Checklist for Your First Private Limited Company Registration

Registering a Private Limited company in India is done online through the MCA's SPICe+ form, and most delays come from missing documents or a rejected name. Use this checklist before you start.

1. Basic requirements

• At least two directors and two shareholders. The same people can be both.
• At least one director must be resident in India, meaning they stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous financial year.
• A registered office address in India. It can be a home or a rented space.
• There is no minimum paid-up capital. Start with an amount that reflects your real needs.

2. Documents for each director and shareholder

• PAN card (foreign nationals: passport)
• Aadhaar card, or another proof of identity and address
• A recent bank statement, or a utility or mobile bill, not older than two months
• Passport-size photograph
• Email address and mobile number for each person

3. Documents for the registered office

• A utility bill (electricity, water or gas) for the premises, not older than two months
• A rent agreement, if the premises are rented
• A no-objection certificate (NOC) from the owner

4. Choose a name that will be approved

Names are approved through SPICe+ Part A (or the RUN service). To avoid rejection:

• Check that it is not identical or too similar to an existing company, LLP or registered trademark.
• Avoid restricted words such as "Bank", "Insurance", "National" or "Bharat" unless you have the required approvals.
• Make the name reflect your main business activity, and keep a second option ready.

5. What SPICe+ gives you in one application

Along with the Certificate of Incorporation, a single SPICe+ application also gets you the company's PAN and TAN, EPFO and ESIC registration, and, through the linked AGILE-PRO-S form, a bank account and, if you need it, GST registration. Directors without a DIN get one in the same process. You will need a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each director to sign the forms.

6. Decide these before filing

• Authorised capital: the maximum share capital the company can issue. Higher authorised capital means higher stamp duty and MCA fees, so do not set it much higher than you need. It can be increased later.
• Shareholding split between founders.
• Main objects in the MOA, which describe what the company will do.

7. After incorporation

• File the commencement of business declaration (INC-20A) within 180 days, after the shareholders deposit their subscription money.
• Appoint the first auditor within 30 days.
• Hold the first board meeting within 30 days.
• Put your annual ROC filings (AOC-4, MGT-7) and income tax return on the calendar.

How Singha Tax can help

We handle name approval, DSCs, SPICe+ filing and the first-year compliance for you. See our company incorporation services or book a consultation.