Start-Up Compliance

Regulatory Registrations & Licenses

Operating without the right registrations and licenses exposes your business to penalties, seizure of goods, blocked bank transactions, and loss of government scheme benefits. We identify every registration your business needs and obtain them — completely and correctly.

Applies to: rocket_launch Newly Incorporated Startups storefront Retail, Trade & Service Businesses local_shipping Importers, Exporters & E-Commerce Sellers diversity_3 Companies Hiring Their First Employees
What We Do

Every Licence & Registration Your Business Needs

Different sectors, states, and business models trigger different registration obligations. We map your specific requirements and complete every filing — so you operate with full legal authority from day one.

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Indirect Tax

GST Registration & Advisory

GST registration is mandatory if your aggregate turnover exceeds ₹20 lakhs (₹10 lakhs in special category states), if you make inter-state taxable supplies, or if you sell through an e-commerce operator — regardless of turnover. Many businesses also benefit from voluntary registration even below the threshold, to claim input tax credit and appear tax-compliant to corporate buyers. The registration itself is straightforward on the GST portal, but choosing the wrong constitution, principal place of business, HSN/SAC codes, or registration type (regular vs. composition) at the outset creates compliance headaches that are difficult and costly to unwind. We register you correctly from the first application — and advise on the scheme, structure, and return frequency that best suits your business model.

tune Scheme Advisory
  • Regular vs. Composition
  • HSN / SAC code mapping
  • ITC optimisation analysis
upload_file Registration Filing
  • REG-01 portal application
  • Multi-state registrations
  • Clarification & query handling
storefront E-Commerce & OIDAR
  • Marketplace seller TCS rules
  • OIDAR service registration
  • Non-resident taxable person
info Penalty for operating without GST registration: 100% of tax due or ₹10,000, whichever is higher — and all sales made without registration remain taxable
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State Tax

Professional Tax Registration (State-wise)

Professional Tax (PT) is a state-level tax levied on individuals engaged in any profession, trade, or employment — and on the businesses that employ them. It is not a central tax, which means the rules, rates, slab structures, registration thresholds, return frequencies, and due dates differ by state. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala all have Professional Tax statutes. Businesses must obtain both an employer registration (to deduct and deposit PT from employee salaries) and an individual professional enrolment certificate (for the proprietor, directors, or partners) within the prescribed timeline after commencement of business. We handle PT registration across all relevant states — including multi-state businesses with employees across jurisdictions.

domain Employer Registration (PTRC) Professional Tax Registration Certificate — required to deduct PT from employee salaries and deposit with the state government monthly or annually
person_check Enrolment Certificate (PTEC) Professional Tax Enrolment Certificate — for directors, partners, and proprietors on their own professional income; separate from employer deduction
map Multi-State Coverage Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala — each with different rates, slabs, and due dates
calendar_month Ongoing Return Filing Monthly or annual PT returns depending on state and employee count — we manage the filing calendar and deposit deadlines post-registration
PT registration must be obtained within 30 days of employing staff — late registration attracts interest and penalty in most states arrow_forward
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State Licence

Shops & Establishments License

The Shops and Establishments Act is a state-level legislation that governs working hours, employment conditions, wages, holidays, and leave entitlements for employees in shops, commercial establishments, offices, warehouses, and service premises. Every business with a physical place of operation — from a retail outlet to a startup office to a service centre — is required to register under the applicable state Shops and Establishments Act within the prescribed timeline (typically 30 days of commencing business). This registration is also a foundational KYC document accepted by banks, landlords, GST authorities, and government tenders. Operating without it exposes the business to inspection fines and potential closure orders from the Labour Department.

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State-Specific Registration
Each state has its own Act and portal — Maharashtra (Maha S&E), Karnataka, Delhi (CLRA), Gujarat, and others — with different fees, renewal cycles, and documentation requirements
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Applicable to Home-Based & Remote Offices
Startups operating from co-working spaces, virtual offices, or registered office addresses still need S&E registration — we advise on the correct address and establishment category
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Annual Renewal & Compliance
Most state S&E licences require annual renewal — we track renewal dates, update employee headcount, and file renewals before expiry to avoid lapse penalties
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Accepted as Business KYC
S&E registration certificate is accepted by banks as address proof, by GST authorities as business proof for additional place of business, and by most government tender portals
Must be obtained within 30 days of commencing operations — fines and closure orders apply for unregistered establishments on Labour Department inspection arrow_forward
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Foreign Trade

Import Export Code (IEC) Registration

An Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry — and it is mandatory for any business that imports goods into India or exports goods or services out of India. No customs clearance is possible without a valid IEC; no inward or outward foreign remittance for trade purposes is processed by banks without it. IEC is a permanent registration with no annual renewal, but DGFT now mandates annual updating of the IEC profile on the portal (April–June each year) — failure to update results in deactivation. We register your IEC, link it to your bank account and AD Code, register it with the Customs EDI system, and manage the annual update to keep it perpetually active.

