Starter
₹999+ GST
For a freelancer or single-owner shop.
- MSME (Udyam) registration
- GST applicability check
- Bank account opening guidance
Proprietorship registration: Udyam today, GST in 3 to 7 working days.
The registrations a sole proprietor actually needs, in the order a bank accepts them. Expert on WhatsApp.
Price estimator
- 1Price
- 2Details
- 3Done
Plan
Everything in Starter, plus
- GST registration
- Shop and Establishment guidance
- Invoice template and basic bookkeeping setup
No government fee for Udyam or GST registration.
- Professional fee₹2,999
- GST at 18% on our fee₹540
Fee plus GST
No government fee for Udyam or GST registration.
Key facts
- Entity
- Proprietorship: no separate legal entity, the owner and the business are one
- Governing law and forms
- No incorporation law; Udyam registration (MSME), GST REG-01 where applicable, Shop and Establishment where the state requires it
- Time taken
- Udyam the same day; GST usually within 7 working days
- Our fee from
- ₹999 + GST
- Government fees
- No government fee for Udyam or GST registration.
- Who it is for
- A freelancer, consultant or single-owner shop that wants to start this week with the lightest compliance
- Tax
- Income taxed in the owner's hands at slab rates; presumptive schemes under 44AD and 44ADA available
- Recurring obligations
- ITR by 31 July; GST returns if registered; Udyam turnover updated yearly
Why founders trust BizExpress
- 4.8on Google
- 2,800+companies incorporated
- DPIIT-recognisedstartup
- 2 working hoursreplies within
Trusted by teams at
Is a Proprietorship right for you?
It fits if you
You freelance or consult on your own
Designers, developers, writers, consultants and coaches with clients who pay by invoice. Income is taxed as yours, the new regime makes tax nil up to ₹12 lakh, and Section 44ADA lets you declare 50% as profit with no books audit.
You run a single-owner shop, clinic or small trade
A retail shop, a salon, a home kitchen or a small trading business with one owner. Udyam registration is free and instant, and GST is needed only above the threshold or if you sell online.
You want to test an idea before committing to a company
A proprietorship costs nothing to set up and nothing to close. Many founders run the first year this way, then convert to a Private Limited Company or an OPC once revenue and liability justify it.
Transparent pricing. Government fees itemised, always.
Professional fees below exclude GST. There is no government fee for Udyam or GST registration; any state Shop and Establishment fee is itemised for your state.
Growth
₹2,999+ GST
For a proprietor who needs GST.
Everything in Starter, plus
- GST registration
- Shop and Establishment guidance
- Invoice template and basic bookkeeping setup
Why the ₹999 offers cost more
The ₹999 offerBizExpress
What you getA Udyam certificate you could have generated yourself in ten minutesThe right registrations for your business, in the order a bank accepts them
GSTApplied for everyone, whether needed or notApplicability checked first; registered only if the law or your clients require it
Bank accountYour problemThe two proofs the bank asks for, prepared before you visit the branch
Who you talk toA ticket queueA named expert on WhatsApp
What happens, step by step
Counted in working days from the day your documents are complete. Udyam is same day; GST, if needed, takes 3 to 7 working days.
- 1Day 0
Documents and a short call
You send PAN, Aadhaar, a photo and address proof on WhatsApp. We confirm the trade name, whether GST applies to you, and which state licences your business needs.
- 2Day 0
Udyam (MSME) registration
We register you on the Udyam portal with Aadhaar OTP and PAN. The certificate is instant and free, and it is the first proof of business a bank asks for.
- 3Day 1 to 7
GST registration, if it applies
We file the GST application with Aadhaar authentication and your address proof. The GSTIN usually arrives in 3 to 7 working days; if the officer orders a physical verification it can take up to 30 days.
- 4Day 1 to 10
Shop and Establishment registration, where your state requires it
Most states require a Shop and Establishment registration for a commercial premises, with rules and fees that vary by state. We tell you whether it applies and file it where it does.
- 5Week 2
Current account and invoicing
With Udyam and GST or the Shop Act certificate you open the current account in the trade name. We share an invoice template with the right GST fields and a simple bookkeeping setup.
