Registering a Private Limited Company in India is now a single online journey through one integrated form, but the order of steps matters. This guide walks through the full process — from the digital signature to the certificate of incorporation and the post-incorporation declaration.
| Quick answer | Key point |
|---|---|
| Where do you register? | Online on the MCA portal, mca.gov.in, using the SPICe+ web form. |
| First step? | Get a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each proposed director. |
| Directors and members? | At least two directors and two shareholders for a Private Limited Company. |
| How long? | Usually 7 to 12 working days if documents and the name are in order. |
| What is INC-20A? | A declaration of commencement of business, filed within 180 days of incorporation. |
| Minimum capital? | No — there is no minimum paid-up capital requirement. |
What does registering a Private Limited Company mean?
Registering a Private Limited Company means incorporating it with the Registrar of Companies under Section 7 of the Companies Act, 2013, after which it becomes a separate legal entity with limited liability.
Incorporation is handled entirely online on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal through the SPICe+ form, which bundles name approval, incorporation, PAN, TAN and other registrations.
- DSC: Digital Signature Certificate — the electronic signature each director needs to sign MCA forms.
- DIN: Director Identification Number — a unique ID for every director, now allotted within SPICe+.
- SPICe+: the integrated incorporation web form (Part A for the name, Part B for incorporation).
- MOA / AOA: the Memorandum and Articles of Association — the company’s charter documents.
- COI: Certificate of Incorporation — the proof your company legally exists.
Before you start: prerequisites
A Private Limited Company needs at least two directors and two shareholders (who can be the same two people), and at least one director must be resident in India. There is no minimum paid-up capital requirement.
Legal framework
Incorporation is governed by the Companies Act, 2013 — Section 3 (formation), Section 7 (incorporation), Section 12 (registered office) and Section 149 (directors). The declaration of commencement under Section 10A must follow within 180 days of incorporation.
Step-by-step registration process
- Obtain a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). Each proposed director and subscriber needs a Class-3 DSC to sign the incorporation forms electronically.
- Reserve the company name (SPICe+ Part A). Submit one or two proposed names on the MCA portal; an approved name is reserved for 20 days.
- Prepare incorporation details (SPICe+ Part B). Enter capital, registered office, directors and shareholders. The DIN for new directors is allotted within this form.
- Draft the MOA and AOA. File the electronic Memorandum (eMOA, INC-33) and Articles (eAOA, INC-34) stating the company’s objects and internal rules.
- File the linked forms (AGILE-PRO-S). The same submission applies for PAN, TAN, EPFO, ESIC, GST (if opted) and a bank account.
- Pay fees and submit. Pay the MCA filing fee and applicable state stamp duty, then submit the bundle for the Registrar’s review.
- Receive the Certificate of Incorporation. On approval, the Registrar issues the COI with the CIN, PAN and TAN. The company now legally exists.
- File INC-20A within 180 days. After depositing the subscribed capital, file the declaration of commencement of business under Section 10A.
Documents needed (at a glance)
- For each director/shareholder: PAN, Aadhaar, a passport-size photo and address proof (bank statement or utility bill not older than two months).
- For the registered office: a recent utility bill, the rent agreement (if rented) and a no-objection certificate from the owner.
- For foreign nationals: a passport as primary ID, with documents notarised and apostilled (or consularised).
For a complete checklist with attestation rules, see /blog/documents-for-private-limited-company-registration.
Timeline and indicative cost
| Stage | Indicative time |
|---|---|
| DSC for directors | 1 to 2 working days |
| Name approval (Part A) | 1 to 3 working days |
| Incorporation approval (Part B) | 3 to 7 working days |
| Total | About 7 to 12 working days |
Government cost includes the MCA filing fee and state stamp duty, which varies by state and by authorised capital. Professional charges are separate.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a name that clashes — rejection at Part A. Check the MCA and trademark databases before applying.
- Wrong or stale office proof — resubmission delays. Use a utility bill not older than two months plus a signed NOC.
- Missing the INC-20A deadline — penalties and a bar on borrowing. File within 180 days of incorporation.
What happens if you skip INC-20A
Failure to file the commencement declaration under Section 10A attracts a penalty of Rs. 50,000 on the company and Rs. 1,000 per day on each director, up to Rs. 1 lakh, and the company cannot borrow or start business until it is filed.
How these steps connect
Name approval under SPICe+ Part A feeds directly into Part B, so a rejected name stalls the whole filing. The Certificate of Incorporation creates the company, but Section 10A then requires the INC-20A declaration before the company can legally commence business or borrow — the two are sequential, not optional alternatives.
Key takeaways
- Registration runs through the SPICe+ form on mca.gov.in under the Companies Act, 2013.
- You need at least two directors (one resident in India), two shareholders and a DSC each.
- DIN is allotted inside SPICe+; there is no minimum paid-up capital.
- The Certificate of Incorporation is usually issued within 7 to 12 working days.
- File INC-20A within 180 days of incorporation to commence business.
Frequently asked questions
How do I register a Private Limited Company in India? Apply online through the SPICe+ form on the MCA portal: obtain DSCs, reserve a name, file incorporation details with MOA and AOA, pay fees, and receive the Certificate of Incorporation.
How long does Private Limited registration take? Usually 7 to 12 working days, provided the proposed name is available and the directors’ documents are complete and correct.
Can I register a company myself online? Yes, the SPICe+ form is fully online. Many founders still use a CA or CS to avoid name rejections, document errors and missed post-incorporation filings.
What is the minimum number of directors? A Private Limited Company needs at least two directors, and at least one must be resident in India during the financial year.
Is there a minimum capital to register? No. The minimum paid-up capital requirement was removed in 2015, so a company can be incorporated with a nominal capital.
What is SPICe+ Part A and Part B? Part A reserves the company name; Part B handles incorporation, capital, directors and the linked PAN, TAN and other registrations.
Do I need a commercial office to register? No. A residential address can serve as the registered office with a utility bill and a no-objection certificate from the owner.
What is INC-20A and when is it due? INC-20A is the declaration of commencement of business under Section 10A, filed within 180 days of incorporation after the capital is deposited.
Want the filing handled end to end?
The process is online, but name rejections and document mismatches are where founders lose time. Regikart’s team handles the full incorporation and the INC-20A follow-up. Reach us at +91 70444 94804 or [email protected], or see our Private Limited Company registration service at /private-limited-company.
About the author
CA & CS Team
Reviewed by Regikart at Regikart. Want to discuss this in the context of your business?
