Company Registration in India — The Complete MCA Portal Walkthrough
Registering a company in India is now a 100% online process through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal at mca.gov.in. The integrated SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) form combines 5 registrations in ONE filing — company incorporation, DIN, PAN, TAN, and EPFO/ESIC. With Aadhaar-based verification, the entire process can be completed in as little as 3-5 working days.
This guide walks you through every screen, every document, and every decision point — so you can register your company without hiring a professional (though engaging a CA/CS is recommended for first-time founders).
Before You Start — Pre-Registration Checklist
Gather these before touching the MCA portal:
For Directors/Subscribers:
(a) PAN card of each proposed director (mandatory for Indian residents)
(b) Aadhaar card of each proposed director (for Aadhaar-based verification — faster processing)
(c) Passport-size photograph (JPEG, max 2MB)
(d) Mobile number and email ID (unique — not previously used for another DIN)
(e) Proof of current address — Aadhaar/voter ID/passport/driving license (not older than 2 months for address proof)
(f) For foreign directors: passport + overseas address proof (apostilled/notarized)
For Registered Office:
(a) If rented: rent/lease agreement (registered or notarized) + landlord NOC (on Rs. 100 stamp paper) + latest utility bill (electricity/gas/water — within 2 months)
(b) If owned: property ownership document (sale deed/tax receipt) + latest utility bill
(c) Address cannot be a virtual office — must be a physical address where books and registers are maintained
Business Decisions to Make:
(a) Company name (2 options) — check availability on MCA portal first
(b) Type: Private Limited / OPC / Section 8 / Public
(c) Objects/business activity — determine the NIC code (National Industrial Classification)
(d) Authorized capital — minimum Rs. 10,000 (recommended Rs. 1-10 lakh to start)
(e) Shareholding pattern — who holds how many shares at what price
Step 1: Obtain Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
DSC is the electronic equivalent of a physical signature — required to digitally sign all MCA forms. Every proposed director must have a DSC.
Where to get: Licensed Certifying Authorities — eMudhra, Sify, Capricorn, NSDL, CDAC, Pantasign. Apply online on their websites.
Type needed: Class 3 DSC (suitable for all MCA filings).
Documents: PAN card, Aadhaar, photograph, mobile, email. Video verification may be required.
Cost: Rs. 1,500-2,500 per DSC. Valid for 2-3 years.
Timeline: 1-3 business days (often same-day for Aadhaar-verified applications).
Technical: DSC is issued on a USB token. Install the DSC utility software. Register the DSC on MCA portal under 'My Profile' → 'Manage DSC.'
Step 2: Create Account and Register DSC on MCA Portal
Visit mca.gov.in → Click 'MCA Services' → 'Register' → Create user account with email and mobile verification. After account creation: go to 'My Profile' → 'Register DSC' → upload the DSC token information. Once registered, you can use the DSC to sign all forms.
Step 3: Name Reservation — RUN Service or SPICe+ Part A
Option A — RUN (Reserve Unique Name): Standalone name reservation. File RUN form with: proposed name(s) — up to 2 options, significance/meaning of the name, NIC code of proposed activity. Fee: Rs. 1,000. Approval: 1-3 working days. Name reserved for 20 days (extendable by another 20 days through RUN).
Option B — SPICe+ Part A: Name reservation integrated with the incorporation form. Same fields as RUN but filed as Part A of SPICe+. No separate fee — included in incorporation fee.
Name selection tips:
(a) Search MCA company name database BEFORE applying — avoid names similar to existing companies
(b) Search Trademark Registry (ipindiaservices.gov.in) — avoid names that are registered trademarks
(c) Avoid restricted words without prior approval: 'National,' 'India,' 'Bharat,' 'Corporation,' 'Authority,' 'Board,' 'Commission'
(d) The name must have: an adjective/unique word + activity word + 'Private Limited.' Example: 'Brightech Software Solutions Private Limited'
(e) Check domain name availability (optional but recommended) — secure the .com/.in domain immediately
Step 4: File SPICe+ Part B — The Master Incorporation Form
Once the name is approved, file SPICe+ Part B (INC-32). This is the main incorporation form with multiple sections:
Section 1 — Company Details: Name (auto-populated from Part A), registered office state and ROC jurisdiction, type (private/public/OPC/Section 8), sub-category (company limited by shares/guarantee), main business activity and NIC code.