After registration, what recurs
- 31 JulyYour income tax return, with business income in ITR-3 or ITR-4 (31 October if a tax audit applies)
- 15 June, 15 September, 15 December, 15 MarchAdvance tax instalments if your tax for the year exceeds ₹10,000 (one instalment by 15 March under 44AD or 44ADA)
- 11th and 20th of the monthGSTR-1 and GSTR-3B if you are GST registered, or quarterly under QRMP
- YearlyUpdate turnover on the Udyam portal, and renew the Shop and Establishment registration where your state requires it
Documents you need
Phone photos are fine. Everything is uploaded on WhatsApp, nothing is couriered.
For you, the proprietor
- PAN card
- Aadhaar card, with the mobile number linked for OTP
- A passport-size photo
- Bank account details, or a cancelled cheque once the current account is open
For the place of business
- Utility bill not older than two months (electricity, water or gas)
- Rent agreement and NOC from the owner, if rented; NOC from the family member if you work from home
- Trade name you want to use (we check it against trademark records first)
Want this as a checklist?
We send the list to your WhatsApp so you can tick it off from your phone.
Proprietorship vs OPC vs Pvt Ltd
| Feature | Proprietorship | OPC | Pvt Ltd |
|---|---|---|---|
| People needed | 1 owner | 1 director, 1 nominee | 2 directors, 2 shareholders |
| Separate legal entity | No | Yes | Yes |
| Liability | Unlimited, personal | Limited to shares | Limited to shares |
| Setup | Udyam same day, GST 3 to 7 days | 12 to 15 working days | 12 to 15 working days |
| Government fee | Nil for Udyam and GST | Stamp duty, DSC, PAN and TAN | Stamp duty, DSC, PAN and TAN |
| Annual compliance | Your ITR, GST returns if registered | Audit, AOC-4, MGT-7A, no AGM | Audit, AOC-4, MGT-7A, AGM |
| Tax on profits | Your slab rate; nil up to ₹12 lakh in the new regime | 25% plus surcharge | 25% plus surcharge |
| Raising equity | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | Freelancers and single-owner shops | Solo founders wanting limited liability | Teams and startups raising money |
Proprietorship
- People needed
- 1 owner
- Separate legal entity
- No
- Liability
- Unlimited, personal
- Setup
- Udyam same day, GST 3 to 7 days
- Government fee
- Nil for Udyam and GST
- Annual compliance
- Your ITR, GST returns if registered
- Tax on profits
- Your slab rate; nil up to ₹12 lakh in the new regime
- Raising equity
- No
- Best for
- Freelancers and single-owner shops
OPC
- People needed
- 1 director, 1 nominee
- Separate legal entity
- Yes
- Liability
- Limited to shares
- Setup
- 12 to 15 working days
- Government fee
- Stamp duty, DSC, PAN and TAN
- Annual compliance
- Audit, AOC-4, MGT-7A, no AGM
- Tax on profits
- 25% plus surcharge
- Raising equity
- No
- Best for
- Solo founders wanting limited liability
Pvt Ltd
- People needed
- 2 directors, 2 shareholders
- Separate legal entity
- Yes
- Liability
- Limited to shares
- Setup
- 12 to 15 working days
- Government fee
- Stamp duty, DSC, PAN and TAN
- Annual compliance
- Audit, AOC-4, MGT-7A, AGM
- Tax on profits
- 25% plus surcharge
- Raising equity
- Yes
- Best for
- Teams and startups raising money
- Choose a proprietorship if you work alone, your liability risk is low, and you want to start this week with no annual filings beyond your own return.
- Choose an OPC if you work alone but want limited liability and a company name your clients recognise.
- Choose a Private Limited Company if you have a co-founder, will raise money, or your customers insist on contracting with a company.
Five mistakes we see every week
- Registering for GST when you do not need it
Below ₹20 lakh for services or ₹40 lakh for goods, and with no online or inter-state sales of goods, GST is optional. Registering early means monthly or quarterly returns and late fees from the first missed month. Check first.
