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Online One Person Company (OPC) Registration in India
Full ownership of your company with limited liability, and far less compliance than a private company. LegalWiz.in handles it end to end, from name approval to incorporation and your first compliance setup.
- Complete ownership with limited liability protection
- Expert-led registration and documentation support
- Dedicated assistance from name approval to company setup
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- DSC, DIN, name approval, MoA and AoA all handled
- Typically registered in 12 to 15 working days
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What is a One Person Company?
What an OPC is, who can register one, and why founders choose LegalWiz.in to do it.
A One Person Company is a company with a single shareholder who owns the whole of it. The structure was introduced by the Companies Act, 2013 to remove the one obstacle that kept solo founders out of a corporate structure: a Private Limited Company needs at least two members, and an OPC needs one.
It is a type of Private Limited Company, so it carries the same corporate status, the same separate legal existence and the same limited liability. Appointing a nominee is compulsory, and that is what gives it perpetuity: the nominee takes the owner’s place if the owner dies or becomes unable to run the business.
- Shareholder
- Only 1
- Must be an individual resident in India
- Directors
- Minimum 1
- At least one resident in India
- Nominee
- Mandatory
- An Indian resident aged 18 or over
- Minimum capital
- None prescribed
- Authorised capital of ₹1 lakh is required
- Liability
- Limited
- To the share capital subscribed
- Registration time
- 12 to 15 working days
- Subject to government processing
- Foreign ownership
- Not allowed
- The shareholder must be resident
- Mandatory conversion
- Above ₹50 lakh
- Or ₹2 crore average annual turnover
Why founders choose LegalWiz.in
- An expert team of qualified CA, CS and lawyers
- A dedicated relationship manager with on-call support
- The entire registration process is managed online
- Quick turnaround and economical pricing
- Thousands of happy customers across every state in India
- Backed by secure technology
- Exclusive partner offers on web hosting, payment gateways and more
What the registration covers
Everything below is handled by your relationship manager and the filing team. You supply the documents once and approve the drafts.
- Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for the shareholder, the nominee and the directors
- Name availability check for the proposed company
- Company name reservation through SPICe+
- Drafting of the Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Articles of Association (AoA)
- Nominee consent documentation
- Director Identification Number (DIN) allotment for the directors
- Incorporation filing for the Certificate of Incorporation
- PAN and TAN application for the company
Government fees and stamp duty are charged at actuals and vary by state and authorised capital.
How to decide an OPC name
Make it unique
The name becomes the company’s brand, so a coined word that is not already a registered company or trademark is the strongest choice.
Signal the activity
The second part of the name should suggest what the company actually does.
Use the right suffix
The name must end with (OPC) Private Limited.
Benefits of One Person Company registration
Separate legal existence
An OPC is a separate legal entity from its owner, unlike a proprietorship firm. It can own assets and sign contracts in its own name, and its actions are independent of the person who owns it.
Limited liability for the owner
The member’s liability is limited to the unpaid amount on the capital they subscribed. Personal assets stay protected even in liquidation, apart from a few specified cases.
Lower compliance requirements
An OPC is exempt from several obligations a private company carries. General meetings do not apply, and a board meeting is only required where there is more than one director.
Management can be separated from ownership
The owner can appoint directors to run the company day to day while retaining full ownership, which frees them to put their effort elsewhere without giving up control.
Compare business structures before you choose
An OPC is one of two structures a single founder can register. Compare it against the other four before you commit.
