Complete Guide & Document Checklist
How to Register a Private Limited Company
Step-by-step process, required documents checklist, costs, timeline, and frequently asked questions
A Private Limited Company is the most popular choice for startups in India. You get limited liability (your personal assets stay protected), a separate legal identity, and the credibility that makes it easier to raise funding and win larger clients.
Everything happens online through the MCA portal at mca.gov.in using the SPICe+ form. When you're done, you'll have a Certificate of Incorporation, CIN, PAN, and TAN - all from one application. The whole process takes 7-15 working days, depending on how clean your documents are and how busy the MCA is.
Timeline
7-15
working days
Cost
Government fee: Rs. 1,500-15,000 (based on authorised capital)
Professional assistance: Rs. 4,999-9,999
Who needs this?
You're planning to raise venture capital, angel investment, or institutional funding
You want to protect your personal assets from business liabilities
You're building a team and want to offer ESOPs (Employee Stock Options)
You need a formal structure to sign large contracts or bid for government tenders
You're selling on e-commerce platforms that require company registration
You have multiple co-founders and need clear equity ownership documentation
Documents required
Click on any document to see detailed requirements and how to obtain it
19
Total Documents
14
Required
5
Ollvy Handles
Identity Documents
Required for all proposed directors
PAN Card
REQof all directors and shareholders (minimum 2 directors, 2 shareholders)
Aadhaar Card
REQof all directors and shareholders - must be linked with mobile number for OTP verification
Passport-Size Photographs
REQrecent photo of each director, JPEG format, white background preferred
Specimen Signature
REQfor DSC application - signature on plain white paper, scanned clearly
Director Address Proof
Any one document per director - must be recent
Utility Bill
electricity, gas, water, or telephone bill - not older than 60 days
Bank Statement
savings or current account - first page showing name and address, not older than 60 days
Passport
valid passport - mandatory for foreign directors, optional alternative for Indian directors
Registered Office Documents
Where your company will be officially registered
Registered Office Address Proof
REQutility bill for the office address - electricity, telephone, gas - not older than 60 days
Rent Agreement
only if office premises are rented - not required for own property
NOC from Property Owner
REQOLLVYNo Objection Certificate from property owner - Ollvy prepares this for you
Company Details
Information needed to draft your incorporation documents
Proposed Company Names (3 options)
REQin order of preference - first available name is reserved by MCA
Business Activity Description
REQwhat your company will do - must match an MCA NIC code
Authorized Capital Details
REQminimum ₹1 authorised capital - no minimum paid-up capital required
Shareholder Details
name, address, PAN, and number of shares for each shareholder
Digital & Legal
Ollvy handles these - no action needed from you
Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
REQOLLVYClass 3 DSC - mandatory for all directors and subscribers to MOA and AOA
Director Identification Number (DIN)
REQOLLVYunique 8-digit number for every director - obtained as part of SPICe+ filing
MOA and AOA
REQOLLVYMemorandum and Articles of Association - Ollvy drafts both
Director Consent Forms
REQOLLVYDIR-2, INC-9 declarations - Ollvy prepares, you sign digitally
Email ID and Mobile Number
REQunique email and mobile for each director - used for MCA OTP authentication
PAN Card
Identity Documents
What is this?
PAN (Permanent Account Number) is a 10-character alphanumeric code issued by the Income Tax Department. It is your tax identity - every financial transaction, company filing, and bank account in India is linked to it. For company incorporation, PAN of every director and shareholder is mandatory. If a shareholder is a corporate entity (another company), that company's PAN is required instead.
How to get it
Most Indian founders already have a PAN. If you have it, just take a clear, well-lit photo of the physical card - front side only. The scan must show all 10 characters clearly. If you need to apply for a new PAN, do it via the NSDL or UTIITSL portals - it takes 5-7 working days and costs ₹107 (Indian address) or ₹1,017 (foreign address). For foreign nationals acting as directors, a passport serves in lieu of PAN.
