Yeswanth K P & CoChartered Accountants

Business Registrations & Startup Support

Business Registrations

Choose the structure first

Registration is the easy part. Two businesses can both be eligible for several different structures, but the right choice depends on ownership, liability, funding plans, and how much compliance the business can take on - decisions that are far easier to get right before incorporation than to unwind afterward. We work through that with you first, then handle the registration itself.

Starting a Business?

How this typically runs

01

Tell us about the business

A direct conversation about what you're building, who owns it, and where it's headed.

02

Understand your options

We walk through which structures could fit, and what each one actually means for you.

03

Choose the structure

A decision made with the implications understood, not guessed at.

04

Complete registration

Incorporation or registration, handled end to end.

05

Set up what comes next

Initial registrations, and a transition into ongoing compliance.

Structure

Choosing your structure

The most common business structures in India, each suited to different ownership, liability, and funding situations. The right one depends on your specific plans, not a general rule.

Company · Growth-Stage

Private Limited Company

Often considered by businesses planning to raise external funding, bring in multiple shareholders, or scale beyond a small team. As a separate legal entity it carries liability protection for shareholders, along with an ongoing ROC compliance and filing obligation that a simpler structure doesn't have.

We help with: Incorporation · Shareholder & director structuring · Initial ROC filings · Coordination with accounting & tax

Discuss whether Private Limited fits your plans →
02

Public Limited Company

A different governance and compliance environment from a private company, generally considered where the scale or ownership of the business calls for it. Handled as a specialist engagement.

Talk to us →
Partnership · Limited Liability

LLP Registration

Often considered by two or more partners who want limited liability protection without full corporate governance requirements - common among professional and service businesses. Combines partnership-style management flexibility with a formal, registered structure.

We help with: LLP incorporation · LLP agreement · Partner structuring · Initial compliance set-up

Discuss whether an LLP fits your plans →
04

One Person Company (OPC)

A company structure for a single promoter, combining sole ownership with limited liability, subject to the applicable rules on nominee directors and conversion.

Talk to us →
05

Proprietorship Registration

Often the simplest way to start when a single person owns and runs the business or professional practice, with registration requirements tied to what the activity actually needs - GST, Udyam, or a bank account, for instance. Worth understanding the personal-liability implications before committing to this route.

Discuss your structure →
06

Partnership Firm Registration

For two or more people carrying on a business together, built around a partnership deed that sets out capital, profit-sharing, and roles. Registration is optional under the Partnership Act but strengthens the firm's legal standing.

Discuss your structure →
Purpose-Built

Non-profit & purpose-specific structures

Trusts, societies, and Section 8 companies all serve charitable or non-profit objectives but differ in governance and structure - alongside two structures built for specific kinds of member- or producer-owned activity.

07

Section 8 Company (Non-Profit)

A company structure for charitable, educational, or other non-profit objects - an alternative to a trust or society where a more formal, company-style governance framework fits the organisation's intended activities.

Discuss your objectives →
08

Trust Registration

Registration of a public or private trust, built around a carefully drafted trust deed setting out the trust's objects, trustees, and governance.

Talk to us →
09

Society Registration

Registration of a society under the applicable state Societies Registration Act, generally considered for member-governed charitable, literary, or social organisations.

Talk to us →
10

Nidhi Company

A company structure for member-only deposit and lending activity, subject to specific eligibility and regulatory conditions under the Companies Act - not a general alternative to an LLP or private company.

Discuss your requirements →
11

Producer Company

Incorporation support for a producer company owned collectively by primary producers, such as farmers or artisans, carrying on production-related activity together.

Discuss your requirements →
Recognition

Startup & MSME recognition

Incorporation, DPIIT recognition, and Udyam registration are three different things - and not every new company automatically qualifies for the last two.

DPIIT Recognition

Startup India Registration

DPIIT recognition under the Startup India scheme is separate from incorporation, and eligibility depends on criteria such as the entity's age, turnover, and whether it's working on innovation or scalable business models - it isn't automatically available to every newly incorporated company. We assess eligibility against the current official criteria and handle the recognition application, which is distinct from any tax exemption or other benefit that may separately apply.

We help with: Eligibility assessment · DPIIT recognition application · Clarifying what recognition does and doesn't include

Check your eligibility →
13

Udyam (MSME) Registration

Free, paperless, self-declaration-based MSME registration on the official government portal - not the same as company registration, and not something we charge a government fee for.

Discuss Udyam registration →
Operating

Operating registrations

State-level registrations that apply once the business is actually operating, depending on where it's based and how it employs people.

14

Professional Tax Registration

Employer and employee professional tax registration and compliance, as applicable under Andhra Pradesh state law - a state-specific obligation that doesn't apply uniformly across India.

