Understand how to set up in India — before you spend a rupee.
Choose between an LLP, a private limited company and a public limited company, describe how you will operate, and instantly see your incorporation roadmap, documentation checklist, registrations, tax position, RBI filings and the full annual compliance calendar. Change any answer and watch the obligations change with it.
The three vehicles worth considering
Branch offices, liaison offices and project offices are deliberately excluded — they are activity-restricted and RBI-approval driven. For an operating business, these three are the practical choices.
Private Limited Company
The default vehicle for a foreign subsidiary. Separate legal person, 100% FDI possible in most sectors, easiest to fund and to explain to banks and customers.
Model this entityLimited Liability Partnership
Lighter running compliance and no dividend layer, but FDI is allowed only in sectors with 100% automatic route and no performance conditions.
Model this entityPublic Limited Company
Used when wide shareholding, public deposits or an eventual listing is intended. Heaviest governance and disclosure load of the three.
Model this entity| Aspect | LLP | Private limited | Public limited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governing law | LLP Act, 2008 | Companies Act, 2013 | Companies Act, 2013 |
| Minimum owners | 2 designated partners (1 must be resident in India) | 2 shareholders, 2 directors (1 must be resident in India) | 7 shareholders, 3 directors (1 must be resident in India) |
| FDI position | Allowed only where the sector permits 100% FDI under the automatic route with no performance conditions | 100% FDI under automatic route in most sectors; government approval in restricted sectors | Same as private company; additionally usable for public offers |
| Incorporation form | FiLLiP + LLP Agreement (Form 3) within 30 days | SPICe+ (INC-32) with e-MOA and e-AOA | SPICe+ (INC-32) with e-MOA and e-AOA |
| Headline income tax | 30% + 12% surcharge above INR 1 crore income + 4% cess | 22% (s.115BAA) or 15% (s.115BAB new manufacturing) or 25%/30% under old regime, + surcharge and cess | Same rates as a private company |
| Profit repatriation | Share of profit is exempt in partners' hands; no dividend layer | Dividend taxable for the shareholder; withholding on payments to non-residents subject to treaty relief | Same as private company |
| Statutory audit | Only if turnover > INR 40 lakh or contribution > INR 25 lakh | Mandatory from the first financial year | Mandatory from the first financial year |
| Annual ROC filings | Form 11 (statement of partners) and Form 8 (accounts and solvency) | AOC-4, MGT-7A, DIR-3 KYC, DPT-3, MSME-1 where applicable | AOC-4, MGT-7, MGT-8 where applicable, DIR-3 KYC, DPT-3, MSME-1 |
| Board / meeting load | No statutory board meetings; governed by the LLP Agreement | 4 board meetings a year (2 for small companies) + 1 AGM | 4 board meetings a year + 1 AGM + statutory committees once thresholds are crossed |
| Raising capital | Contribution from partners only; no equity instruments or ESOP | Equity, CCPS, CCDs, ESOP; investor-friendly | Widest options including public issue and listing |
| Typical set-up effort | Lowest cost and lowest recurring compliance | Moderate cost, moderate compliance, best all-round fit | Highest cost and governance overhead |
| Closing down | Simpler strike-off under Form 24 | Strike-off under STK-2 or liquidation | Most involved exit process |
What the planner gives you
Entity comparison you can trust
LLP, private limited and public limited compared on law, owners, FDI position, audit, filings and exit — the three vehicles that actually make sense for inbound investment.
Documentation checklist
Exactly which parent-company, director and premises documents you need, and which of them must be apostilled or consularised.
RBI and FEMA reporting
Entry route, Press Note 3 land-border check, valuation, FC-GPR, FC-TRS, FDI-LLP forms, the annual FLA return and how profits get repatriated.
Taxation, modelled
Corporate tax regimes including 115BAA and 115BAB, LLP taxation, dividend withholding with treaty relief, GST, TDS and transfer pricing.
12-month compliance calendar
Every monthly, quarterly and annual filing mapped to the Indian financial year with due dates and the penalty for missing them.
AI advisor on tap
Ask follow-up questions in plain language. The advisor answers using the exact scenario you have configured.
Indian compliance vocabulary, decoded
Every acronym you will meet in your first year, in plain English.