Before you spend a rupee, know what you're getting into.
Setup costs, annual running costs, and what to prepare before you incorporate.
Typical setup cost
₹21K – ₹55K
2 directors · Maharashtra
Annual running cost
₹26K – ₹73K
Excludes GST filing
One-time setup costs
DSC (Digital Signature Certificate) — per director
Need one per director. Takes 2–3 days — arrange before meeting your CA.
₹2K – ₹3K
DIN (Director Identification Number)
Auto-generated via SPICe+ for up to 3 directors. Often free.
₹0 – ₹500
Name reservation (RUN)
Fixed government fee to reserve your company name on MCA portal.
₹1K – ₹1K
Stamp duty on MOA/AOA (Maharashtra)
One of the lower stamp duty states
₹1K – ₹2K
Government filing fees (SPICe+)
For authorised capital up to ₹10 lakhs. Higher for larger capital.
₹2K – ₹2K
Professional fees (CA/CS)
Basic incorporation service. Premium services with legal drafting go higher.
₹7K – ₹12K
Post-incorporation costs (first 30 days)
Company letterhead design & printing
Must include CIN number. Needed before you can open a bank account.
₹2K – ₹5K
Company rubber stamp/seal
Required for official documents and bank account opening.
₹500 – ₹2K
Current account minimum balance
Varies by bank. Kotak/HDFC: ₹10,000–₹25,000. Some offer zero-balance accounts for startups.
₹5K – ₹25K
GST registrationOptional
Free to register. ₹1,000–₹3,000 for CA assistance.
Free
DPIIT recognitionOptional
Completely free. Unlocks 3-year tax exemption, angel tax exemption, and more.
Free
Statutory registers
Physical registers required by Companies Act (register of members, directors, etc.).
₹1K – ₹3K
Trademark registration (per class)Optional
₹4,500 for DPIIT-recognised startups, ₹9,000 otherwise. Add ₹5,000–₹15,000 for professional help.
₹5K – ₹9K
Annual recurring costs
Statutory audit (Chartered Accountant)
Mandatory for all Pvt Ltd companies regardless of revenue.
₹10K – ₹25K
ITR-6 filing (Company Tax Return)
Due October 31 every year.
₹5K – ₹15K
ROC filings (AOC-4 + MGT-7)
Annual financial statements + annual return to ROC.
₹5K – ₹15K
TDS returns (4 quarters)
Required if you make payments to vendors, contractors, or employees above thresholds.
₹4K – ₹12K
DIR-3 KYC — per director
Due September 30 every year. Missing this deactivates your DIN.
₹500 – ₹1K
DSC renewal — per director
Every 2 years.
₹800 – ₹2K
DPT-3 (Return of Deposits)
Mandatory for all Pvt Ltd companies, even with zero deposits. Due June 30.
₹1K – ₹3K
MSME-1 (if applicable)Optional
Only if you have MSME suppliers with payments outstanding >45 days.
₹1K – ₹3K