Talk to us →
15

Shops & Establishment Registration

Registration under the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishment Act, generally applicable to commercial premises and employers operating from the state, subject to the Act's specific criteria.

Talk to us →
Foreign Entry

Setting up in India

For foreign companies establishing a presence in India - the right route depends on the parent company's activity, ownership, and intended operations.

Specialist · Foreign Companies

Indian Subsidiary of Foreign Company

A subsidiary, branch office, and liaison office are not interchangeable - each involves a different scope of permitted activity and a different set of RBI/FEMA requirements. We help assess which route fits the foreign parent's intended operations, and handle the incorporation or registration together with the related RBI/FEMA filings and coordination with Indian tax and compliance requirements.

Foreign Cos
Discuss your India entity →

Which Structure Fits?

Comparing the common structures

A general comparison to help you understand the decision - not a substitute for discussing your specific plans. Figures and thresholds here are simplified; exact positions depend on current law and your circumstances.

Structure Owners Liability Separate legal entity Typical compliance Often considered for
Proprietorship One Personal, unlimited No Minimal Solo, simple operations
Partnership Two or more Personal, generally unlimited No (generally) Deed-based, moderate Small, partner-led businesses
LLP Two or more designated partners Limited to contribution Yes Annual LLP filings Professional & service businesses
OPC One Limited, subject to conditions Yes Company-level ROC filings Solo founders wanting a company form
Private Limited Two or more shareholders Limited to shareholding Yes Company-level ROC filings, generally the most involved Growth-oriented or funding-seeking businesses

Still unsure? That's exactly what a structure consultation is for.

Discuss your options →

After Registration

Your business doesn't end with incorporation

Depending on the entity, activity, and circumstances, businesses typically need to consider some combination of GST registration, income tax compliance, accounting, payroll and TDS, ROC or LLP annual filings, Udyam registration, professional tax, Shops & Establishments registration, and any sector-specific licences that apply. Not every business needs all of these - the exact list depends on the entity and what it does.

This is where the firm's other services come in - GST registration and compliance, income tax services, accounting support, audit and assurance, and company and LLP compliance are all handled within the same practice.

Common Questions

Business registration, answered plainly

How do I choose between a proprietorship, LLP, and Private Limited Company?

It depends on ownership, liability preference, funding plans, and how much compliance the business can take on - there is no universally right answer. We look at your specific plans before recommending a structure.

What is the difference between an LLP and a Private Limited Company?

Both offer limited liability and are separate legal entities, but they differ in governance, compliance requirements, and how suited they are to raising external investment. A Private Limited Company is generally more commonly used where outside funding is planned; an LLP is often considered for partner-led professional or service businesses.

Can I register a company with just one person?

Yes, through a One Person Company (OPC), subject to the applicable rules on nominee directors and conversion. It is worth discussing whether OPC or another structure fits your plans better.

What registrations are typically required to start a business in India?

This depends on the structure and activity, but commonly includes incorporation or registration of the entity itself, PAN, GST where applicable, and Udyam registration for MSMEs, with others like Professional Tax or Shops & Establishments depending on the state and activity.

Do I need GST registration after incorporating a company?

Only if your turnover crosses the applicable threshold, or you choose to register voluntarily - incorporation itself does not require GST registration.

What is Startup India / DPIIT recognition, and is it automatic?

It is a separate recognition from incorporation, based on eligibility criteria such as the entity's age and turnover. Not every newly incorporated company qualifies automatically - eligibility is assessed against the current official criteria.

Is Udyam registration the same as company registration?

No. Udyam is a free, self-declaration-based MSME registration on the official government portal, separate from incorporating your entity.

What is the difference between a trust, a society, and a Section 8 company?

All three can serve non-profit or charitable objectives, but they differ in governance structure and the law they are registered under. The right one depends on what the organisation is setting out to do.

Can a foreign company set up a subsidiary in India?

Yes, through a subsidiary, branch office, or liaison office, depending on the intended activity - each involves different RBI/FEMA requirements, and the right route depends on the specifics of the parent company's plans.

What should I do after incorporation?

It depends on the entity and activity, but this typically involves some combination of GST, income tax, accounting, payroll and TDS, ROC or LLP filings, and any sector-specific registrations or licences that apply.

Tenali & Beyond

Business registration support, from Tenali

A fourth-generation practice, continuing the firm's work since 1938, supporting entrepreneurs and businesses from Tenali and across Guntur, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam, with remote support where appropriate.

If you're planning a new business or considering how to structure one, talk to our Chartered Accountants before you register, or read more about the firm's history.

Don't start with a form. Start with a conversation.

Tell us what you're planning to build, who will own it, and where you want the business to go. We'll help you evaluate the structure and registrations before you commit to them.

Discuss my business plan →
Call WhatsApp Services