Structure advice
A short written comparison of company, OPC, LLP and firm for your situation, covering liability, tax, funding, exit and annual compliance.
Company Registration in Kochi: Private Limited, OPC, LLP & Firms
Company registration in Kochi is handled online with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs through SPICe+ (or FiLLiP for an LLP). T K Chandy & Associates helps you choose between a private limited company, OPC, LLP, partnership or proprietorship, obtains DSCs, the name, PAN, TAN, GST and Udyam, and completes the first-year filings so the new entity starts compliant.
- Led by a chartered accountant since 1994
- Member of SGA World International
- Kakkanad, Kochi
At a glance
Company registration at a glance
- Choose the structure: Private limited company, OPC, LLP, partnership firm or proprietorship, depending on liability, funding plans, number of owners and compliance appetite.
- How it is filed: Companies are incorporated through SPICe+ and LLPs through FiLLiP on the MCA portal; partnership firms register with the Registrar of Firms, Kerala.
- What you receive: Certificate of incorporation with CIN or LLPIN, PAN and TAN, plus GST, Udyam and bank account set-up as needed.
- After incorporation: First auditor within 30 days, INC-20A within 180 days, share certificates and statutory registers. We handle all of it.
Choosing and registering the right business structure is the first financial decision a founder makes, and it shapes tax, funding and compliance for years. Company registration in Kochi is now fully online: the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) processes SPICe+ and FiLLiP applications centrally, so you do not need to visit any government office.
At T K Chandy & Associates, our chartered accountants in Kakkanad register private limited companies, one person companies, LLPs, partnership firms and proprietorships for founders, family businesses, NRIs and foreign groups setting up in Kerala. Because we also act as auditors and tax advisers, we set the new entity up with its first auditor, books, GST and ROC calendar already in place, not just a certificate.
Who we help
Who Do We Help Register a Business?
We work with first-time founders and established businesses in Ernakulam and across Kerala, and with promoters based abroad who want an Indian entity run properly from day one.
- Start-ups in Infopark, SmartCity and the Kerala Startup Mission ecosystem that need a private limited company for investment
- Professionals and small firms moving from a proprietorship to an LLP or company
- Family businesses converting a partnership into an LLP or company
- NRIs setting up a company or OPC in Kerala
- Foreign companies forming an Indian subsidiary, with FEMA reporting
- Traders and manufacturers needing GST, Udyam and bank set-up quickly
What the engagement covers
What Does Our Company Registration Service Include?
DSC and DIN
Class 3 digital signature certificates for directors or partners, and DIN allotment through the incorporation form.
Name search and reservation
Checks against existing companies, LLPs and trademarks before applying, to avoid rejections and resubmissions.
Charter documents
Memorandum and articles (e-MoA, e-AoA) or the LLP agreement, drafted for your shareholding, management and exit terms.
PAN, TAN, GST and bank
PAN and TAN with the certificate, GST registration, EPFO and ESIC where needed, and the current account opening through AGILE-PRO-S.
First-year compliance
First board meeting, first auditor, INC-20A, share certificates, statutory registers and an ROC calendar for year one.
Compare structures
Which Business Structure Is Right for You?
A quick comparison of the five common structures for a business in Kerala:
| Feature | Private limited | OPC | LLP | Partnership firm | Proprietorship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law | Companies Act, 2013 | Companies Act, 2013 | LLP Act, 2008 | Indian Partnership Act, 1932 | No specific law |
| Owners | 2 to 200 members | One natural person plus a nominee | At least 2 partners | At least 2 partners | One person |
| Limited liability | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Separate legal entity | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Registered with | MCA (ROC) | MCA (ROC) | MCA (ROC) | Registrar of Firms, Kerala | None (GST, Udyam and local licences only) |
| Audit | Yes, every year | Yes, every year | Only above ₹40 lakh turnover or ₹25 lakh contribution | Tax audit only if limits are crossed | Tax audit only if limits are crossed |
| Equity funding | Yes, best suited | Limited | Difficult | No | No |
DPIIT start-up recognition is available to private limited companies, LLPs, registered partnership firms and cooperative societies, but not to proprietorships or OPCs.
