AS | Ankit Sarawagi|Founder, CFOmatrix·June 2026·11 min read | Updated Jun 2026 |
- All-in cost is roughly ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 for a resident; the MCA charges no registration fee for authorized capital up to ₹15 lakh.
- The real cost is DSC, state stamp duty and professional fees, not government registration charges.
- There is no minimum paid-up capital (removed in 2015); keep authorized capital at ₹15 lakh or below to stay fee-free.
- A non-resident founder pays more and waits longer: apostille or notarization of foreign documents, plus an FC-GPR filing after share allotment.
- Timeline is about 7 to 15 working days for a resident and 3 to 4 weeks or more for a non-resident.
| ₹6-15 K Typical all-in registration cost for a resident founder (Pvt Ltd) | ₹15 L Authorized capital limit below which the MCA charges no registration fee | 7-15 days Resident incorporation timeline (non-resident: 3 to 4 weeks plus) |
What Is the Company Registration Cost in India?
The company registration cost in India for a resident founder is typically about ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 all-in for a Private Limited company with authorized capital up to ₹15 lakh. Companies are registered through the SPICe+ form (INC-32) on the MCA portal, and for small companies the government charges no registration fee, so most of what you pay is for digital signatures, state stamp duty and any professional help.
If you do it yourself with basic documents, you can be at the lower end. If you use a company secretary or an online incorporation service to handle SPICe+, the MOA (INC-33), the AOA (INC-34) and the linked AGILE-PRO-S form, you will pay professional fees on top, often pushing the total higher.
A non-resident (foreign) founder pays more. The base process is the same, but foreign passports and address proofs must be apostilled or notarized abroad, which adds cost and time, and share allotment later triggers an RBI filing. We cover that in the documents and timeline sections below.
| Entity type | Typical all-in cost (resident) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Private Limited | ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 | Startups raising funds, 2+ founders |
| OPC (One Person) | ₹6,000 to ₹12,000 | Solo founder, no co-founder yet |
| LLP | ₹5,000 to ₹12,000 | Services firms, no equity fundraising |
These are guide ranges for 2026. Government fees, state stamp duty and DSC prices change. Always verify current figures on mca.gov.in before you budget, and remember a Pvt Ltd needs at least 2 directors and 2 shareholders (an OPC needs 1, an LLP needs 2 partners), with at least one director resident in India.
Where the Money Goes: The Fee Breakdown
The company registration cost is made up of four parts: the government registration fee (often zero), state stamp duty, the Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), and professional fees. Here is what each one is.
- Government registration fee: the MCA charges no fee for authorized capital up to ₹15 lakh (small companies). Above that, a slab-based fee applies. PAN and TAN are bundled into SPICe+ at nominal cost.
- Stamp duty: charged on the MOA, AOA and the incorporation forms, and it is state-specific. It can range from a few hundred rupees to a couple of thousand depending on the state and the authorized capital.
- Digital Signature Certificate (DSC): each director needs one to sign the forms. A Class 3 DSC typically costs about ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 per person, valid for two years.
- Professional fees: optional. A company secretary, chartered accountant or online platform charges ₹3,000 to ₹10,000+ to prepare and file everything correctly.
| Cost component | Typical amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Government registration fee | ₹0 | Free up to ₹15 lakh authorized capital |
| Stamp duty (MOA/AOA/forms) | ₹500 to ₹2,000+ | State-specific; varies widely |
| DSC (per director) | ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 | Multiply by number of directors |
| PAN + TAN | ~₹150 | Bundled into SPICe+ |
| Professional fees (optional) | ₹3,000 to ₹10,000+ | If you use a CS, CA or platform |
Two resident directors, ₹10 lakh authorized capital, Maharashtra. Government fee ₹0, stamp duty around ₹1,300, two DSCs at ₹1,500 each (₹3,000), PAN and TAN ₹150, and a professional fee of ₹5,000 gives an all-in of roughly ₹9,450. Do it yourself and skip the professional fee and you are closer to ₹4,500.
