The calendar is the cost
Company Setup & Compliance Costs in India
Indian incorporation is inexpensive. The monthly and quarterly filing calendar is what you actually pay for.
GCC business setup specialists
Compliance is continuous, not annual
An Indian company files monthly goods and services tax returns, quarterly withholding tax returns, quarterly advance tax, an annual audit, annual company filings and annual director compliance — before any state-level obligations. That volume, not the incorporation fee, is the cost of being an Indian company. It also means the cost is broadly the same whether the company is busy or barely trading.
- The full filing calendar priced, not just incorporation
- Mandatory audit included for every company
- State-level registrations costed for your actual footprint
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
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Where the money goes
Cost components for an Indian company
Frequency drives the figure.
| Component | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Incorporation | Once |
| Goods and services tax returns | Monthly, per state registration |
| Withholding tax returns | Quarterly |
| Advance tax | Quarterly |
| Statutory audit | Annually, for every company |
| Company and director filings | Annually |
Government fees, filing frequencies and audit requirements are set by the authorities and change. Your quotation is prepared on current requirements with exclusions listed.
How we quote
Getting a figure you can budget with
Priced on the calendar, not the formation.
01
Understand the operation
States of operation, transaction volume, headcount and whether withholding obligations will be heavy.
02
Quote the calendar
First-year total plus the recurring annual compliance figure, broken down by filing stream.
03
Then proceed
Nothing starts until you have the figure in writing and have agreed it.
For an accurate quote
What affects the price
States and transaction volume move it most.
- Number of states with registrations
- Monthly transaction and invoice volume
- Whether e-invoicing thresholds are crossed
- Number of employees
- Volume of payments subject to withholding
- Whether related-party transactions exist
- Whether transfer pricing documentation is needed
- Whether the company is foreign owned
- Whether a factory or warehouse is operated
- Whether imports or exports are involved
- Whether the company will be largely dormant
- Expected revenue
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Written quotation before anything begins
- Incorporation and recurring compliance separated
- Government fees stated at cost
- Audit cost estimated and included
- Monthly and quarterly filing costs quoted
- State registration costs for your footprint
- Exclusions listed explicitly
- Notice before any fee changes
Not included, quoted separately
- Government fees, paid at cost
- Audit fees, charged by the auditor
- Taxes and withholding remittances
- Apostille and translation charges
- Share capital
- Transfer pricing studies
- Sector licensing
- Premises and staff costs
Verify independently
Official Indian authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Ministry of Corporate AffairsRegistrar of CompaniesReserve Bank of IndiaIncome Tax DepartmentGoods and Services Tax authoritiesState labour and municipal authorities
Questions
India setup costs — FAQs
Why is Indian compliance so expensive relative to incorporation?
Because the obligations are monthly and quarterly rather than annual. Returns, withholding filings and advance tax run continuously regardless of how busy the company is.
Does a dormant Indian company still cost money?
Yes, substantially. Audit is mandatory for every company and the annual company and director filings continue, so dormancy saves less than owners expect.
Is audit required for a small company?
Yes. Statutory audit applies to every company regardless of size or turnover, with no small company exemption.
What drives the goods and services tax cost?
The number of state registrations and the monthly transaction volume, since returns are filed per registration every month.
Can I reduce the cost by registering in fewer states?
Only if you genuinely operate in fewer. Registration follows where you have premises, stock or supply, and operating without registering creates larger problems.
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At Black Swan Business Setup Services, our mission is simple: to empower entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes to establish and expand their presence in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and beyond.
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