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IEC Application (DGFT Portal)
Online application on DGFT portal with PAN, bank account, and entity documents — typically issued within 2–3 working days; permanent and transferable on change of entity
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AD Code Registration
Authorised Dealer Bank Code registration with the Customs port — mandatory for customs clearance and foreign remittance; registered separately at each export/import port
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Annual IEC Profile Update
DGFT mandates annual update of IEC profile between April and June — we track this and file the update proactively to prevent deactivation and trade disruption
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Export Benefits & RoDTEP
IEC is the gateway to export incentive schemes — RoDTEP, MEIS, SEIS, advance authorisation, and duty drawback — we advise on and file claims for applicable schemes
A single IEC covers all import and export activities across all products, ports, and locations — no separate code per commodity or port arrow_forward
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Government Recognition

Startup India Registration & DPIIT Recognition

DPIIT recognition under the Startup India initiative is one of the most underutilised regulatory registrations available to eligible Indian companies — and one of the most valuable. A DPIIT-recognised startup gains access to a three-year income tax holiday under Section 80-IAC, exemption from angel tax on share premium received under Section 56(2)(viib), the ability to issue ESOPs to promoters (normally prohibited), deferred TDS on ESOP exercise for eligible employees under Section 192(1C), self-certification under six labour laws, an 80% rebate on patent filing fees, and fast-track IP examination. Yet most startups fail to register either because they assume they do not qualify, or because they filed incorrectly and were rejected. We assess your eligibility, prepare the application in compliance with DPIIT's entity and innovation criteria, and obtain your recognition certificate — along with the downstream applications for 80-IAC tax holiday and angel tax exemption where applicable.

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DPIIT Recognition Certificate
Online application on Startup India portal — eligibility: incorporated <10 years ago, annual turnover <₹100 Cr, working towards innovation or improvement of products/services
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Section 80-IAC Tax Holiday
100% deduction of profits for 3 out of 10 years — requires inter-ministerial board approval; we prepare and file the application with DPIIT
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Angel Tax Exemption (Sec 56)
Exemption from Section 56(2)(viib) on share premium received from investors — protects your funding round from being taxed as income in the company's hands
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IP & Labour Benefits
80% rebate on patent filing fees, fast-track IP examination, self-certification under 6 labour laws — reducing compliance burden in the early growth phase
DPIIT recognition is free, permanent, and valid from the date of incorporation — not from the date of recognition; apply early to maximise the benefit window arrow_forward
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Employee Welfare

EPF, ESIC & Labour Law Compliance

The moment you hire employees, a set of mandatory social security and labour law obligations are triggered — and missing them creates personal liability for directors and promoters. The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) applies to every establishment with 20 or more employees; ESIC applies to establishments with 10 or more employees (in most states) where employees earn below ₹21,000/month. Both require separate registrations on their respective portals, monthly contribution deposits by the 15th of the following month, and periodic return filings. Beyond EPF and ESIC, the labour law landscape includes the Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Bonus Act, Gratuity Act, Maternity Benefit Act, and the four new Labour Codes (once notified) — each with its own compliance calendar. We assess which obligations apply to your business, register you with the appropriate authorities, set up the payroll compliance structure, and manage ongoing deposits and filings.

savings EPF Registration & Compliance
  • Triggered at 20+ employees
  • 12% employer + 12% employee contribution
  • UAN generation for all employees
  • Monthly ECR challan filing
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  • Triggered at 10+ employees (most states)
  • 3.25% employer + 0.75% employee
  • IP (Insurance Panchayat) numbers
  • Half-yearly returns (Form 6)
gavel Labour Law Applicability Audit
  • Minimum Wages Act compliance
  • Payment of Bonus Act
  • Maternity Benefit & Gratuity Acts
calendar_month Payroll & Deposit Calendar
  • EPF deposit by 15th of each month
  • ESIC deposit by 15th of each month
  • Annual returns and inspections
warning Non-payment of EPF/ESIC contributions attracts 12–17% interest per annum plus damages — and directors face personal prosecution; there is no time limit for the department to raise demand
Quick Reference

Which Registrations Apply to Your Business?

