Company Registration in Mumbai

A company with its registered office in Mumbai comes under the Registrar of Companies, Mumbai-I (districts of Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban), which keeps its records and receives its later filings; the incorporation itself is processed centrally by the MCA's Central Registration Centre. Since the MCA divided the Mumbai office in 2026 (notification S.O. 4850(E) of 23 October 2025), a registered office in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar or Raigad comes under the Registrar of Companies, Mumbai-II at Navi Mumbai instead.

How is a company incorporated?

A private limited company is incorporated through the MCA's SPICe+ web form (INC-32), filed with the electronic memorandum (INC-33), the electronic articles (INC-34) and the AGILE-PRO-S form (INC-35). The same filing reserves the name, allots director identification numbers to up to three directors, and applies for the company's PAN, TAN, EPFO and ESIC registration, GST registration if you opt for it, and a bank account. The Central Registration Centre issues the certificate of incorporation with the corporate identity number.

An LLP is registered through the FiLLiP form under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. A one person company needs one member and a nominee, and a Section 8 company receives its licence under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 along with its incorporation.

What does incorporation cost in government fees and Maharashtra stamp duty?

The MCA portal computes the stamp duty from the capital entered in SPICe+ and shows the exact amount on the fee screen before payment. A later increase in authorised capital attracts duty on the increase. Digital signature certificates are bought separately for each director.

What documents do directors and the registered office need?

Each director needs PAN, Aadhaar or passport, a recent photograph, proof of address and a digital signature certificate. For the registered office we need a utility bill for the premises not older than two months, and either the owner's no-objection letter or your rent or leave-and-licence agreement.

A foreign national or a foreign company subscribing to the memorandum gives passport and address proof notarised and apostilled in the home country (or consularised where the country is not a party to the Hague Convention), together with the board resolution of the foreign parent authorising the investment.

Which Maharashtra registrations follow incorporation?

Under the Maharashtra State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1975, the company takes an enrolment certificate (PTEC) and pays ₹2,500 a year; directors other than government nominees are liable for the same amount. Once it pays salaries it also needs an employer registration certificate (PTRC) and deducts the tax: a man earning up to ₹7,500 a month pays nothing, ₹175 a month between ₹7,501 and ₹10,000, and ₹200 a month above that (₹300 in February); a woman pays nothing up to ₹25,000 a month. Under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, an office with fewer than ten workers files an online intimation and one with ten or more applies for registration, within 60 days of starting. A licence from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai under section 394 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888 is needed for the trades and storage listed in its Schedule M, so we check your activity against that list.

GST registration is needed once turnover crosses the threshold or a compulsory category under section 24 of the CGST Act applies; see GST registration in Mumbai. EPF applies once 20 or more people are employed and ESIC once 10 or more are employed; both registrations are applied for through SPICe+.

What has to be done after incorporation?

The board appoints the first auditor within 30 days of incorporation (section 139(6)). Before the company starts business or borrows, a director files the declaration of commencement of business in INC-20A within 180 days (section 10A). The registered office must be able to receive communications from the date of incorporation (section 12).

When the company later issues shares to investors by preferential allotment, the price is fixed on the basis of a valuation report by a registered valuer (section 62(1)(c) and Rule 13 of the Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014). Every year it files its financial statements in AOC-4 within 30 days of the annual general meeting and its annual return in MGT-7 (MGT-7A for small companies and OPCs) within 60 days of it, and each director completes DIR-3 KYC by 30 September.

What Mumbai Founders Usually Ask

Financial services and fintech

Lending, payments, broking and investment advice need a licence or registration from the RBI or SEBI in addition to incorporation. We draft the objects clause of the memorandum to match the activity the regulator will register, so the company does not have to amend its memorandum later.

Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies

A foreign company can set up a wholly owned subsidiary through SPICe+ or, if it only wants to represent the parent, a liaison or branch office approved through an authorised dealer bank under the FEMA (Establishment in India of a Branch Office or a Liaison Office or a Project Office or any other Place of Business) Regulations, 2016. We compare the two for tax, permitted activities and compliance. See our guide to wholly owned subsidiaries.

Family firms and partnerships

A running partnership firm can convert into an LLP under section 55 and the Second Schedule of the LLP Act, 2008, or into a company under section 366 of the Companies Act, 2013, carrying over its assets, contracts and registrations.

Startups

Startup India benefits need DPIIT recognition, which we apply for once the company is incorporated. Maharashtra's Startup, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy 2025 aims to support 50,000 start-ups over five years, and founders planning ESOPs or a seed round should fix the authorised capital and articles with those in mind before filing.

Charities and foundations

A charitable body in Mumbai can register as a public trust with the Charity Commissioner under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950, or incorporate as a Section 8 company. A Section 8 company is run by a board under the Companies Act and is often preferred by corporate donors; a trust is simpler to form. We compare the two before filing.

About V Viswanathan & Associates

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does company registration take in Mumbai?

Usually 3–5 working days once the directors' documents and digital signatures are ready. The MCA's Central Registration Centre processes the SPICe+ filing; delays mostly come from name objections or address proofs that do not match, which we check before filing.

What government fees and stamp duty apply to a Mumbai company?

The MCA filing fee is nil for authorised capital up to ₹15 lakh, and name reservation through SPICe+ Part A costs ₹1,000. Maharashtra stamp duty is ₹1,000 on the memorandum and 0.3% of the share capital on the articles, subject to a maximum of ₹1 crore (Articles 39 and 10 of Schedule I to the Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958); the MCA portal computes it and collects it with the SPICe+ filing. PAN and TAN fees are collected in the same filing.

Can a flat or home in Mumbai be the registered office?

Yes. The Companies Act does not require commercial premises. The MCA needs a utility bill for the premises not older than two months and the owner's no-objection letter, or your rent or leave-and-licence agreement, and the address must be able to receive post from the date of incorporation (section 12).

Which ROC handles a company registered in Mumbai?

The Registrar of Companies, Mumbai-I, for a registered office in the Mumbai or Mumbai Suburban district. Since the 2026 split, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar and Raigad come under the Registrar of Companies, Mumbai-II at Navi Mumbai. Nobody needs to visit either office: name approval, incorporation and later filings are all made online and signed digitally.

Which Maharashtra registrations follow incorporation?

Professional tax under the Maharashtra State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1975 (an enrolment certificate for the company and, once salaries are paid, an employer registration); a shops-and-establishments intimation (fewer than ten workers) or registration (ten or more) within 60 days of starting; and GST registration if turnover or a compulsory category requires it.

Can a foreign company or NRI set up a company in Mumbai?

Yes. Most sectors allow 100% foreign investment under the automatic route. The company needs at least one director who has stayed in India for 182 days or more in the financial year (section 149(3)), shares must be issued at not less than fair value under Rule 21 of the FEMA (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019, and Form FC-GPR is filed within 30 days of allotment.

Do you have an office in Mumbai?

No. We serve Mumbai clients from our office at Spencer Plaza, Anna Salai, Chennai, through video consultations, secure document sharing and digitally signed filings, so you do not need to travel.

Related Services for Mumbai Businesses

Law stated as at 27 Oct 2026. Official sources: Companies Act, 2013 and SPICe+ (MCA), LLP Act, 2008 (MCA), FEMA (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019 (RBI), Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958, Maharashtra State Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1975 and Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017 (as amended to Oct 2026). Reviewed by CA V. Viswanathan, FCA, ACS, CFE, IBBI Registered Valuer (IBBI/RV/03/2019/12333).