The MCA SPICE+ process has made company registration faster than ever — here is the complete step-by-step process for registering your Pvt Ltd in India.
Pre-Registration: Documents and Decisions
Before starting the registration process, prepare and decide: (1) Company name — choose 2-3 options in order of preference; the name must be unique and not similar to existing companies or trademarks. Avoid restricted words (Bank, Insurance, National, Government, etc. without prior approval). (2) Registered office address in India — a residential address is acceptable for new companies. (3) Directors — minimum 2, at least one must be resident in India. (4) Share structure — who will hold shares and in what proportions.
Document checklist for each director: PAN card, Aadhar card (or Passport for foreign nationals), recent photograph (passport size), bank statement or utility bill (not older than 2 months) for address proof, email ID, and mobile number. For company registered office: utility bill or rent agreement plus a No Objection Certificate from the property owner if it is a rented or owned space.
Obtain a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each director who will sign MCA forms. DSCs are issued by certified authorities (eMudhra, Sify, NSDL, etc.) and typically take 1-2 days. The cost is ₹800-₹1,500 per DSC for 2-3 year validity.
The SPICE+ Registration Process
Step 1 — Apply for name reservation using the RUN (Reserve Unique Name) service on the MCA portal (mca.gov.in). Enter your proposed name and reason for the name. You can propose 2 names. Names are approved or rejected within 1-3 working days. If approved, the reservation is valid for 20 days.
Step 2 — File the SPICE+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) form on mca.gov.in. SPICE+ integrates incorporation, PAN, TAN, GST, EPFO, ESIC, and bank account opening into a single form. The form requires: company details, director information, share structure, and objective clause.
Step 3 — Draft and attach the Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Articles of Association (AOA). The MOA defines the company's objectives (what the business will do). The AOA defines governance rules. Both can use MCA-provided standard templates which are suitable for most businesses.
Step 4 — Pay the government filing fees online. Fees are based on the company's authorised share capital — for companies with capital up to ₹10 lakh, the fee is nominal (under ₹2,000). Step 5 — The ROC processes the application. If approved, the Certificate of Incorporation (COI) is issued with the Company Identification Number (CIN), PAN, and TAN.
Post-Registration: What to Do in the First 30 Days
Within 30 days of incorporation: (1) Open a current bank account in the company's name. Use the COI, MOA/AOA, PAN card, and directors' identity documents. All company financial transactions must go through this account. (2) Conduct the first board meeting — pass resolutions for appointment of directors, auditor, and opening of bank accounts. (3) Issue share certificates to all shareholders.
GST registration if applicable: if your company's turnover is expected to cross ₹20 lakh (₹10 lakh for special category states) in a year, or if you are doing inter-state supply, or if you want to claim input tax credit — register for GST within 30 days of incorporation.
File the DIR-3 KYC form for each director on the MCA portal within 30 days (this is a government compliance requirement; failure results in disqualification of the director's DIN). Appoint a statutory auditor from the first financial year. The statutory auditor must be a qualified Chartered Accountant not related to directors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a NRI or foreign national be a director of an Indian Private Limited Company?
Yes. Foreign nationals and NRIs can be directors of Indian Private Limited Companies. They must obtain a DIN (Director Identification Number) from the MCA. For the DIN application, foreign nationals submit their passport (identity) and proof of residence in their home country (bank statement or utility bill). They require a DSC issued by Indian certifying authorities. At least one director must be a resident Indian (present in India for at least 182 days in the previous calendar year).
What is the authorised capital and does it matter for a startup?
Authorised capital is the maximum amount of capital the company can raise by issuing shares. Paid-up capital is the capital actually raised. For most startups, an authorised capital of ₹1-10 lakh is sufficient initially. You can increase authorised capital later (with a modest fee based on increase amount). There is no minimum paid-up capital requirement — you can incorporate with ₹1 of paid-up capital. Choose your initial authorised capital based on anticipated funding needs in the first year.