Drug License Cost Calculator
Estimate the government cost of a retail or wholesale pharmacy drug license — licence fee and inspection fee, live on one screen.
- Free — no sign-up
- Instant, on-screen results
- Built by our CA · CS team
- Rules cited on the page
Enter your figures — the result on the right updates as you type.
Cost breakdown
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Disclaimer: Indicative estimate only. Government fees vary by state and are set by each State Drugs Control / FDA. Government fees only — professional fees are not included.
Drug license under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act
Anyone stocking or selling medicines in India needs a drug license from the State Drugs Control Department (State FDA). A retail license (Form 20 & 21) covers sale to patients from a pharmacy; a wholesale license (Form 20B & 21B) covers sale to other businesses. Most chemists apply for both together. The license is valid for 5 years and is premises-specific.
Fee structure — retail vs wholesale
Government fees are prescribed by the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules and are similar across most states. Each premises pays its own licence fee and inspection fee.
| Retail license (Form 20 + 21) | ₹3,000 |
| Wholesale license (Form 20B + 21B) | ₹3,000 |
| Inspection fee (once, per premises) | ₹1,000 |
| Validity | 5 years |
| Retail only (fee + inspection) | ₹4,000 |
| Wholesale only (fee + inspection) | ₹4,000 |
| Retail + Wholesale (fees + inspection) | ₹7,000 |
| Each additional premises | Same again |
Worked examples
Two common scenarios, government fees only. The licence fee and inspection fee are statutory; professional fees are not included.
Key requirements explained
Registered pharmacist / competent person
A retail pharmacy must have a registered pharmacist enrolled with the State Pharmacy Council present during business hours. A wholesale license needs a competent person — a graduate with 1 year of drug-dealing experience or a person with 4 years of experience.
Premises & cold-storage norms
Minimum floor area is typically 10 sq. m. for retail or wholesale, and 15 sq. m. if you hold both. Premises must have a refrigerator and air-conditioning for storing thermolabile / cold-chain drugs.
Forms & the license
Retail sale is granted on Form 20 & 21 and wholesale on Form 20B & 21B. The application is filed online on the State FDA portal with the site layout, pharmacist proof, rent/ownership papers and fee challan.
Validity & renewal
The license stays valid for 5 years and must be renewed before expiry. Late renewal attracts an additional fee, and selling without a valid license is an offence under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act.
Questions people ask
Short answers on Drug License Cost Calculator. Tap a question to open it.
01What licence is needed to run a pharmacy?
A retail drug licence in Form 20 and 21 from the State Drugs Control Department, issued under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules. A wholesale business needs Form 20B and 21B, and many businesses hold both.
02What are the key conditions for a retail drug licence?
A minimum premises area of about 10 square metres (15 for combined retail and wholesale), a refrigerator and air conditioning for storage, and a registered pharmacist on the premises for retail — or a competent person with prescribed experience for wholesale.
03What does a drug licence cost?
The government cost is the licence fee for each category — retail (Form 20 and 21) and wholesale (Form 20B and 21B) — plus an inspection fee, paid for every premises. State fees can differ. Premises, the storage set-up and the pharmacist salary are separate business costs. Professional fees are not included in this calculator.
04How long is a drug licence valid?
Licences are issued for five years and must be renewed before expiry. Late renewal attracts a retention fee that increases with the delay.
05Do I need a separate licence for each location?
Yes. A drug licence is premises-specific. Every additional shop, godown or branch needs its own licence for that address.
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Disclaimer: This tool gives indicative results for general guidance only and is not professional advice. Please verify with a qualified CA before acting on the numbers.