How to Register a Company in India Online — SPICe+ Complete Guide 2026 | Advocate Panchanand Shaw

Types of Companies in India

Under the Companies Act, 2013, you can register various types of companies. The most common business structures are: (1) Private Limited Company — the most popular form for startups and growing businesses. Minimum 2 directors and 2 shareholders (max 200). Cannot invite public subscription. Limited liability for shareholders. (2) One Person Company (OPC) — introduced in 2013 for solo entrepreneurs. Single shareholder and director. Converts to Private Limited when turnover exceeds ₹2 crore or paid-up capital exceeds ₹50 lakh. (3) Public Limited Company — minimum 3 directors and 7 shareholders. Can invite public subscription. Subject to stricter regulatory compliance. (4) Section 8 Company — for non-profit objectives (charitable, educational, religious). Profits reinvested; no dividends to members.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has streamlined company incorporation through the SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) form. This single integrated form handles: company incorporation, DIN (Director Identification Number) allotment, PAN and TAN application, EPFO and ESIC registration, and GST registration (if opted) — all in one go.

Documents Required for Company Registration

1. Directors' Documents: PAN card (mandatory for Indian directors), passport (for foreign directors), Aadhaar card/voter ID/driving license (identity proof), bank statement/electricity bill/telephone bill (address proof — not older than 2 months), passport-size photographs, specimen signature (digital).
2. Registered Office Proof: Electricity bill/property tax receipt/water bill (not older than 2 months) of the office address, rent agreement (if rented) + NOC from landlord, or ownership documents (sale deed) if self-owned.
3. Company Documents: Memorandum of Association (MoA) — defining the company's objectives, Articles of Association (AoA) — internal management rules, and declaration by directors (Form DIR-2), declaration by the first subscribers (Form INC-9).
4. Digital Signature Certificate (DSC): Class 3 DSC for all directors. Used for signing electronic forms on the MCA portal. Obtain from certified agencies (e-Mudhra, Capricorn, NSDL, etc.).

Step-by-Step Company Incorporation via SPICe+

1. Obtain Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) for all proposed directors. This is the prerequisite — you cannot file anything on the MCA portal without a valid DSC.
2. Visit the MCA Portal (mca.gov.in) and log in using the DSC of one of the directors.
3. Go to 'MCA Services' → 'Company e-Filing' → 'SPICe+ Form' (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus).
4. Part A — Name Reservation (RUN-Lite): Propose 2 names for the company (in order of preference). The name must be unique and should not resemble existing company names or registered trademarks. Include the business activity code (NIC code). The name is approved or rejected within 1-2 working days.
5. Part B — Incorporation Details: After name approval, proceed with Part B. Fill in: (a) Company type and category, (b) Registered office address — state, district, pin code, (c) Details of directors — DIN (if existing) or apply for new DIN, (d) Subscriber details — names and shareholding of first shareholders, (e) Capital structure — authorized capital and paid-up capital.
6. Attach the MoA and AoA in the prescribed format (e-MoA: Form INC-33, e-AoA: Form INC-34 for companies without customized articles).
7. Upload all supporting documents: director KYC documents, registered office proof, declaration forms (INC-9 and DIR-2), and consent letters.
8. Select AGILE-PRO integration: The SPICe+ form integrates PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, and optionally GST registration and bank account opening. Fill the respective sections if applicable.
9. Pay the prescribed fees: Based on the authorized capital. For a company with ₹1 lakh authorized capital, the fee is approximately ₹1,000-2,000. For ₹10 lakh capital, approximately ₹5,000-7,000. Stamp duty varies by state (in West Bengal, stamp duty on MoA and AoA is applicable).
10. Submit the SPICe+ form. The MCA processes the application and, if all documents are in order, issues the Certificate of Incorporation (CoI) within 2-7 working days.
11. The CoI contains the Corporate Identity Number (CIN), PAN, and TAN. The company is now legally incorporated and can commence business.

Post-Incorporation Compliance

After incorporation, the company must complete these mandatory compliances: (1) Hold the first Board Meeting within 30 days, (2) Appoint the first Statutory Auditor within 30 days (Form ADT-1), (3) File the declaration of commencement of business within 180 days (Form INC-20A) — the company cannot start business or borrow funds until this is filed, (4) Issue share certificates to shareholders within 60 days, (5) Maintain statutory registers (members, directors, charges), (6) Apply for GST registration if turnover exceeds the threshold or for interstate supply, (7) File annual returns and financial statements (Form AOC-4 and MGT-7) from the first financial year.