Our process
How Does Company Registration in Kochi Work?
Step01
Consultation and structure
We discuss your owners, capital, funding plans and activity, recommend a structure and agree the documents needed.
Step02
DSC and name
We obtain digital signatures for the directors or partners and file for the name through SPICe+ Part A (or RUN-LLP), with alternatives ready.
Step03
Incorporation filing
We prepare and file SPICe+ Part B with e-MoA, e-AoA and AGILE-PRO-S, or FiLLiP for an LLP, with the registered office proof and declarations.
Step04
Certificate, PAN and TAN
The ROC issues the certificate of incorporation with CIN or LLPIN, and PAN and TAN are allotted with it.
Step05
Bank, GST and Udyam
We complete the current account opening, GST registration if applicable and free Udyam registration on the government portal.
Step06
Post-incorporation compliance
First board meeting, auditor appointment, capital brought in, INC-20A, share certificates, registers, and LLP agreement filing in Form 3 for LLPs.
Documents checklist
What Documents Do You Need to Register a Company?
For each director, shareholder or partner, and for the registered office in Kerala:
- PAN card of each director or partner
- Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence
- Recent bank statement or utility bill as address proof
- Passport-size photograph
- Mobile number and email ID of each person
- Utility bill for the registered office (not older than two months)
- Rent agreement or ownership proof for the office
- No-objection letter from the property owner
- Proposed names, in order of preference
- Main business activity and authorised capital
- Shareholding or profit-sharing ratio
- For foreign nationals and NRIs: passport and apostilled or notarised address proof
Post-incorporation calendar
What Must a New Company Do After Incorporation?
The certificate is only the start. These first-year steps apply to a new private limited company or OPC:
First board meeting
- Time limit
- Within 30 days of incorporation
- Reference
- Section 173
First auditor appointed by the board
- Time limit
- Within 30 days of incorporation
- Reference
- Section 139(6)
Subscription money received and declaration filed
- Time limit
- Within 180 days of incorporation
- Reference
- Section 10A, Form INC-20A
Share certificates issued
- Time limit
- Within 60 days of incorporation
- Reference
- Section 56(4)
Statutory registers (members, directors, charges)
- Time limit
- From incorporation
- Reference
- Sections 85, 88, 170
First AGM
- Time limit
- Within 9 months of the end of the first financial year
- Reference
- Section 96
LLP agreement filed (LLPs)
- Time limit
- Within 30 days of incorporation
- Reference
- LLP Form 3
Foreign promoters
Can a Foreign Company Set Up a Subsidiary in Kerala?
Yes. A foreign company or a non-resident can form an Indian private limited company as a wholly owned subsidiary or a joint venture, through SPICe+ like any other company. The foreign parent acts through an authorised representative, and its documents must be notarised and apostilled (or consularised) in its home country. At least one director must be resident in India, which means staying in India for 182 days or more in the financial year.
The investment is governed by FEMA and the foreign direct investment policy: most sectors are under the automatic route, but some need government approval or have caps. Once shares are allotted to the foreign investor, the company must report the inflow to the RBI in Form FC-GPR within 30 days, and later file the annual return on foreign liabilities and assets. We handle the incorporation and coordinate the FEMA side through our FEMA and RBI compliance team, with support from our SGA World International associate firms in the UAE and UK where the parent is based there.
Worked example
Example: Converting a Kochi Partnership into a Private Limited Company
Two partners running a food-processing firm in Aluva wanted to bring in an investor and limit their personal liability.
- We compared an LLP and a private limited company. Because the investor wanted equity shares, a private limited company was the better fit.
- We obtained DSCs, reserved the name through SPICe+ and filed the incorporation with AGILE-PRO-S, so PAN, TAN, GST and the bank account came through together.
