Frequently Asked Questions

A small business establishment whose number of shareholders is limited to a maximum of 200, offering limited liability to its owners.

A Private Limited Company needs a minimum of two directors; a Public Limited Company needs a minimum of three. At least one director must be an Indian resident in both cases.

A limited liability company with only one shareholder, suited to small-time traders and service providers who want limited liability with minimal compliance.

For most company types, there is no mandatory minimum paid-up capital requirement today — it varies by entity type (for example, Nidhi and Producer Companies require ₹5 lakh minimum).

Once your turnover exceeds ₹40 lakh for trading/manufacturing or ₹20 lakh for services, though you can also register voluntarily below these limits.

A penalty of 10% of the tax due (minimum ₹10,000) applies, rising to 100% if the avoidance is intentional.

Income up to ₹400 crore turnover is taxed at 25% plus 4% cess, with a surcharge of 7-12% depending on income level.

A registered trademark is valid for 10 years from filing, and can be renewed indefinitely thereafter.

60 years — for literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, this period runs posthumously from the creator's death.

Generally 20 years, and patents cannot be renewed beyond that term.

A search of existing patents and publications worldwide to confirm your invention is genuinely novel before you file.

Non-compliance can attract heavy fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment for directors — annual filings with the MCA are mandatory for all registered companies and LLPs.

Yes — a non-operational company can apply to be "struck off" the ROC register, which is simpler than formal winding up, provided it meets the eligibility conditions.

Yes, many conversions are possible — for example, Proprietorship to Private Limited, LLP to Private Limited, or Private Limited to Public Limited — each with its own eligibility conditions and process.