Common Issues
Name mismatch is the single most common rejection reason. Your PAN says "Rajesh Kumar Singh" but your Aadhaar says "R K Singh" - MCA will reject this. Check that the exact name matches across PAN, Aadhaar, and the incorporation form. Also check that your PAN is active and not inoperative (PAN becomes inoperative if not linked with Aadhaar - link at incometax.gov.in before submitting).
Requirements
- 01Clear, coloured scan of original PAN card - not a photocopy of a photocopy
- 02All 10 characters of PAN number must be legible in the scan
- 03Name on PAN must exactly match name on Aadhaar card
- 04For foreign nationals: passport is accepted in lieu of PAN
- 05If PAN is not linked with Aadhaar, link it before submission - inoperative PAN causes rejection
- 06Corporate shareholders must provide the company PAN, not a director's personal PAN
Ready to incorporate your company?
Get started with Ollvy. We handle DSC, DIN, name approval, and all MCA filings. Most companies are incorporated within 7-10 days.
Start Company RegistrationStep-by-step process
Get Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) for all directors
Every proposed director needs a Class 3 DSC from a government-approved certifying authority. You'll use this to sign all MCA filings electronically. Takes 1-2 days to get.
Apply for Director Identification Numbers (DIN)
DIN is a unique ID for each director. Good news - for new companies, you can get DIN directly through the SPICe+ form without a separate application.
Reserve your company name
Use MCA's RUN service or SPICe+ Part A to check and reserve your name. It must end with "Private Limited" and can't be identical or too similar to existing companies or trademarks.
Draft the Memorandum and Articles of Association
The MOA defines what your company does; the AOA sets internal rules for how it runs. You can use MCA's standard templates (Table F) or have a professional draft custom documents for your business.
File SPICe+ Part B on the MCA portal
Fill in company details, director info, registered office address, capital details, and attach your MOA, AOA, address proof, and ID documents for all directors and shareholders.
Submit AGILE-PRO for linked registrations
Along with SPICe+, file AGILE-PRO to simultaneously get GSTIN, EPFO registration, ESIC registration, Professional Tax (where applicable), and even a bank account with select banks.
Receive your Certificate of Incorporation
After MCA approves everything, you get your Certificate of Incorporation with CIN, plus PAN and TAN from the Income Tax Department. Your company is now officially registered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the minimum number of directors and shareholders?
You need at least 2 directors and 2 shareholders, with a maximum of 200 shareholders. The same person can be both a director and shareholder. At least one director must be an Indian resident - meaning they've spent at least 182 days in India in the previous calendar year.
What's the minimum capital required?
Technically, there's no minimum anymore - you can start a company with Rs. 1 as paid-up capital. Practically, most founders start with Rs. 1 lakh. Keep in mind that government stamp duty is based on your authorised capital, so don't set it higher than necessary.
Can foreigners be directors or shareholders?
Yes, foreign nationals can be both directors and shareholders. The key requirement is that at least one director must be an Indian resident. Foreign directors need a DSC and must provide apostilled or notarised identity and address documents.
What annual compliance do I need to handle after incorporation?
You'll need to file annual financial statements (Form AOC-4) and annual returns (Form MGT-7) with MCA, hold at least 4 board meetings per year, get a statutory audit done, and file income tax returns. If you're GST-registered, add those filings too. Non-compliance leads to significant penalties.
How do I convert my sole proprietorship or partnership to a Pvt Ltd?
There's no direct conversion. You'd register a fresh Pvt Ltd company and then transfer business assets, contracts, and liabilities to the new entity. The fresh registration takes 7-15 days. Work with a professional on the legal and tax aspects of the transfer.
Common mistakes to avoid
- 01Proposing a name too similar to an existing company or registered trademark - instant rejection
- 02Not checking RBI approval requirements before adding foreign nationals as directors or shareholders
- 03Setting authorised capital higher than needed - you pay stamp duty on this amount
- 04Drafting MOA business objects too narrowly, limiting what your company can do later
- 05Missing the registered office verification deadline (30 days from incorporation)
- 06Skipping the first board meeting, which must happen within 30 days of incorporation
- 07Not opening a business bank account and depositing share capital on time