How to Register a Company in India: Company Registration and Incorporation Process

To register a company in India, you choose a business structure, get Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) for the founders, reserve a name, and file the SPICe+ incorporation form with its linked forms online on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal. When the Registrar approves it, the company receives a Certificate of Incorporation with a Corporate Identity Number (CIN), along with its PAN and TAN. That is the whole company incorporation process in one sentence; the rest of this page explains each step.

This guide is the starting point for the whole Company Registration process. It first explains the different structures you can register, then walks through the full Private Limited Company (PVT. LTD.) incorporation process step by step: what each form does, which documents you need, how long it usually takes, which government fees apply, and what happens after Registration. Each section links to a detailed lesson if you want to go deeper. It reflects the process as it stands in October 2026; forms and fees can change, so always check the MCA portal before you file.

What is the difference between Company Registration and incorporation?

In everyday speech, people use "Company Registration" for any business Registration. Legally, a company is registered (or "incorporated") under the Companies Act, 2013 by the Registrar of Companies (ROC). Company incorporation is the moment the company becomes a separate legal person that can own property, sign contracts, open a bank account and be sued in its own name. So for a company, "Registration" and "incorporation" describe the same event: incorporation is the legal word, Company Registration is the everyday one.

A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is registered under a different law, the LLP Act, 2008, but on the same MCA portal. A sole proprietorship and a partnership firm are not incorporated at all; they are recognised through other Registrations such as Udyam, GST or the state Registrar of Firms.

Which structure should you register?

Before you start any new company Registration, decide which structure suits your business. Here is a quick overview:

Structure	Law and where it is registered	Minimum people	Best suited to
Private Limited Company (PVT. LTD.)	Companies Act, 2013; SPICe+ on the MCA portal	2 directors and 2 shareholders	Startups that want to raise equity, issue ESOPs or grow large
One Person Company (OPC)	Companies Act, 2013; SPICe+ on the MCA portal	1 member and director, plus a nominee	A single founder who wants limited liability
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)	LLP Act, 2008; RUN-LLP and FiLLiP on the MCA portal	2 designated partners	Professionals and bootstrapped businesses that want limited liability with lighter compliance
Section 8 Company	Companies Act, 2013; SPICe+ with a licence from the Registrar	Same as a private company	Not-for-profit work such as education, charity or social welfare
Partnership Firm	Indian Partnership Act, 1932; state Registrar of Firms	2 partners	Small businesses run by partners who accept unlimited liability
Sole Proprietorship	No separate law; Udyam, GST or Shop and Establishment Registration	1 owner	Very small, low-risk businesses run by one person

For a full side-by-side comparison, see Company Registration in India: every type of business Registration explained and PVT. LTD. vs LLP vs OPC: which one should you choose? The step-by-step guides for each structure are listed near the end of this page.

The Company Registration process at a glance

For a Private Limited Company, One Person Company or Section 8 company, the steps are the same. The table summarises them; each step is explained below.

Step	What happens	Form or portal
1. Choose the structure	Decide between PVT. LTD., OPC, LLP or another form	No filing; a decision
2. Get DSCs	Each proposed director and subscriber gets a Digital Signature Certificate	A licensed Certifying Authority
3. Reserve the name	The Registrar checks and approves the proposed name	RUN or SPICe+ Part A
4. File the incorporation form	Office, capital, shareholders, directors and DIN details	SPICe+ Part B (INC-32)
5. Attach the linked forms	Memorandum, Articles, bank and labour Registrations, declarations	e-MoA, e-AoA, AGILE-PRO-S, INC-9
6. Sign, certify and pay	DSC signing, professional certification, fees and stamp duty paid online	MCA portal
7. Certificate of Incorporation	The company is born, with its CIN, PAN and TAN	Issued by the Central Registration Centre
8. After incorporation	Bank account, first auditor, INC-20A, GST if needed	MCA portal and other departments

How to register a company: the PVT. LTD. incorporation process step by step

The Private Limited Company is the most common choice for startups, so this section walks through its incorporation process in full. An OPC and a Section 8 company follow almost the same SPICe+ route.

