Company Registration Process in India: Step-by-Step

Last updated 26 September 2026

Before you file — decide your structure and directors

Before any form gets filed, you need to lock in two decisions: your business structure (typically Private Limited Company, LLP, or OPC) and who your directors or partners will be. Every director needs their own Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Aadhaar, and the names on both need to match exactly, since mismatches are one of the most common causes of rejected filings later.

Step 1 — Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is the electronic equivalent of a physical signature, used to sign your incorporation forms on the MCA portal. Every proposed director needs their own DSC before anything else can be filed. This is typically the fastest step in the whole process and can be completed within a day if your documents are ready.

Step 2 — Name reservation (Part A of SPICe+)

SPICe+ is split into two parts, and Part A handles reserving your company name. You submit up to two proposed names in order of preference, and the Registrar of Companies (ROC) checks them against existing company names and trademarks to make sure there is no conflict.

A few practical tips that reduce rejection at this stage:

• Avoid names that are too similar to an already-registered company, even in a different state
• Do not use words that require special government approval (like "National," "Bank," or "Corporation") unless you actually qualify
• Keep your proposed name aligned with your intended business activity, since a completely unrelated name can invite scrutiny

If your name is approved, it is reserved for a limited window, so you should move to filing Part B without unnecessary delay.

Step 3 — Filing SPICe+ Part B

Part B is where the actual incorporation details go in: registered office address, director and shareholder details, capital structure, and the documents discussed in a company registration documents checklist. This is the most detailed part of the process and the one most likely to need a careful review before submission.

What SPICe+ bundles together (PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC)

One of the genuinely useful things about SPICe+ is that it is not just an incorporation form. Filing it also gets you:

• Permanent Account Number (PAN) for the company
• Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN)
• Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) registration
• Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) registration
• GSTIN application, if you opt in at the time of filing

This means you walk away from a single filing with most of the registrations a new company needs to start operating, rather than filing each one separately afterward.

Step-by-step timelines by structure: Private Limited, LLP and OPC.

Step 4 — Government review and queries

Once submitted, the ROC reviews your application. If everything is in order, it proceeds to approval. If the reviewing officer has a question or spots a discrepancy, they raise a query, and you get a window to respond with clarification or corrected documents.

This is the stage where having your documents right the first time matters most, since each round of query and response adds days to your timeline.

Step 5 — Certificate of Incorporation

Once approved, the ROC issues your Certificate of Incorporation (COI), which includes your Corporate Identity Number (CIN). This is the official proof that your company legally exists. Your company's PAN and TAN are typically issued alongside it.

How long each step actually takes

For a standard filing with clean documents:

1. DSC: same day to 1 day
2. Name reservation: 1 to 2 working days
3. SPICe+ Part B filing and review: 3 to 5 working days
4. Certificate of Incorporation issuance: 1 to 2 working days

Altogether, most straightforward incorporations complete in 7 to 10 working days. Complex cases, such as those with foreign directors, higher authorized capital, or a name that needs a second attempt, can take longer.

Common reasons filings get rejected or delayed

• Proposed company name too similar to an existing one
• Mismatched names or details across PAN, Aadhaar, and submitted documents
• Missing No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the registered office, if it is a rented or family-owned property
• Address proof older than 2 months
• Incomplete details for the capital structure or shareholding pattern

Most of these are avoidable with a document review before submission, which is exactly why working with a CA rather than self-filing tends to save time rather than cost it.

This article is for general information only. For your specific situation, consult a practicing CA.