Starting a business in India

To register a business in India, the promoters or owners are required to finalize their business activities and capital requirements first. Based on aspects such as the association of partnership, fund requirements, types of activities, etc. the appropriate business strucutre is chosen.

Yes, registration of the business entity is a primary requirement to establish the business and get legally recognized in the eyes of law. For a proprietorship firm, registration is not mandatory but preferable owing to registration benefits and the requirement of opening a business account in banks.

To choose the right business structure, the first aspect is to decide if there is any business partner or not. Sole Proprietorship and OPC are for those who wish to be sole owners whereas other structures can be established with partners. Second thing is to decide about the capital requirement. For businesses with more capital requirement, corporate structures are beneficial. Apart from all other pre-registration aspects, one must not miss considering the post-registration aspects, tax liabilities, and compliance matters.

The amount of capital depends on the activity and its scale. It varies from small and medium-size businesses to wholesale and retail businesses. The best way to decide the appropriate amount is to first analyze the future expenses and requirements. Also, one has to fulfill the minimum requirement of capital based on the organization structure chosen.

The legal requirements do not end with registration. The businesses have to make sure that other registrations such as GST registration, shop & establishment registration or trademark registration, etc. are also obtained after the business set-up. The activity specific registrations such as Import-Export Code, FSSAI registration, etc. are also required.

Every organization structure is regulated by specific registration law. Whether it is a private company or LLP, regulatory approval is required for their registration. In addition to that, businesses such as stockbroking, banking activities, insurance agency, etc. require prior approval from the regulatory authorities such as SEBI, RBI & IRDA. These registrations must be obtained prior to business registration.