Before you start, check the basics: a PVT. LTD. needs at least 2 directors and 2 shareholders (the same two people can be both), at least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the financial year, and there is no minimum capital. The documents and eligibility checklist covers every requirement.

Step 1: Get Digital Signature Certificates (DSC)

Every MCA form is signed electronically. Each proposed director and each subscriber (a person who signs the Memorandum and takes shares) needs a Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate from a Certifying Authority licensed by the Controller of Certifying Authorities. It is issued online after an identity check, usually using Aadhaar or PAN, a mobile OTP and a short video. Make sure the name on each person's PAN and Aadhaar match exactly. Read more in the Digital Signature Certificate lesson.

Step 2: Check and reserve the name (RUN or SPICe+ Part A)

Search the MCA company and LLP names and the IP India trademark database first, because a name that is identical or too similar to an existing company or a registered trademark is likely to be rejected. You can then apply for the name in one of two ways:

• RUN (Reserve Unique Name): a separate name application with a government fee of ₹1,000.
• SPICe+ Part A: the name section of the incorporation form itself. The same ₹1,000 fee is payable for each name proposed.

Once approved, a name for a new company is reserved for 20 days, and the rest of the incorporation form must be filed within that time. The company name approval lesson explains the name rules.

Step 3: DIN is allotted inside SPICe+

Every director needs a Director Identification Number (DIN). You do not apply for it separately for a new company: SPICe+ allots DIN to up to three proposed directors who do not already have one. Directors who already hold a DIN simply quote it. See Directors, shareholders and DIN.

In April 2026 the MCA published draft amendments to the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014 that propose, among other things, allowing DIN for up to five directors through SPICe+ and making some AGILE-PRO-S Registrations optional. Draft rules are proposals only; until they are notified, the current rules described here apply, so check the MCA portal for the latest position before you file.

Step 4: File SPICe+ Part B

SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus, form INC-32) is the single web form used to incorporate a company. Part B records the registered office address, the authorised and paid-up capital, the subscribers and their shareholding, the directors, and the main business activity. The same form also applies for the company's PAN (Permanent Account Number) and TAN (Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number). The SPICe+ form lesson explains each part.

Step 5: Prepare the linked forms

• e-MoA (INC-33): the Memorandum of Association, which states the company's name, registered state, objects (the business it will do) and capital.
• e-AoA (INC-34): the Articles of Association, the internal rules on shares, directors and meetings.
• AGILE-PRO-S (INC-35): applies for EPFO and ESIC Registration, profession tax Registration where the state requires it, opening the company's bank account and, if you want one, a GSTIN.
• INC-9 and director consents: declarations by the subscribers and first directors, generated by the system and signed digitally.

The MOA and AOA lesson explains what these documents say in plain language.

Step 6: Sign, certify, pay and submit

Directors and subscribers sign with their DSCs. SPICe+ must also be certified by a practising professional (a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary or Cost Accountant in practice), who confirms the details have been verified. The MCA fees and state stamp duty are paid online, and the form is submitted on the portal.

Step 7: Certificate of Incorporation with CIN, PAN and TAN

The application is examined by the MCA's Central Registration Centre on behalf of the Registrar. If something needs correcting, the form is sent back for resubmission. Once approved, the company receives its Certificate of Incorporation showing the company name, date of incorporation and CIN, together with its PAN and TAN. From that date, the company legally exists. Because the PAN and TAN are allotted through the same application, you do not need to apply for them separately.

Can you register a company online?

Yes. Every step happens on the MCA portal, so you can register a company online from anywhere in India or abroad, with no office visit and no physical papers sent to the Registrar. Founders sign with their DSCs, scanned documents are uploaded, fees are paid online and the certificate arrives by email. The only physical requirement is a registered office address in India. Online Company Registration on the official MCA portal explains how the paperless, remote process works.

How long does company incorporation take?

There is no fixed legal timeline. The table below shows what is typical when documents are complete and correct; delays usually come from name objections and mismatched documents, not from the portal itself.