Documents Required for Company Registration (Resident Founders)
For a resident founder, the documents required for company registration in India fall into three groups: director and shareholder KYC, the registered office proof, and the digital signatures. Here is the full list.
For each director and shareholder
- PAN card (mandatory for all Indian nationals).
- Identity proof: Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or driving licence.
- Address proof: a bank statement or a utility bill (electricity, mobile or telephone) that is less than two months old.
- Passport-size photograph.
For the registered office
- Proof of address: the latest utility bill for the premises (electricity, gas or water).
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the owner of the property.
- A rent agreement if the office is rented. A home address or a virtual office is allowed (with a utility bill and NOC).
For filing
- Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each director.
- The INC-9 declaration and consents are generated and signed as part of SPICe+.
If you do not have the registered office ready at incorporation, you can file INC-22 within 30 days of incorporation to register the address. Grab our free document checklist so nothing on this list slips through.
Documents Required for a Non-Resident (Foreign) Founder
A non-resident or foreign founder needs the same KYC documents as a resident, but with one big difference: the foreign documents must be apostilled or notarized before they are accepted in India. This is what makes non-resident registration slower and pricier.
| Document | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Identity proof | PAN + Aadhaar/voter ID | Passport (apostilled or notarized) |
| Address proof | Bank statement / utility bill | Foreign bank statement / driving licence (apostilled or notarized) |
| Attestation | Self-attested | Apostille (Hague countries) or embassy attestation |
| After allotment | No RBI filing | FC-GPR with RBI on FIRMS within 30 days |
- If the founder is from a Hague Convention country, documents are apostilled by the local competent authority.
- If not, documents must be notarized and attested by the Indian embassy in that country (consularization).
- At least one director must still be resident in India (stayed 182 days or more in the previous year), so a foreign founder usually adds a resident director.
When shares are allotted to a non-resident, the company must file FC-GPR with the RBI on the FIRMS portal within 30 days of allotment, at a FEMA-compliant price, with the FIRC and KYC from the bank. Miss this and you face penalties and a flag in every future due diligence. Budget for apostille and a professional who knows FEMA.
Authorized vs Paid-Up Capital: How Much to Keep
Authorized capital is the maximum share capital your company is allowed to issue, as written in the MOA. Paid-up capital is the money shareholders have actually put in. The two are different, and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes founders make at registration.
There is no minimum paid-up capital in India: that requirement was removed in 2015. So you can start a company with paid-up capital of ₹1 lakh, or even less. The number that affects your registration cost is authorized capital, because the government fee is free only up to ₹15 lakh.
| Authorized capital | Paid-up capital | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Max shares you may issue | Shares actually subscribed and paid for |
| Minimum | No legal minimum | No legal minimum (since 2015) |
| Affects cost? | Yes, free up to ₹15 lakh | No direct fee impact |
| Common choice | ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh | ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh |
Keep authorized capital at ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh and paid-up capital low. You can always increase authorized capital later when you raise. Just remember the subscribed paid-up capital must actually be deposited into the company bank account, and share certificates must be issued within 60 days with stamp duty paid within 30 days of issue.
How Long Does Company Registration Take in India?
For a resident founder, company registration through SPICe+ usually takes about 7 to 15 working days once your documents and DSCs are ready. A non-resident founder should plan for 3 to 4 weeks or more, because foreign documents must be apostilled or notarized before filing.
| Step | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Document prep + apostille | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 2 weeks (apostille abroad) |
| DSC + name approval (Part A) | 1 to 3 days | 2 to 4 days |
| SPICe+ filing + approval (Part B) | 5 to 10 days | 5 to 10 days |
| Total (typical) | 7 to 15 working days | 3 to 4 weeks or more |
SPICe+ has two parts: Part A reserves the name, Part B incorporates. The single form bundles DIN, PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, Professional Tax (Maharashtra) and a bank account through AGILE-PRO-S. One filing, many registrations.
The Costs People Forget After Registration
The registration fee is only the start. The bigger and more commonly missed costs are the post-incorporation compliances, which carry their own fees and deadlines. Budget for these from day one.