- We transferred the business from the firm to the company under a business transfer agreement, timed to the start of a month to keep GST and books clean.
- The board appointed the first auditor within 30 days, the partners paid in their share capital and we filed INC-20A well within 180 days.
- We also completed Udyam registration and applied for DPIIT start-up recognition, since the company was developing a new packaging process.
The company started trading with its compliance calendar set, and the old firm was dissolved after its final returns were filed.
Fees and timing
How Much Does Company Registration Cost and How Long Does It Take?
The total cost has two parts: government fees and stamp duty, which depend on the structure, authorised capital or contribution and the state, and our professional fee. Our fee depends on the structure, the number of directors or partners, whether any are foreign nationals or NRIs, the drafting needed for the articles or LLP agreement, and whether you want GST, Udyam, DPIIT, trademark and first-year compliance included. We quote a fixed fee in writing after a short review, with government fees shown separately at actuals.
Timing depends mostly on how quickly documents and DSCs are ready and on the MCA processing queue. With a clean application, a company or LLP is usually incorporated within one to two weeks of filing. Name objections or document mismatches are the usual causes of delay, which is why we check everything before filing.
Key terms
What Do the Registration Terms Mean?
- SPICe+
The MCA's single web form for company incorporation. Part A reserves the name; Part B covers incorporation, DIN, PAN, TAN and, with linked forms, GST, EPFO, ESIC and bank account.
- FiLLiP
Form for incorporation of a limited liability partnership, which also allots DPINs to designated partners.
- DSC
Digital signature certificate. Every director, partner and professional signs MCA forms electronically with a Class 3 DSC.
- DIN / DPIN
Director Identification Number (or Designated Partner Identification Number), a unique number allotted to each director or designated partner.
- INC-20A
The declaration that subscribers have paid for their shares, which a company with share capital must file within 180 days before starting business or borrowing.
- Udyam
The free online MSME registration on the government's Udyam portal, based on PAN and Aadhaar, that gives access to MSME benefits.
Why T K Chandy & Associates
Why Register Your Company With Us in Kochi?
CA-led since 1994
Every incorporation is reviewed by an experienced chartered accountant, not processed as a form-filling job.
Local to Kakkanad
Our office is close to Infopark, SmartCity and the Kochi SEZ, so meetings and document signing are easy.
Registration to audit
The same team handles your books, GST, statutory audit and ROC filings after incorporation, so nothing falls between providers.
Honest structure advice
We recommend the structure that suits your plans, including a proprietorship or LLP where a company is more than you need.
NRI and foreign promoters
FEMA reporting and support from associate firms in the UAE and UK through SGA World International.
Confidential handling
Your identity documents and business plans are handled under ICAI confidentiality rules and kept secure.
Related services
Which Services Does a New Business Need Next?
ROC / MCA compliance
Annual filings, DIR-3 KYC, event-based forms and secretarial records after incorporation.
GST services
GST registration, monthly returns and reconciliations from the first invoice.
Accounts outsourcing
Books set up and kept from day one, ready for audit and tax.
Statutory audit
First auditor appointment and the annual audit under the Companies Act, 2013.
FEMA & RBI compliance
FC-GPR, FLA return and FDI reporting for foreign-owned companies.
Project reports & CMA
Bank loan project reports and CMA data for the new business.
Start your company
Get help with company registration in Kochi
Tell us the structure you have in mind, the number of founders, whether any live abroad, and your business activity. We will reply with the documents needed, the timeline and a fixed fee.
Prefer to talk now? Call +91 484 354 1530 or email [email protected].
Who prepared this page
Written and reviewed by chartered accountants at T K Chandy & Associates
This page is prepared by the audit and tax team at our Kakkanad, Kochi office and checked against the Companies Act, the Income-tax Act, GST law and ICAI standards. It is reviewed whenever the rules change.
- Last reviewed 29 October 2026
- Led by T K Chandy Vaidyan, chartered accountant since 1994
- Member of SGA World International
Have a question about your business?
