Quick Answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I incorporate a company fully online in India? | Yes - the entire process runs through the MCA portal. |
| Which portal is used? | MCA21 (mca.gov.in), via the integrated SPICe+ form. |
| How long does it take? | 7-10 working days for a Private Limited Company. |
| Do I need to visit any office? | No - since 2020, incorporation is fully paperless and online. |
| What is the starting cost? | Professional fees from Rs 1,999 + government fees at actuals. |
A decade ago, incorporating a company meant printed forms, physical signatures, courier runs and weeks of waiting. None of that is true anymore. Today the whole of company incorporation in India happens online through a single integrated form, signed digitally, with PAN, TAN and even your bank account application bundled in. This guide is the complete, beginner-friendly walkthrough - from choosing the right structure to holding your Certificate of Incorporation - exactly as the process runs in 2026.
What Does "Incorporating a Company" Online Actually Mean?
For years, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) ran incorporation on paper. The shift to the SPICe+ form completed a long digitisation journey: today, a company is created entirely electronically, with no physical filing anywhere in the chain.
What you actually receive at the end is a bundle, delivered electronically: a Certificate of Incorporation (COI) carrying your CIN, plus your company's PAN and TAN embedded directly in it. Online incorporation isn't just faster than the old paper route - it's more reliable, because the integrated form cross-validates your details before submission and routes everything to the right authorities at once. For most founders, the practical meaning is simple: you can form a real, legally recognised company from a laptop, without leaving your desk.
Step 1 - Choose the Right Company Structure
Before any filing, decide what you're forming. This single choice shapes your taxes, your compliance load and your ability to raise money.
Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd)
The default for funded startups and scalable businesses. It can issue equity, onboard investors, and run ESOPs. Highest credibility, moderate compliance.
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
Best for professional services and partnerships that want limited liability without heavy compliance. Cannot raise equity funding.
One Person Company (OPC)
Built for the solo founder who wants limited liability without a co-founder. Comes with turnover and conversion restrictions.
Section 8 Company
For non-profits, NGOs and CSR-driven entities. Strict on the use of profits, which must be ploughed back into the objects.
Decision framework - four questions
- Do you plan to raise equity funding? -> Private Limited.
- Are you a solo founder? -> OPC, or Pvt Ltd with a nominee.
- Is your business a professional practice? -> LLP.
- Is your mission non-profit? -> Section 8.
A quick comparison of the three commercial structures:
| Dimension | Pvt Ltd | LLP | OPC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability | Limited to shares | Limited to contribution | Limited to shares |
| Effective tax | ~22% (115BAA) | 30% flat | ~22% (115BAA) |
| Compliance | Moderate-high | Low | Moderate |
| Fundraising | Equity-ready | Not equity-ready | Not equity-ready |
| Min. directors/partners | 2 directors | 2 partners | 1 director + nominee |
Still weighing it up? See our full guide to company registration in India to compare all the structures side by side.
Step 2 - Gather Your Documents
Online or not, the application still needs clean documents. Have these ready before you start:
| Category | Documents |
|---|---|
| Director / shareholder KYC | PAN, Aadhaar, address proof (<=2 months old), passport-size photo, email & mobile |
| NRI / foreign directors | Passport (apostilled/notarised) + overseas address proof |
| Registered office | Latest utility bill (<=2 months) + NOC from owner + rent agreement (if rented) |
For the full document breakdown with formatting rules, see documents required for company registration (/blog/documents-for-company-registration).
Step 3 - Obtain Digital Signature Certificates (DSC)
Every MCA filing is signed electronically, so each director needs a Class 3 DSC. These are issued by licensed certifying authorities (eMudhra, Sify, Capricorn, VSign) after a short Aadhaar-based e-KYC and video verification. The Aadhaar e-KYC route is the fastest.
- Timeline: 1-2 days
- Cost: Rs 1,200-2,500 per director
- Validity: 2 years, reusable for all future filings
Step 4 - Reserve Your Company Name
Name reservation is done through SPICe+ Part A (or the standalone RUN facility). The rules that matter:
- Propose up to 2 names, in order of preference.
- The name must be unique - not identical or deceptively similar to an existing company or registered trademark.
- Avoid prohibited/restricted words (e.g. "National", "Bank", "Insurance") unless specifically approved.
Check availability on the MCA portal and against trademarks on the IP India database before submitting - that one extra check is the difference between a one-shot approval and a rejection. If your first choice is rejected, the MCA usually allows a resubmission of fresh names within the window.
Step 5 - File the SPICe+ Form on the MCA Portal
This is the centrepiece of online incorporation, so it's worth understanding in detail.
What is SPICe+?
SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) is a single integrated form that handles 10+ registrations in one filing. It has two parts plus a linked form:
- Part A - name reservation
- Part B - the actual incorporation, plus PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, GST (optional) and bank account
- AGILE-PRO-S (INC-35) - the linked form capturing GST/EPFO/ESIC/Profession Tax/bank-account preferences
How to file SPICe+ Part B - walkthrough
- Log in to the MCA21 portal (mca.gov.in) with your registered account.
- Fill the company details - name (as approved), registered office, director DINs, and the capital structure (authorised and paid-up).
- Upload the MOA, AOA, INC-9 and registered-office proof. The MOA (INC-33) and AOA (INC-34) are filed electronically.
- Attach the DSCs of all directors and the certifying professional (CA/CS/CMA).
- Pay the MCA fees online - Rs 0 for authorised capital up to Rs 15 lakh, plus stamp duty at actuals.
- Submit and note the SRN (Service Request Number) to track the application.
AGILE-PRO-S - what it covers
Filed alongside SPICe+, this form lets you apply, in the same go, for:
- GSTIN (optional at this stage)
- EPFO and ESIC registration
- Profession Tax (Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal)
- Bank account opening with a partner bank
This bundling is the real magic of online incorporation: a single submission spins up your company and most of the registrations it will need on day one.
Step 6 - ROC Review and Certificate of Incorporation
After submission, the Registrar of Companies (ROC) reviews the application. One of two things happens:
- Clean approval - the ROC issues your COI.
- Resubmission ("query") - the ROC flags something to correct (often an address mismatch or a name/objects issue). You fix it, re-sign with DSCs, and re-file. This typically adds 5-7 working days.
The Certificate of Incorporation is your company's legal birth certificate. It contains the company name, date of incorporation, registered office, your CIN, and the embedded PAN and TAN.
A CIN such as U67190WB2026PTC000000 decodes as: U = unlisted, 67190 = industry code, WB = state (West Bengal), 2026 = year of incorporation, PTC = private limited company, and the final digits are the registration number.
Step 7 - Post-Incorporation Steps to Activate Your Company
The COI makes your company exist - these steps make it operational:
- File INC-20A within 180 days - the commencement-of-business declaration. Until this is filed, the company cannot borrow or begin business. Penalty for missing it is steep.
- Open the current bank account (using COI + MOA + AOA + board resolution).
- Appoint the statutory auditor - the Board does this within 30 days, and ADT-1 is filed.
- Apply for GST, MSME/Udyam and IEC as your business needs them.
For the full activation checklist, see our dedicated guide to the steps after company registration (/blog/steps-after-company-registration).
Common Mistakes That Delay Online Company Incorporation
Even online, the same handful of errors cause most resubmissions:
- Name conflicts with an existing trademark - clears the MCA database but still gets objected to.
- Address mismatch between the utility bill and the rent agreement - they must read identically.
- Wrong authorised capital - padding it raises government fees and stamp duty unnecessarily.
- DSC not registered on the MCA portal before filing - a small step that's easy to skip and blocks submission.
Can I Incorporate a Company Without a CA?
Honestly? Technically yes, practically no.
The MCA portal is public, so you can open an account and start a SPICe+ filing yourself. But the form requires professional certification by a practising CA, CS or Cost Accountant - that signature is mandatory, not optional. So a professional has to be involved at the certification stage regardless.
Beyond the certification requirement, the real value of professional help is risk reduction: avoiding name rejections, drafting an objects clause that won't box you in later, and catching the document mismatches that trigger ROC queries. DIY can work for the unusually patient and detail-oriented; for most founders, professional filing simply gets it right the first time. That's the honest case - not fear, just fewer round trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it mandatory to use a CA for company incorporation in India?
The SPICe+ form must be certified by a practising professional (CA, CS or CMA). So while you can prepare the application yourself, certification by a professional is mandatory before it can be filed.
Can I incorporate a company with just one person?
Yes - through a One Person Company (OPC), which needs a single director plus a nominee. A Private Limited Company, by contrast, requires at least two directors and two shareholders.
Can I use a virtual office address for company incorporation?
Yes, provided you have a genuine NOC from the address provider and a valid utility bill in their name. The address must be able to receive statutory correspondence.
How do I track my SPICe+ application status?
Use the SRN generated at submission to track the application status on the MCA21 portal under "Track SRN/Transaction Status".
Can a foreigner incorporate a company in India online?
Yes. Foreign nationals and NRIs can be directors and shareholders, subject to apostille/notarisation of their documents, at least one India-resident director, and applicable FDI rules for the sector.
Ready to incorporate your company online?
Related Articles
- Types of Company Registration in India (/blog/types-of-company-registration-in-india)
- SPICe+ Form Explained (/blog/spice-plus-form-company-incorporation)
- Steps After Company Registration (/blog/steps-after-company-registration)
About the author
Deepak Jaiswal
Founding Partner, FCA at Regikart. Want to discuss this in the context of your business?
