state, PIN code. Ensure address is where the shop/establishment is physically located.
5. Specify nature of work/business activity — Describe the main business activity: retail sales, services, food service, personal care, office work, manufacturing (light), warehousing, etc. Select from dropdown categories.
6. Declare number of workers/employees — Specify number of employees (if shop is single-owner with no employees: mention '0'). If employees: provide approximate number and list their details (optional at registration stage).
7. Provide shop ownership/lease details — Specify whether shop is owned or leased. If leased: provide lease agreement duration, landlord name, and rental amount. Upload lease deed or ownership proof (not older than 3 months).
8. Upload address and ownership proof — Upload clear copies of: property lease deed OR ownership documents, AND recent address proof (electricity bill, water bill, municipal tax receipt). Files should be PDF/JPG (max 5MB).
9. Enter working hours and holidays — Specify shop opening and closing hours (e.g., 9 AM to 9 PM). Declare weekly holiday (usually Sunday or as applicable in state). Mention any weekly rest day rules compliance.
10. Declare estimated annual turnover/revenue — Provide rough estimate of annual business turnover/revenue (e.g., ₹5 lakhs to ₹1 crore). This helps labor department categorize the establishment.
11. Provide contact and bank account details — Enter email address and mobile number for license communications. Provide bank account number, IFSC code, and account holder name (for online payment/refund).
12. Review complete registration application — Portal displays summary of all entered details: shop info, address, nature of work, employees, ownership, working hours, turnover, documents. Verify accuracy before submission.
13. Pay registration fee and submit application — Pay registration fee (varies by state and shop type: ₹100-1,000 typically) via online payment (debit card, net banking). After payment, click 'Submit Application'.
14. Receive registration/license number and acknowledgement — Upon submission, system generates Establishment Registration Number or Shop License Number. Email confirmation with registration number is sent.
15. Download and display shop license at premise — Download the Shop License/Establishment Registration Certificate from the portal (PDF format). Print and display visibly at shop/office entrance. License is valid for 1 year from issue date; renewal needed annually.

Related reading

• Shops & Establishment Act Registration in India: State Process & Rules (2026)
• Rent Agreement in India 2026 — Format, Stamp Duty, Registration & Key Clauses
• Documents Required for GST Registration in India (2026 Checklist)