Private Limited Company Registration in India: Process, Documents, Timeline and Cost

A Private Limited company is the most common structure for Indian startups that plan to raise investment, bring in co-founders or build a business that is separate from its owners. This guide explains how private limited company registration works today, which documents you need, how long it typically takes and what it costs, including the government fees.

What is a Private Limited company?

A Private Limited company is a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013. It is a separate legal entity, which means the company owns its assets, signs its contracts and carries its own liabilities. Shareholders' liability is limited to the amount unpaid on their shares.

The key rules are:

• Minimum two directors and two shareholders. The same people can be both.
• Maximum 200 members (shareholders), with some exceptions for employees.
• At least one director must be resident in India, meaning they stayed in India for at least 182 days in the financial year.
• No minimum paid-up capital. You can start with a small capital that suits your business.
• Restrictions on transferring shares, and no invitation to the public to subscribe to shares.

Why founders choose a Private Limited company

• Investor-friendly: equity can be issued to angel investors and venture funds, and share options (ESOPs) can be offered to employees.
• Credibility: banks, large clients and marketplaces are often more comfortable dealing with a registered company.
• Continuity: the company continues even if shareholders or directors change.
• Limited liability: personal assets are generally protected from business debts.

The trade-off is more compliance than an LLP or a proprietorship: board meetings, statutory registers, an audit every year and annual filings with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA). If you are unsure which structure fits, read our comparison of LLP, Private Limited and OPC.

Documents needed for company registration

For each director and shareholder

• PAN card (mandatory for Indian nationals)
• Identity proof: Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence
• Address proof: a recent bank statement, or an electricity, phone or mobile bill
• A recent passport-size photograph
• Email ID and mobile number
• For foreign nationals: passport and address proof. Documents issued outside India usually need additional attestation (such as an apostille or consular attestation), depending on the country, so check the current MCA requirement before filing

For the registered office

• A recent utility bill (electricity, water or gas) for the office address
• Rent agreement, if the premises are rented
• A no-objection certificate (NOC) from the owner of the property

About the company

• Two proposed names, ideally unique and not similar to existing companies or trademarks
• The main business activity (objects)
• Authorised and paid-up share capital
• Shareholding split between the shareholders

You will also need a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each proposed director and subscriber, because MCA forms are signed electronically. DSCs are issued by licensed certifying agencies at their own prices.

The registration process, step by step

Company registration is done online on the MCA portal through the SPICe+ web form (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus, form INC-32). It has two parts.

Step 1: Get digital signatures

Each director and subscriber obtains a DSC. This usually takes one to two working days once KYC is complete.

Step 2: Name reservation (SPICe+ Part A)

You can either reserve the name first or file the whole application in one go.

• Reserve first: up to two names can be proposed in Part A. The approved name is reserved for 20 days from approval, and this can be extended for a further fee.
• File together: if you file Part A and Part B together, only one name can be proposed.

The Central Registration Centre (CRC) checks the name against existing companies, LLPs and the naming rules.

Step 3: Incorporation filing (SPICe+ Part B and linked forms)

Part B carries the company's details: registered office, capital, directors and subscribers. It is filed together with linked forms:

• e-MoA (INC-33): Memorandum of Association, which sets out the company's objects and capital
• e-AoA (INC-34): Articles of Association, which set out its internal rules
• AGILE-PRO-S (INC-35): for GSTIN (optional), EPFO and ESIC registration, a bank account application and, in some states, professional tax and shops registration
• URC-1, where applicable

SPICe+ also allots Director Identification Numbers (DIN) for up to three proposed directors who do not already have one, and applies for the company's PAN and TAN automatically.

Step 4: Certificate of Incorporation

Once the Registrar approves the application, the company receives its Certificate of Incorporation with its Corporate Identification Number (CIN), along with its PAN and TAN.

Step 5: After incorporation

Registration is only the start. Key early tasks include:

• Open the company's bank account and deposit the share subscription money.
• File INC-20A, the declaration for commencement of business, within 180 days of incorporation (for companies with share capital).
• Appoint the first auditor within 30 days of incorporation.
• Register for GST if your turnover or type of business requires it (see our GST registration guide).
• Issue share certificates and maintain statutory registers.

How long does it take?

With complete documents, Private Limited company registration typically takes 7 to 15 working days from complete documents, subject to government processing. The time depends on DSC issuance, name approval and MCA processing. Any query or resubmission request from the Registrar adds time, so no provider can promise an exact date or an approval.

How much does Private Limited registration cost?

The total cost has three parts: government fees, state stamp duty, and the service provider's professional fee.

Government fees (MCA)

For companies with authorised capital above ₹15 lakh, MCA filing fees apply as per the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014. The MCA portal shows the applicable fee when you file.

Stamp duty (varies by state)

Stamp duty is payable on the SPICe+ form, MoA and AoA. The amount depends on the state where the registered office is located and on the company's authorised capital, and rates vary from state to state. MCA publishes the current state-wise rates in its stamp duty table for SPICe+ (see Sources), and the exact figure is calculated on the MCA portal at the time of filing.

Other costs

• Digital signatures: charged by the certifying agency.
• Professional fee: FirstPaper's Private Limited registration starts at ₹1,999 + 18% GST (Basic plan). Startup (₹6,499 + GST) and Complete (₹17,999 + GST, including first-year compliance) plans are also available. Government fees and stamp duty are charged at actuals, with official receipts.

Government fees, stamp duty and rules can change and vary by state. Always check the current figure on the official MCA portal or in your written quote.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a name that is too similar to an existing company or a registered trademark. This is a common reason for rejection.
• A mismatch between documents, for example a different address on the utility bill and the NOC, or name spellings that do not match the PAN.
• Capital mismatches between the MoA and the SPICe+ form.
• Missing post-incorporation deadlines such as INC-20A and the first auditor appointment, which can attract penalties.

Frequently asked questions

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. FirstPaper is a private business facilitation service and is not a government website or agency. Fees, limits and processing times are set by the authorities and may change. Last updated: November 2026.

Sources

1. MCA – SPICe+ & linked filings FAQ (name reservation, 20-day validity, ₹1,000 name fee, PAN ₹66 / TAN ₹65, zero filing fee up to ₹15 lakh, linked forms): https://www.mca.gov.in/content/mca/global/en/help-faq/faqs/company-services/incorporation/spiceplus-linked-filings.html
2. MCA – SPICe+ web form page: https://www.mca.gov.in/content/mca/global/en/mca/e-filing/incorporation-change-services/spice.html
3. MCA – Stamp duty rates for SPICe+ Part B (state-wise table, rates vary by state): https://www.mca.gov.in/bin/dms/getdocument?mds=aBQPSZo7iXU30NJsRYqIkw%253D%253D&type=open
4. Companies Act, 2013 (MCA) – s.2(68) (private company, 200 members), s.10A (commencement of business, 180 days), s.139(6) (first auditor within 30 days), s.149(1) and (3) (minimum directors; resident director, 182 days): https://www.mca.gov.in/content/dam/mca/pdf/CompaniesAct2013.pdf
5. Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014 and Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014 – MCA Acts & Rules e-book: https://www.mca.gov.in/content/mca/global/en/acts-rules/ebooks.html

Official portals are the final source for fees, limits and rules. If anything here differs from the official portal, the portal applies.