So You’re Starting a Business in India? Here’s What You Really Need to Know

Starting up in India? Here’s a straight-up checklist of legal stuff you’ve got to handle, without the legalese. Brought to you by real people at Complyhub.

Thinking of Starting a Business? Read This First.

Starting something new — whether it’s a cool app, a design firm, or a local delivery gig — is a big deal. But before you get too deep into building and branding, there's a bunch of legal things that need handling. Not fun, sure, but skipping them? That’ll come back to bite later.

That’s where Complyhub comes in. We help folks like you sort out all the formalities — no stress, no jargon.

Let’s break this down like we’re talking over coffee.

✅ First Things First: Get Your Business Registered

You can’t just start a company and call it a day. You need to actually set it up legally. Depending on what you're doing, you might pick from these:

Private Limited Company (super common)
LLP (a mix of partnership and company)
OPC (if you’re doing it solo)
Plain old Partnership Firm

👉 You’ll need to register with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), get a digital signature, and a few ID numbers. It sounds like a headache, but we’ll guide you through it.

🧾 Next Up: GST Stuff

If you’re making over ₹40 lakh (or ₹20 lakh for services), or selling outside your state — you need a GST number.

Here’s the drill:

Apply for GSTIN
File returns (monthly or quarterly)
Keep your numbers clean

Need help? We do this all the time. Easy.

💼 Don’t Forget PAN & TAN

Your business is going to need its own PAN and TAN — one for paying taxes, the other for deducting them when you pay others. Think of it like getting your business its own tax ID.

📝 Want Those Startup Perks? Register with Startup India

Want to avoid tax for the first 3 years? Interested in fast-tracked IPR help or applying for government-backed funding? Then register under the Startup India Scheme.

It’s free. You just have to do it.

📑 Got a Shop or Office? There’s a Rule for That Too

Open a physical spot? You’ll need to register under the Shops and Establishments Act (it varies by state). This covers stuff like:

Working hours
Employee policies
Holidays

Again, it’s one of those “do it once and forget it” things. We’ve got your back.

👩‍💼 Professional Tax — It’s a Thing in Some States

If you’re in Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, etc., there’s something called Professional Tax. You need to register and pay a small monthly fee. It’s not a big deal, but it is mandatory.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Hiring People? You’ll Need EPF & ESI

Got over 20 employees? You’ll need to:

Set up EPF (employee retirement savings)
Enroll in ESI (health insurance)

Even if you’ve got fewer, it might still be worth offering. Either way, we can walk you through it.

📘 Keep Your Records Clean

Running a company means keeping a few things up to date:

Minutes of meetings
Who owns what (shares)
Financial statements

Sounds boring, but investors and auditors love it when you’ve got this sorted.

📤 Year-End Filings (The Dreaded ROC)

Every year, you have to file:

Your company’s accounts
A return with shareholder details
Director KYC updates

Late filings = penalties. We make sure it’s all done on time.

💰 Income Tax: Yep, You Still Have to File

Whether you made a profit or not, your company must file ITR every year. Also, if you deducted TDS from payments, that needs to be filed quarterly.

We make this super straightforward.

™️ Lock Down Your Brand

Before you start printing T-shirts and handing out cards, apply for a trademark. That name, logo, or tagline you love? Someone else can grab it if you don’t register it first.

And if you’ve created something original — music, code, a product — think about copyrights or patents too.

🔐 One More Thing: Get a Digital Signature (DSC)

Most of this filing stuff requires a DSC — basically, a secure way to sign things online. If you don’t have one yet, we’ll set it up for you.

Final Words (Real Talk)

Compliances can be a drag, but they matter. You’ll need them for bank loans, funding, partnerships, or even hiring your first team.

Let us take care of the legal maze so you can keep building your dream project.

Hit us up — we’d love to help you get started.📞 Call Now | 🌐 www.complyhubindia.com | 📧 support@complyhubindia.com

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