The government does not charge an incorporation fee for companies with authorized capital up to ₹15 lakh, so the main private limited company registration cost in India comes from name reservation (₹1,000), digital signatures for directors (roughly ₹1,000–₹2,000 each), state-wise stamp duty on the MoA and AoA, and professional fees if you engage a company secretary or consultant. In total, most founders spend approximately ₹6,000–₹15,000 depending on their state and capital structure. So while incorporation is nearly free at the government level for smaller companies, registration is not entirely free.

The key private limited company registration documents are the PAN and Aadhaar cards of all directors and shareholders, passport-size photographs, and address proof such as a bank statement, electricity bill or mobile bill not older than two months. You also need proof of the registered office — a utility bill along with a rent agreement or ownership deed — plus a no-objection certificate from the property owner if the premises are rented. Digital signature certificates for all proposed directors are prepared as part of the filing.

The private limited company registration process in India is fully online through the MCA portal. First, digital signatures are obtained for all proposed directors, and the company name is reserved using SPICe+ Part A. Then SPICe+ Part B is filed along with the e-MoA, e-AoA and the AGILE-PRO-S form, which also covers GSTIN, EPFO, ESIC and a company bank account. Once approved, the Registrar issues the Certificate of Incorporation with your CIN along with PAN and TAN — usually within 7 to 12 working days if the documents are in order.

To verify an existing company, use the "Check Company Name" or "View Company Master Data" service on the MCA portal and enter the company name or CIN — you will see its incorporation date, status (active or struck off), registered office and list of directors. If you have filed SPICe+ for a new company, you can track your own application using the application status tracker on the portal with your SRN. This is also the easiest way to confirm that a company you plan to deal with is genuinely registered.

LLP registration in India is the process of incorporating a Limited Liability Partnership under the LLP Act, 2008 with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. An LLP is a separate legal entity that combines the flexibility of a traditional partnership with limited liability — partners are liable only up to their agreed contribution, and the firm continues despite changes in partners. It needs a minimum of two partners, including two designated partners, and is a popular structure for professionals, consultants and family businesses. On registration, the LLP receives a Certificate of Incorporation along with a unique LLP registration number (LLPIN).

The LLP registration process is completely online on the MCA portal: obtain digital signatures for the designated partners, apply for their DPIN, reserve the LLP name through RUN-LLP, and then file the incorporation form (FiLLiP) with the required documents. After the Registrar approves the application, the Certificate of Incorporation is issued, and the LLP agreement must be filed in Form 3 within 30 days. The whole process usually takes about 10 to 15 working days if documents are ready.

The documents required for LLP registration include the PAN and Aadhaar cards of all partners, address proof such as a voter ID, passport, driver's licence or utility bill, and passport-size photographs. For the registered office, you need a utility bill not older than two months along with a rent agreement or ownership deed, plus a no-objection certificate from the owner if the property is rented. Digital signatures of the designated partners are also mandatory for filing.

Government charges are modest: name reservation through RUN-LLP costs ₹200, and the FiLLiP incorporation fee starts at ₹500 and increases with the LLP's capital contribution. On top of this, budget for digital signatures (around ₹1,000–₹2,000 per designated partner), state stamp duty on the LLP agreement, and professional fees if you hire an expert. Overall, the total LLP registration fees usually fall between ₹6,000 and ₹12,000 for a standard LLP.

If your FiLLiP application is still under process, track it on the MCA portal using the SRN generated at the time of filing. For an already-registered LLP, open "View LLP Master Data" or the "Check LLP Name" service and enter the LLP name or LLPIN to see its registration date, status and partners. This is also the quickest way to verify whether an LLP you are about to deal with is genuinely registered.

GST registration online is done on the official GST portal. Under Services > Registration > New Registration, fill Part A with your PAN, mobile number and email to generate a TRN, then complete Part B with business details, documents and verification to receive an ARN. After Aadhaar authentication and officer verification, your GSTIN is issued — typically within about 7 working days.

The core GST registration documents are the PAN of the business or applicant, Aadhaar and photograph of the authorised signatory, proof of the principal place of business (electricity bill or property tax receipt, and a rent agreement with the owner's no-objection certificate if rented), and bank proof such as a cancelled cheque or bank statement. Companies and LLPs also need their certificate of incorporation, an authorisation letter or board resolution, and a digital signature.

The GST registration fees payable to the government are zero — you can apply free of cost on the GST portal. Professionals may charge a service fee for preparing and filing the application, which varies by provider and business type. Remember that operating without registration when it is mandatory can attract heavy penalties, so timely registration matters more than the cost.

The GST registration limit is based on aggregate turnover: businesses supplying goods must register once turnover crosses ₹40 lakh in a financial year in most states, while service providers must register above ₹20 lakh, with lower thresholds in special category states. Registration is compulsory irrespective of turnover if you make inter-state supplies, sell through e-commerce platforms, or operate as a casual taxable person.

You can track your GST registration status on the GST portal under Services > Registration > Track Application Status using the ARN received after filing. The status moves from "Submitted" to "Under Process", and if the officer raises a query in Form REG-03, you must respond within seven days. Once approved, the registration certificate is issued automatically; if rejected, Form REG-05 states the reasons.

After approval, log in to the GST portal and go to Services > User Services > View/Download Certificates to download your GST registration certificate (Form REG-06) as a PDF. The certificate displays your GSTIN — the 15-digit GST registration number — and must be displayed prominently at your principal place of business and quoted on all tax invoices.