Tell us your entity type, what you need and any deadline. A chartered accountant will reply.
Ask an expertFrequently asked questions
Company registration in Kochi – frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions clients in Kochi ask us most. Still unsure?
Talk to our team01.How do I register a private limited company in Kochi?
Obtain digital signatures for the directors, reserve the name through SPICe+ Part A, then file SPICe+ Part B with the e-MoA, e-AoA and AGILE-PRO-S on the MCA portal. Once approved, the ROC issues the certificate of incorporation with PAN and TAN. The whole process is online.
02.How long does company registration take in Kerala?
With documents and DSCs ready, a company or LLP is usually incorporated within one to two weeks of filing. Name objections, document mismatches and MCA processing queues can add time.
03.What is the minimum capital for a private limited company?
There is no minimum paid-up capital under the Companies Act, 2013. You choose the authorised and paid-up capital based on your needs, and the subscribers must pay for their shares and file INC-20A within 180 days.
04.How many directors and shareholders are needed?
A private limited company needs at least two directors and two shareholders (the same people can be both), and at most 200 members. At least one director must be resident in India. An OPC needs one member and one director, with a nominee.
05.Should I choose an LLP or a private limited company?
An LLP has lighter compliance and needs an audit only if turnover exceeds ₹40 lakh or contribution exceeds ₹25 lakh, which suits professional and family businesses. A private limited company is better if you plan to raise equity from investors, issue ESOPs or seek venture funding.
06.Can an NRI register a company or OPC in India?
Yes. NRIs can be directors and shareholders of a private limited company, and since 2021 an NRI who is an Indian citizen can also form an OPC. At least one director of every company must be resident in India.
07.How do I register a partnership firm in Kerala?
Prepare and stamp a partnership deed, obtain the firm's PAN, and apply to the Registrar of Firms, Kerala, with the deed and partners' details. Registration is optional, but an unregistered firm cannot sue third parties to enforce contracts.
08.Does a proprietorship need registration?
There is no separate registration for a proprietorship. It operates under the owner's PAN and is usually evidenced by GST registration, Udyam registration, a shops and establishments registration and the local body trade licence.
09.What is SPICe+?
SPICe+ is the MCA's integrated web form for incorporating a company. It reserves the name, allots DIN, incorporates the company and issues PAN and TAN, and with AGILE-PRO-S covers GST, EPFO, ESIC and the bank account.
10.What is INC-20A and what happens if it is not filed?
INC-20A is the declaration of commencement of business that a company with share capital must file within 180 days of incorporation, confirming subscribers have paid for their shares. Without it the company cannot start business or borrow, and the company and its officers face penalties.
11.When must the first auditor be appointed?
The board must appoint the first auditor within 30 days of incorporation. If it fails to, the members must appoint one at a general meeting within 90 days.
12.Is Udyam registration free?
Yes. Udyam registration is free and done online on the government Udyam portal using PAN and Aadhaar. Avoid websites that charge a fee pretending to be the official portal.
13.Who can get DPIIT start-up recognition?
A private limited company, LLP, registered partnership firm or cooperative society up to 10 years old (20 years for deep tech), with turnover below ₹200 crore (₹300 crore for deep tech) in every year, working on innovation or a scalable business model. Recognition is applied for on the Startup India portal.
14.Can I use my home address as the registered office?
Yes, a residential address can be the registered office if you provide a recent utility bill and the owner's no-objection letter. Check that your lease or housing society rules allow it.
15.Do I need GST registration immediately after incorporation?
Only if your turnover will cross the threshold, you make inter-state taxable supplies, sell through e-commerce operators or fall into another compulsory category. Many businesses register at incorporation anyway because customers ask for a GSTIN.
References:Ministry of Corporate Affairs · Companies Act 2013 (India Code) · Udyam Registration portal · Startup India – DPIIT recognition · Reserve Bank of India – FEMA — reviewed 29 October 2026