Stage	Typical time
Collecting documents and deciding capital, name and office	A few days, depending on the founders
Digital Signature Certificates	Usually the same day to two working days
Name approval (RUN or SPICe+ Part A)	Usually a few working days; longer if a name is objected to
SPICe+ Part B and linked forms: preparation and signing	One to three days
Scrutiny by the Central Registration Centre	Usually a few working days; more if resubmission is needed
Total, start to Certificate of Incorporation	Commonly about one to two weeks; longer if a name or document is objected to

Most delays come from four things:

1. name rejections because of similarity with an existing company or trademark;
2. mismatched names, dates of birth or addresses across PAN, Aadhaar and the form;
3. an unclear or outdated utility bill for the registered office;
4. foreign or NRI documents that are not properly notarised and apostilled.

Claims of Registration "in 24 hours" are explained honestly in How long does Company Registration take?

What documents are needed to register a company?

For whom	Documents
Each Indian director and shareholder	PAN, Aadhaar, a recent bank statement or utility bill as address proof, a photograph, email ID and mobile number
Each foreign national or NRI director or shareholder	Passport, overseas address proof and a photograph, usually notarised or apostilled in the country of residence
Registered office	A recent utility bill (electricity, gas, water or telephone) and, if the premises are not owned by the company, a no-objection certificate from the owner; a rent agreement if rented
A company shareholder (corporate subscriber)	Board resolution authorising the investment and the company's identity documents

The complete list is in the Company Registration documents checklist.

What government fees apply?

Only government charges are covered here; professional fees vary widely and are not part of Registration itself.

• Name reservation through RUN: ₹1,000 per application. Using SPICe+ Part A instead does not avoid it: the same ₹1,000 is charged per name proposed.
• SPICe+ filing fee: nil for companies with authorised capital up to ₹15 lakh. Above that, a fee based on authorised capital applies under the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014.
• Stamp duty: payable on the e-MoA and e-AoA. The amount depends on the state of the registered office and often on authorised capital, and it is collected online through the MCA portal.
• Digital Signature Certificates: charged by the Certifying Authority; the price varies by provider and validity period.

For worked examples, see How much does Company Registration cost in India? and the Company Registration government fees chart.

What happens after incorporation?

Incorporation starts a set of deadlines. The main ones for a new PVT. LTD. are:

• Bank account: open the current account and receive the share money from shareholders.
• First board meeting within 30 days of incorporation.
• First auditor appointed by the board within 30 days of incorporation.
• Form INC-20A (declaration for commencement of business) within 180 days, confirming that subscribers have paid for their shares.
• GST Registration once turnover crosses ₹40 lakh for goods or ₹20 lakh for services (lower in some special category states), or earlier in specified cases such as inter-state supply of goods. See Who must register for GST?
• DIR-3 KYC for every director once every three financial years, due by 30 June.
• Yearly compliance: audit, annual general meeting, annual filings with the ROC and income tax returns, even in a year with no sales.

Follow the first 30 days after Registration checklist and the first 180 days lesson.

Detailed guides for each structure

• Private Limited Company lessons
• One Person Company (OPC) Registration
• LLP Registration in India
• Section 8 Company Registration
• Partnership Firm Registration with the Registrar of Firms
• How to register a Proprietorship
• Company Registration in India for NRIs and foreign nationals
• Company Registration by city: ROC, stamp duty and local rules

If you prefer to learn in order, the free lessons are grouped by topic: Before you register, Private Limited Company, LLP, One Person Company and Life after Registration.

Related Company Registration Guides

• Company Registration in India: choose the right business structure
• Documents required for Company Registration
• Company Registration fees and costs
• Company Registration timeline
• Online Company Registration on the MCA portal
• Registration Trend: company registrations in India by financial year

Key takeaways

• For a company, Registration and incorporation mean the same thing: the company is registered online on the MCA portal, and the Registrar, through the Central Registration Centre, grants incorporation.
• The PVT. LTD. process runs: DSC, name check and reservation, SPICe+ Part B with DIN, linked forms (e-MoA, e-AoA, AGILE-PRO-S), certification and payment, then the Certificate of Incorporation with CIN, PAN and TAN.
• With complete, matching documents, Registration commonly takes about one to two weeks; objections add time.
• Government fees are low for small companies: no SPICe+ filing fee up to ₹15 lakh authorised capital, but state stamp duty and DSC costs still apply.
• Deadlines start at incorporation: first board meeting and auditor within 30 days, INC-20A within 180 days.