| Attribute | One Person Company | Private Limited Company | Limited Liability Partnership | Partnership Firm | Proprietorship Firm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setting it up | |||||
| Applicable law | Companies Act, 2013 | Companies Act, 2013 | LLP Act, 2008 | Indian Partnership Act, 1932 | No specified Act |
| MandatoryMust be registered with the MCA under the Companies Act | MandatoryMust be registered with the MCA under the Companies Act | MandatoryMust be registered with the MCA under the LLP Act | OptionalCan be registered or unregistered, though there are clear benefits to registering with the State ROF | Not requiredMSME or GST registration is treated as valid proof for a proprietor firm | |
| Only 1A single shareholder | 2 to 200Excluding present or former employees who are members | 2 to unlimitedMinimum 2 designated partners, no cap on the total | 2 to 50Minimum 2 partners, maximum 50 | Only 1The proprietor is the sole owner | |
| Not allowedMember, nominee and director must be Indian residents | AllowedUnder RBI and FEMA rules, usually via the automatic route | AllowedUnder RBI and FEMA rules, usually via the automatic route | AllowedAn NRI can be a partner, subject to RBI regulations | Not allowedA foreign national cannot own a proprietorship business in India | |
| What you are liable for | |||||
| YesCan enter contracts and own assets in its own name | YesCan enter contracts and own assets in its own name | YesCan enter contracts and own assets in its own name | NoThe firm has no identity separate from its partners | NoProprietor and business are the same, and share one PAN | |
| LimitedLimited to the share capital subscribed | LimitedLimited to the share capital subscribed, unless the MOA defines it otherwise | LimitedLimited to the contribution agreed in the LLP agreement | UnlimitedPartners are jointly and severally liable for the debts | UnlimitedClearing the firm’s liabilities is the proprietor’s job | |
| YesBut it can only ever have one owner | YesSurvives a change of ownership or management | YesA change of partners does not affect the LLP | NoA change of partner dissolves or reforms the firm | NoDeath or insolvency of the proprietor ends the business | |
| Restricted100% of shares must move to change the single owner | YesShares transfer easily, which is why external investors prefer it | YesBy consent of the other partners, via a supplementary deed | RestrictedThe partnership deed sets out the restrictions | NoA proprietorship cannot be transferred | |
| What it costs you every year | |||||
| MandatoryAn auditor must be appointed within 30 days | MandatoryAn auditor must be appointed within 30 days | As applicableRequired once turnover crosses ₹40 lakh or contribution crosses ₹25 lakh | Not mandatoryTax audit applies based on turnover | Not mandatoryTax audit applies based on turnover | |
| Moderate25% for companies with turnover up to ₹400 crore | Moderate25% for companies with turnover up to ₹400 crore | High30% on business profits, with tax-efficient distribution to partners | High30% on business profits | LowTaxed at the proprietor’s individual income tax slab | |
| HighSimilar to a company, without an AGM | HighThe heaviest of the five, both annual and event based | ModerateAnnual filing plus a few event based filings, lighter than a company | LowAn annual ITR, and little else | LowNo separate ITR, and very little else | |
| Next step | Get started | Know more | Know more | Know more | Know more |
Swipe the table sideways, One Person Company stays in view. Open any attribute to read the detail behind all 5 answers.
Customer reviews
What our clients say
- Rated 5 out of 5
Had a great experience from the start till completion superb & very supportive team
Vikrant SayyedJanuary 2025 - Rated 5 out of 5
Thanks LegalWiz Team
Rakesh ThakurDecember 2020 - Rated 5 out of 5
I like the way mr. Bagya Dave helped in registering one firm company. Very good service. Recommend to others. Thanks
Kamal guestSeptember 2017
Documents required for OPC registration
The same set is needed for the shareholder, the nominee and every director. Scanned copies are enough to begin, and your relationship manager will tell you if anything needs to be re-shared in a clearer format.
PAN card
For the shareholder, the nominee and every director.
Identity proof
Aadhaar card, plus a voter ID, passport or driving licence.
Proof of address
The latest telephone bill, electricity bill or bank statement.
Photographs
A recent passport size photograph of each person.
Business address proof
The latest electricity bill or telephone bill for the registered office address.
NOC from the owner
A no objection certificate from the owner of the registered office premises.
Rent agreement
The rent agreement for the registered office, where the premises are rented.
Register your OPC online in three steps
Step 01
Answer a few quick questions
- Pick the package that suits you
- Spend around 10 minutes on a simple set of questions
- Share the basic details and documents against the checklist
- Pay through a secure payment gateway
Step 02
Our experts take over
- You are assigned a dedicated relationship manager
- Digital signatures are procured for everyone who has to sign
- Name reservation and the incorporation forms are filed under SPICe+
- MoA, AoA, PAN and TAN are drafted and filed for you
Step 03
Your OPC is registered
- The whole process takes 12 to 15 working days
- Book a free assessment call to keep the company compliant from day one
Subject to government processing time.
How long OPC registration takes
A typical incorporation runs to 12 to 15 working days. Here is where the first twelve go.
