Cost of company registration in India (2026)

What does company registration cost in 2026?

For a typical two-director Private Limited Company with authorised capital of ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh, the all-in cost in 2026 falls between about ₹7,000 and ₹25,000. The spread comes from two variables: the state of the registered office, which sets stamp duty, and what the professional fee includes.

The components are:

• MCA incorporation fee: nil up to ₹15 lakh authorised capital.
• Stamp duty on the MoA, AoA and SPICe+ form: set by each state, from a few hundred rupees to several thousand.
• Digital signature certificates: about ₹1,000 to 2,000 per director from the certifying authority.
• Name reservation: ₹1,000 per SPICe+ Part A application if filed on its own.
• Professional fees: the market range for a complete incorporation is about ₹5,000 to 20,000 plus GST.

The Company Cost Estimator adds these up for your state and capital. Our own fee is shown on the Private Limited Company page and includes the government costs listed there, so the number you see is the number you pay.

How much are the MCA fees?

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs charges nothing to incorporate a company with authorised capital up to ₹15 lakh. Above that, the fee rises in slabs with the capital, and the MCA fee calculator on the portal gives the exact figure. For most startups the nil slab is enough: authorised capital is the ceiling on shares you can issue, not money you must deposit, and it can be increased later by filing SH-7 when a funding round needs it.

Other MCA charges you may meet:

• ₹1,000 for a standalone name application in SPICe+ Part A, refunded into the process if filed together with Part B.
• A resubmission attracts no extra fee, but a rejected filing forfeits the fees paid.
• DIN allotment through SPICe+ is free for up to three directors; a fourth director applies separately in DIR-3 for ₹500.

For an OPC and a small company the same nil slab applies. For an LLP, FiLLiP fees depend on the capital contribution and start at ₹500 for contributions up to ₹1 lakh, with the LLP agreement stamped under state law.

Why does stamp duty change the price by state?

Stamp duty is a state tax on the incorporation documents, collected by the MCA on the state's behalf when you file SPICe+. It is charged on three items: the MoA, the AoA and the form itself, and the AoA duty often scales with authorised capital.

The pattern across states in 2026, for ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh of authorised capital:

• Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat and most large states: roughly ₹1,000 to 2,500 in total.
• Punjab, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh: higher, in some cases ₹5,000 to 10,000 or more because AoA duty is a percentage of capital.
• Some union territories: a few hundred rupees.

Because rates are revised by state governments, treat any figure as indicative until you see the fee shown by the MCA portal at filing. Our estimator uses the current published rates and we confirm the exact amount before you pay. Choosing a state for stamp duty alone is a false economy; the registered office decides where you file profession tax and where notices are served, and moving it later needs a regional director's approval.

What do the cheap online offers leave out?

Advertisements offering incorporation for ₹999 or ₹1,999 are usually a professional fee alone, with everything else billed afterwards. Before comparing, check whether the quote includes:

• DSC for every director, not just one.
• Government fees and stamp duty, or whether these are 'at actuals' and added later.
• The MoA and AoA drafted for your business, rather than a generic objects clause that the registrar queries.
• PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC and bank account through AGILE-PRO-S.
• Post-incorporation filings: ADT-1 for the first auditor, share certificates, and INC-20A within 180 days.
• GST registration, which some quotes bundle and others charge separately.
• Support if the name or the filing is resubmitted.

The second hidden cost is time. A rejected name or a resubmission with an inexperienced provider adds a week or two, and a missed INC-20A costs ₹50,000 in penalties, more than any incorporation fee. Ask for the itemised list in writing and compare like with like.

What does an OPC or LLP cost by comparison?

An One Person Company costs about the same as a Private Limited Company. It uses the same SPICe+ form, has the same nil MCA fee up to ₹15 lakh, the same stamp duty and needs only one DSC, so the total is usually ₹1,000 to 2,000 lower.

A Limited Liability Partnership is often cheaper at registration and cheaper to run. FiLLiP fees are ₹500 to 5,000 depending on contribution, stamp duty on the LLP agreement is charged on the contribution under state law (typically ₹500 to a few thousand for small contributions), and two DSCs are needed. Professional fees in the market run about ₹4,000 to 15,000. The bigger saving is annual: an LLP needs no audit until turnover crosses ₹40 lakh or contribution crosses ₹25 lakh, while every company is audited from year one.

A partnership firm or proprietorship costs the least to set up (stamp paper for the deed, or a free Udyam registration) but offers no limited liability. Use the Business Structure Finder or read Private Limited vs LLP before choosing on price alone.

What should you budget for the first year after incorporation?

Registration is the smaller cost. A Private Limited Company has fixed annual obligations regardless of revenue, and a founder who budgets only for incorporation is surprised in month twelve.

Typical first-year items, at market rates:

• Statutory audit: mandatory for every company. Small companies with minimal transactions pay roughly ₹10,000 to 25,000.
• Annual ROC filings: AOC-4 and MGT-7A with the MCA fees, plus the AGM paperwork. Government fees are a few hundred rupees; professional fees are commonly ₹5,000 to 15,000.
• DIR-3 KYC for each director by 30 September: free if on time, ₹5,000 per director if late.
• Income tax return by 31 October (audit case), including the tax audit only if turnover crosses the limit.
• Bookkeeping and GST returns if registered: monthly or quarterly, market rates from a few thousand rupees a month.
• TDS returns quarterly once you pay salaries, rent or contractors above the thresholds.

A lean startup should expect ₹25,000 to 60,000 a year in compliance costs before any tax. Our Company Annual Filings and Accounting & MIS pages show fixed annual fees, so the budget is known on day one.

What penalties do late filers pay?

Late fees are the one cost that is fully avoidable, and they dwarf the registration fee.

• INC-20A missed after 180 days: ₹50,000 on the company plus ₹1,000 per day on each officer up to ₹1 lakh.
• AOC-4 and MGT-7 late: ₹100 per day per form with no upper cap, so a filing that is 100 days late costs ₹20,000 for the pair.
• DIR-3 KYC late: ₹5,000 per director and the DIN is deactivated until filed.
• LLP Form 8 or Form 11 late: a fee that rises with the delay, starting at ₹10 per day for small LLPs.
• GST returns late: ₹50 per day per return (₹20 for nil returns) subject to caps, plus 18% interest on unpaid tax.
• TDS return late: ₹200 per day under Section 234E up to the amount of TDS.
• Income tax return late: ₹5,000 under Section 234F (₹1,000 if income is up to ₹5 lakh).

The Late Fee Calculator works these out for any number of days. The cheapest compliance is on-time compliance, which is the reason our filing packages are priced for the year rather than per form.