Section 2 — Capital Structure: Authorized share capital (in Indian rupees — determines stamp duty and government fees). Number and face value of shares. Subscribed and paid-up capital. Example: authorized Rs. 1,00,000 divided into 10,000 equity shares of Rs. 10 each. Subscribed: 10,000 shares. Paid-up: Rs. 1,00,000.
Section 3 — Subscriber/Director Details: For each proposed director: name, DIN (if already allotted — otherwise DIN is allotted through SPICe+), PAN, Aadhaar, address, nationality, occupation. Aadhaar number enables OTP-based verification — significantly faster processing.
Section 4 — Stamp Duty: E-stamp duty is calculated automatically based on state and authorized capital. Paid online through the MCA portal during filing. Stamp duty varies significantly by state — from Rs. 1,000 (some NE states) to Rs. 15,000+ (Maharashtra, Delhi for higher capital).
Attachments with SPICe+:
(a) MOA — INC-33 (auto-generated for standard objects — custom objects require manual drafting)
(b) AOA — INC-34 (auto-generated using Table F of Schedule I for most companies)
(c) Proof of registered office address (rent agreement + NOC + utility bill)
(d) Identity proof of directors (PAN + Aadhaar/passport)
(e) Declaration by directors — INC-9 (not disqualified under Section 164)
(f) Declaration by professional — INC-8 (by CA/CS/CMA certifying compliance)
Step 5: AGILE-PRO-S — Linked Applications
Along with SPICe+ Part B, you MUST file AGILE-PRO-S (INC-35) for linked registrations:
(a) GSTIN application: auto-forwarded to GST portal. GSTIN allotted within 3-7 days of incorporation (if business activity warrants GST registration).
(b) EPFO registration: auto-linked. Establishment code generated if applicable.
(c) ESIC registration: auto-linked for states where ESIC is applicable.
(d) Professional Tax registration: for states like Maharashtra that collect professional tax.
(e) Bank account opening: MCA has partnered with certain banks for facilitated account opening.
Step 6: Certificate of Incorporation
If all documents are in order and Aadhaar verification is successful: the ROC processes the application and issues the Certificate of Incorporation (CoI) within 1-3 working days (Aadhaar-verified) or 3-7 working days (non-Aadhaar). The CoI contains: company name, CIN (Corporate Identification Number), date of incorporation, PAN, and TAN. The CoI is generated electronically and available for download on the MCA portal.
Step 7: Post-Incorporation Must-Dos (First 30 Days)
(a) Open bank account: visit any bank with CoI, PAN, Board Resolution for opening account, KYC of authorized signatories. Takes 1-3 days.
(b) File INC-20A: declaration of commencement of business — within 180 days of incorporation. Certifies that every subscriber has paid their subscription money and the company has a verified registered office. Without INC-20A: company cannot commence business and is liable for strike off.
(c) Appoint first auditor: within 30 days of incorporation — pass Board Resolution appointing a CA firm as statutory auditor until the first AGM.
(d) Hold first Board Meeting: within 30 days of incorporation. Agenda: ratify incorporation details, adopt common seal (if any), authorize bank account, appoint auditor, issue share certificates.
(e) Issue share certificates: to subscribers within 60 days of incorporation (2 months from allotment).
Total Cost Breakdown
| Item | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| DSC (per director, 2 directors minimum) | Rs. 3,000-5,000 |
| Government fee (SPICe+ for authorized capital up to Rs. 1 lakh) | Rs. 500 |
| Stamp duty (state-dependent) | Rs. 1,000-15,000 |
| Professional fee (CA/CS for filing) | Rs. 5,000-15,000 |
| Name reservation (if through RUN separately) | Rs. 1,000 |
| Total (typical for Rs. 1 lakh capital) | Rs. 10,000-30,000 |