Days 1 to 2
2 of 12 working days
- Experts review your documents and information
- Application for the Digital Signature Certificate
Days 3 to 6
4 of 12 working days
- Company name availability check
- MoA, AoA and the other documents drafted
Days 7 to 9
3 of 12 working days
- Name reservation application filed under SPICe+
- Company registration application filed
- DIN allotment application
- PAN and TAN application
Days 10 to 12
3 of 12 working days
- Awaiting MCA approval
Subject to government processing time and MCA turnaround.
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What are the pre-requisites for One Person Company registration?
- The shareholder must be an individual and resident in India
- At least one director, who must also be resident in India
- A nominee aged 18 or over and resident in India, appointed at registration
- A place of business to serve as the registered office address
Is there any minimum capital requirement to register an OPC?
No. The requirement to provide a minimum paid-up capital has been removed. What the business needs to start with is what is subscribed at registration, and the subscriber must hold at least one share.
An authorised capital of ₹1 lakh must still be kept.
Who can become a member of a One Person Company?
Only an individual, aged 18 or over and resident in India. Residence here means having spent at least 182 days in India in the immediately preceding calendar year.
A person can be the member of only one OPC at any time, during or after registration.
Who can become the nominee in a One Person Company?
Any individual aged 18 or over who is resident in India.
The nominee must give the company their written consent to the appointment.
Who can become a director in a One Person Company?
Any natural person aged 18 or over, once they hold a Director Identification Number. There is no citizenship or residency condition on a director, so a foreign national can be one.
The DIN application is made along with the incorporation application, for a maximum of three DINs.
What is a Director Identification Number (DIN)?
A DIN is a unique number the Ministry of Corporate Affairs issues to an individual on application. It allows that person to be a director of any company or a designated partner of an LLP.
What is a Digital Signature Certificate, and who needs one?
A DSC is a token issued by a certified authority. It is the electronic signature used to file forms with the MCA, and every form filed for an OPC registration carries one.
The directors need a DSC for the DIN application, and the shareholder and the nominee need one to sign the incorporation forms.
What are authorised capital and paid-up capital?
Authorised capital is the maximum a company can raise by issuing shares, now or later.
Paid-up capital is what shareholders have actually paid for the shares issued to them. An OPC can be registered with any amount of paid-up capital, as long as it does not exceed the authorised capital.
Can a One Person Company carry on more than one business?
Yes, as long as the activities are related or in the same field. They must be set out in the company’s MoA and approved by the registrar.
Unrelated activities cannot be combined. Fashion design and event management, for example, are too different to be the main business activities of a single company.
Can an OPC be registered at a residential address?
Yes. A company can be registered at commercial or residential premises, provided the necessary address proof is furnished.
The registered office is where the company receives communication from the MCA and other authorities, and the address is published on the Ministry’s portal.
Can a body corporate become a member or a nominee of an OPC?
No. Only an individual can hold membership or be the nominee in an OPC.
A body corporate that wants to own 100% of a company can register a wholly owned subsidiary instead.
Can an NRI or a foreign national register an OPC in India?
No. The shareholder of a One Person Company must be resident in India.
A non-resident founder who wants a company in India can register a Private Limited Company or an Indian subsidiary instead.
Does anyone have to be physically present during registration?
No. Neither the member nor the directors need to be present anywhere. The whole process is online, the forms are filed on the MCA portal and signed digitally, and documents can be emailed or uploaded.
Can a One Person Company be converted into a Private Limited Company?
Yes. An OPC can be converted into a private or a public company once two years have passed from the date of incorporation.
That waiting period does not apply where the conversion is mandatory. See the next answer.
When is it mandatory to convert an OPC into a private company?
Conversion becomes mandatory once the paid-up capital of the OPC exceeds ₹50 lakh, or the average annual turnover during the relevant period exceeds ₹2 crore.
A mandatory conversion takes effect regardless of how long the OPC has existed.
What has to be done immediately after incorporation?
Four things, in priority order:
- Open a current account in the name of the company
- Appoint the company’s statutory auditor
- Deposit the paid-up capital stated at registration
- Issue and allot shares to the subscriber
What are the annual compliance requirements for an OPC?
Board meetings must be held during each financial year where the company has more than one director, and the accounts and financial statements must be audited by an independent auditor.
Form AOC-4 and Form MGT-7 are then filed within the time allowed, as part of annual compliance.
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