- Share certificate stamp duty: issue share certificates within 60 days and pay stamp duty within 30 days of issue. The rate is state-specific.
- First auditor: appoint within 30 days and file ADT-1; you will pay an audit fee each year.
- INC-20A (commencement of business): file within 180 days after depositing paid-up capital. You cannot start business or borrow until it is filed.
- GST registration: mandatory above ₹40 lakh turnover (goods) or ₹20 lakh (services), or for inter-state and e-commerce supply; otherwise voluntary. Takes about 7 working days.
- Free registrations to grab: DPIIT / Startup India recognition and Udyam (MSME) are both free and online. Udyam is instant.
- IP assignment: have founders and contractors assign code, designs and brand to the company. Investors flag founder-owned IP in due diligence.
Download our free post-incorporation compliance checklist and put the 30, 60 and 180 day deadlines in your calendar the week you incorporate. The penalties for missing them dwarf the registration cost itself.
“The cheapest part of starting a company in India is the registration itself. What founders underbudget is the compliance that follows in the first 180 days.”
Ankit Sarawagi, CFOmatrixFrequently Asked Questions
What is the company registration cost in India in 2026?
For a resident founder, the all-in company registration cost in India is typically about ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 for a Private Limited company with authorized capital up to ₹15 lakh. The MCA charges no government registration fee for small companies up to ₹15 lakh authorized capital; the cost is mostly DSC, state stamp duty and professional fees. A non-resident founder pays more because foreign documents must be apostilled or notarized. Verify current fees on mca.gov.in.
What documents are required for company registration in India?
Each director and shareholder needs a PAN card, an identity proof (Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or driving licence), an address proof (bank statement or utility bill under two months old) and a passport-size photo. The company also needs registered office proof (a utility bill) and a No Objection Certificate from the property owner. Every director needs a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). Non-resident founders must get their passport and address proof apostilled or notarized.
Is there a government fee to register a company in India?
The MCA charges no registration fee for a company with authorized capital up to ₹15 lakh (small companies). You still pay state-specific stamp duty on the MOA, AOA and incorporation forms, plus the cost of a Digital Signature Certificate for each director and any professional fees. Verify current figures on mca.gov.in because state stamp duty varies.
What is the difference between authorized capital and paid-up capital?
Authorized capital is the maximum share capital a company is allowed to issue, as stated in its MOA. Paid-up capital is the amount shareholders have actually paid in. There is no minimum paid-up capital in India (the requirement was removed in 2015), so you can start with as little as ₹1 lakh or even less. Keep authorized capital at ₹15 lakh or below to avoid the government registration fee.
How long does company registration take in India?
Resident incorporation through SPICe+ usually takes about 7 to 15 working days once documents are ready. A non-resident founder typically needs about 3 to 4 weeks or more, because foreign passports and address proofs must be apostilled (in Hague Convention countries) or notarized and consularized first.
What extra documents does a non-resident founder need for company registration in India?
A non-resident (foreign) founder needs the same documents as a resident, but the passport and address proof must be apostilled (if their country is a Hague Convention member) or notarized and attested by the Indian embassy. This adds cost and time. After incorporation, share allotment to a non-resident also triggers an FC-GPR filing with the RBI on the FIRMS portal within 30 days.
How much paid-up capital should a startup keep at registration?
Most startups keep authorized capital at ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh (to stay under the fee-free limit) and paid-up capital low, often ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh, since there is no minimum. The subscribed paid-up capital must actually be deposited into the company bank account, and share certificates must be issued within 60 days with stamp duty paid within 30 days of issue.
Cost ranges, fees and deadlines are general market guidance for India as of 2026 and vary by state, entity type and authorized capital. Government fees and stamp duty change; verify current figures on mca.gov.in. This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Speak to a qualified company secretary or adviser about your specific situation.
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AS | Founder, CFOmatrix | Finance Strategy & Equity Compliance CFOmatrix is a knowledge platform focused on how finance actually works inside growing companies. Every insight is shaped by real operating experience across startups and growth-stage companies, including cross-border setups. |