Not every registration is mandatory for every business — but missing the ones that do apply can shut down operations, block payments, or trigger retrospective penalties. Here is a quick guide.

Registration Triggered By Timeline Penalty for Default
GST Registration Turnover >₹20L, inter-state supply, or e-commerce Within 30 days of trigger 100% of tax or ₹10,000, whichever higher
Professional Tax (PTRC) Hiring first employee in PT-applicable state Within 30 days of hiring Interest + penalty; varies by state (e.g., 2% p.m. in Maharashtra)
Shops & Establishments Operating from any commercial premises or employing staff Within 30 days of commencement Fine + possible closure order from Labour Dept
IEC (Import/Export Code) Any import, export, or cross-border trade activity Before first shipment / remittance Customs clearance blocked; bank remittance refused
DPIIT Recognition Incorporated <10 years, T/O <₹100 Cr, innovative model Anytime — apply early No penalty — but benefits lost for every year of delay
EPF Registration 20 or more employees at any point Within 1 month of crossing threshold 12–17% interest p.a. + damages + director prosecution
ESIC Registration 10 or more employees earning ≤₹21,000/month (most states) Within 15 days of becoming applicable Interest + prosecution; employees lose insurance benefits retrospectively
Our Approach

How We Get Your Registrations Done

A four-step process — from mapping your obligations to obtaining every registration and keeping them current as your business grows.

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1

Obligation Mapping

We analyse your business model, sector, states of operation, employee count, turnover, and trade activity to identify every registration your business is legally required to obtain — and prioritise by urgency and penalty risk.

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2

Document Collection

We provide a precise, registration-specific checklist — no generic document requests. We review every document for accuracy before filing to prevent rejections and queries that delay the registration.

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3

Filing & Follow-Up

We file on the relevant portal, respond to department queries, attend inspections where required, and track the application to certificate issuance — without you having to follow up or visit any government office.

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Renewal & Ongoing Management

Registrations are not a one-time event. We track renewal dates, annual update obligations (like IEC and S&E), headcount thresholds that trigger new registrations, and state-wise return filing deadlines — so your licences stay active and current.

Track Record

Every Licence Obtained. Every Deadline Met.

From a startup's first GST registration to a multi-state manufacturer's EPF, ESIC, PT, and S&E compliance across six states — we have handled the full spectrum of regulatory registrations. Our clients operate with complete licensing coverage and zero regulatory disruption.

1,000+
Registrations obtained across GST, PT, S&E, IEC, EPF & ESIC
15+
States covered for Professional Tax and Shops & Establishments
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Penalties or business disruptions due to missed registration deadlines
200+
DPIIT recognitions secured for eligible startups
Our Advantage

Why Businesses Choose Us for Licensing & Registrations

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Full Obligation Mapping

We do not just register what you ask for — we identify every registration your business needs based on your sector, state, employee count, and trade activity, so nothing is missed.

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Multi-State Expertise

Professional Tax, Shops & Establishments, and labour law obligations vary dramatically by state. We handle registrations across all major states — from Maharashtra and Karnataka to Gujarat and Delhi — without you needing a local consultant in each.

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Fast Turnaround

GST registration in 7 working days, IEC in 2–3 days, DPIIT recognition in 2–4 weeks. We prepare documents meticulously to avoid queries and rejections that add weeks to the process.

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Ongoing Renewal Management

Registrations require annual renewals, profile updates, and headcount-based reassessments. We manage all of this proactively — tracking every expiry date and filing renewals before your licence lapses.

Get Every Licence Your Business Needs — Correctly and On Time.

Whether you need GST registration, Professional Tax, a Shops & Establishments licence, an IEC for cross-border trade, DPIIT recognition, or EPF and ESIC compliance set up — we handle every registration from application to certificate to annual renewal.

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Office Address

4th Floor, Solitaire 1, New Link Rd, Malad West, Mumbai 400064.

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Direct Line

+91-8169820387 | 022-46022657