- Missing GST when you do need it
Selling through an e-commerce platform or supplying goods across state lines needs GST from day one, whatever your turnover. Many small sellers find out when the marketplace suspends the listing.
- Using a savings account for business
Banks flag business receipts in a savings account, and mixed transactions make your tax return hard to support. Open a current account in the trade name once Udyam and GST are in place.
- Assuming a trade name is protected
A proprietorship has no registered name. Anyone can use it unless you register a trademark. If the brand matters, file the trademark early; the government fee for an individual or MSME is the lower slab.
- Ignoring the Shop and Establishment rule in your state
Many states require registration within a set number of days of opening a commercial premises, and some banks ask for it as proof of business. Rules and fees differ by state, so check yours before the bank visit.
Founders who registered with us
It's been 5 years since the incorporation of my private limited company and they are experts at what they do.
Knowledgeable, professional and very cooperative. We can totally concentrate on business, leaving all financial compliance to them.
Thanks Team BizExpress. It was refreshing to see an online service provider with such professionalism.
Questions founders ask before registering
How much does proprietorship registration cost?
Our professional fee starts at from ₹999, excluding GST. There is no government fee for Udyam or GST registration. If your state requires a Shop and Establishment registration, its fee varies by state and is itemised before you pay. The Growth plan adds GST registration and a basic bookkeeping setup.
How long does proprietorship registration take?
Udyam registration is instant, so you have your first proof of business on day one. GST registration, if it applies, takes 3 to 7 working days with Aadhaar authentication, or up to 30 days if the officer orders a physical verification. A Shop and Establishment registration depends on your state.
Is there a separate registration for a proprietorship?
No. A proprietorship is not a separate legal entity, so there is no incorporation and no certificate like a company's. What identifies the business is a set of registrations in your name: Udyam, GST if applicable, a Shop and Establishment registration where the state requires it, and a current account in the trade name.
Which registrations does a bank need to open a current account?
Banks typically ask for two proofs of business existence in the trade name. A Udyam certificate and a GST registration are the pair most branches accept; a Shop and Establishment certificate or a professional licence also works. Rules differ slightly by bank, so we prepare the set your bank asks for before you visit.
Do I need GST as a sole proprietor?
Only above ₹20 lakh turnover for services or ₹40 lakh for goods (₹10 lakh in special category states), or from day one if you sell through e-commerce platforms or supply goods to other states. Below that it is optional. Register early if your clients need a GSTIN to claim input credit.
How is a proprietorship taxed?
Business income is added to your other income and taxed at your slab rate. Under the new regime the rebate makes tax nil up to ₹12 lakh of income. Freelancers and professionals can use Section 44ADA to declare 50% of receipts as profit, and traders Section 44AD at 8% (6% for digital receipts), with no books audit.
Is Udyam registration compulsory for a proprietorship?
No, but there is no reason to skip it. It is free, instant, and gives you the MSME benefits: collateral-free loan schemes, priority in payment disputes, lower trademark fees, and a document banks accept as proof of business. It needs only your Aadhaar and PAN, and turnover is updated yearly.
Can I hire employees as a sole proprietor?
Yes. A proprietorship can employ staff. Once you cross the thresholds, EPF applies at 20 employees and ESI at 10 in most states, and you may need to deduct TDS on salaries. A Shop and Establishment registration usually becomes mandatory once you have a commercial premises with staff; the rule varies by state.
What are the risks of a proprietorship?
Unlimited liability is the main one. The business and you are the same person in law, so a supplier claim, a loan default or a customer dispute can reach your personal assets. The business also ends with you and cannot take investors. If any of these matter, look at an OPC or a Private Limited Company.
Can I convert my proprietorship into a company later?
Yes. The usual route is to incorporate a Private Limited Company or an OPC and transfer the business to it. Under Section 47(xiv), the transfer can be tax neutral if you hold at least 50% of the voting power for five years and other conditions are met. GST, bank accounts and contracts are moved to the new entity.
Sources and official references
Government fees, forms and due dates on this page are checked against these portals. Where a state or a year changes a figure, we say so on the call.
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