Getting the Certificate of Incorporation is only the beginning. The weeks immediately after incorporation carry the highest density of mandatory filings, approvals, and setup tasks — and missing them creates penalties, legal gaps, and investor red flags that compound over time.
From INC-20A to statutory registers, share certificates to accounting systems — we manage the complete post-incorporation compliance lifecycle so nothing slips through the cracks.
Every company incorporated on or after 2 November 2018 that has a share capital must file Form INC-20A — the Declaration for Commencement of Business — within 180 days of its date of incorporation. This is not optional. Without a valid INC-20A on record, the company cannot legally commence any business activity or exercise its borrowing powers. The Registrar of Companies can strike off the company if INC-20A is not filed within the prescribed window. The form requires a declaration by a director that every subscriber to the Memorandum has paid the value of shares subscribed — backed by proof of receipt of subscription money in the company's bank account. We prepare the declaration, verify the bank credit entries, draft the board resolution, and file INC-20A on MCA within the deadline.
At incorporation, the first directors are named in the MOA and SPICe+ form. But the formal appointment under the Companies Act — with consent letters (DIR-2), disclosure of interest (MBP-1), and the required board resolution — must be completed and documented post-COI. Similarly, share certificates must be issued to every subscriber to the Memorandum within two months of incorporation. Failure to issue share certificates on time is a compliance default that shows up starkly in investor due diligence. We handle the entire post-incorporation director formalisation and share certificate issuance in a single coordinated process.
The first board meeting must be held within 30 days of incorporation. It is not a formality — it is a legally required event with a mandatory agenda that sets the governance foundation for the entire life of the company. The meeting must be properly convened with written notice given at least 7 days in advance (unless all directors consent to shorter notice), conducted with a quorum, and documented with signed minutes. A failure to hold the first board meeting, or holding it without proper documentation, is a compliance default under Section 173 of the Companies Act 2013. We draft the notice, agenda, resolutions, attendance register, and minutes — and ensure every statutory requirement at the first board meeting is met.
Key Items on the First Board Meeting Agenda
Every company is required by law to maintain a set of statutory registers at its registered office — open to inspection by members, directors, and the Registrar on demand. These registers are not a one-time setup; they must be updated each time a triggering event occurs: a share transfer, a new director appointment, a loan, a charge creation, or a change in shareholding. Failure to maintain these registers is a compoundable offence under the Companies Act. We establish all mandatory registers at incorporation, enter opening entries, and maintain them on an ongoing basis — ensuring your records are always inspection-ready.
While a common seal is now optional for companies under the Companies (Amendment) Act 2015, many banks, government authorities, and counterparties still require the seal impression on key documents — deeds, share certificates, and formal contracts. More critically, every company is legally required under Section 12 of the Companies Act to display its name, CIN, and registered office address on all business letters, letterheads, invoices, official publications, and electronic communications. Non-compliance attracts a penalty of ₹1,000 per day per document. We advise on seal adoption, help you design a compliant common seal, and audit your letterhead, email signatures, invoices, and digital templates to ensure they carry all required disclosures — from CIN and registered office address to website and GST number where applicable.
Every company is required under Section 128 of the Companies Act to maintain proper books of account on an accrual basis — giving a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company. Books must be kept at the registered office and made available for inspection. But beyond the legal obligation, getting your accounting system right from the first transaction saves months of painful reconstruction at year-end, prevents audit qualifications, and produces the financial statements that investors and banks actually trust. We design your chart of accounts, configure your accounting software (Tally, Zoho Books, QuickBooks, or your preferred platform), set up revenue and cost centres, establish your invoicing and payment workflows, and connect your bank feed — so your books are accurate from transaction one.
The first 180 days after your Certificate of Incorporation carry the highest concentration of mandatory filings. Miss any of these and penalties accumulate daily.
Open the company's current account — subscription money must be credited to the company account before INC-20A can be filed. Choose a bank that supports startup-friendly current accounts with low minimum balance requirements.
Action Items
Action Items
Hold the mandatory first board meeting with proper notice, quorum, and resolutions. Appoint the first auditor, confirm the registered office, pass the bank account resolution, and formally receive director consents and disclosures.
Share certificates in Form SH-1 must be issued to every subscriber to the MOA within two months of incorporation. These are the equity title documents for founders — never defer their issuance. Register of Members must be updated simultaneously.
Action Items
Action Items
The hardest deadline — and the most consequential. INC-20A must be filed within 180 days. Without it, the company cannot legally operate. The ROC can strike off the company if this form is not filed. File it as soon as the bank account is credited, well before the 180-day outer limit.
Post-incorporation compliance is detail work — and the penalties for getting it wrong compound silently. We have managed the post-incorporation setup for hundreds of newly incorporated companies, ensuring every form is filed on time, every register is properly maintained, and every founding document is investor-ready from day one.
We track every post-incorporation deadline from the moment you receive your COI — and we initiate each filing proactively, well before the outer limit. You will never receive a surprise penalty notice.
Share certificates issued on time, registers maintained correctly, and board minutes drafted and signed — every document we produce is designed to survive the scrutiny of a professional due diligence exercise.
We handle legal documents, MCA filings, accounting setup, and register maintenance under one roof — so nothing falls between the gaps and you do not need to coordinate between multiple advisors.
Post-incorporation setup is not a one-time event. We offer ongoing register maintenance, board meeting documentation, and compliance calendar management — so your records stay current as the business grows.
Whether you need INC-20A filed, share certificates issued, statutory registers set up, your first board meeting documented, or your accounting system configured — we handle every post-incorporation requirement so your company is legally operational, investor-ready, and fully compliant from day one.
4th Floor, Solitaire 1, New Link Rd, Malad West, Mumbai 400064.
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