Company Registration Cost in India 2026: Full Breakdown

Every second person who calls us asks the same question, even before “what documents do I need”, “bhaiya, ye company registration mein kharcha kitna aata hai?” Fair question. And honestly, there is no one clean number. The real company registration cost in India depends on your state, the authorised capital you declare, how many directors you have, and whether you do it yourself or hire someone.

Short answer: a Private Limited company in India costs roughly ₹6,000 to ₹25,000 all-in for 2026. The MCA charges no incorporation fee up to ₹15 lakh authorised capital, so your actual bill is state stamp duty (₹350 to ₹10,000 depending on the state), DSCs at ₹1,000–₹4,000 per director, ₹1,000 name reservation, and professional fees.

This guide breaks down every rupee, MCA fees for pvt ltd registration, state stamp duty, professional charges, and a few costs most websites conveniently skip. Grab a chai, this takes five minutes and saves a lot more than that in surprises later.

So, What's the real company registration cost in India? (Quick Answer First)

If you just want the number before the detail, here it is; and after that Let's break down where every rupee actually goes.

MCA Fees for Pvt Ltd Registration: What the Government Actually Charges

Since MCA moved incorporation to the V3 portal, SPICe+ is the only way to register a new company, no separate old-style form exists anymore. The genuinely good news: under the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014, the government charges zero incorporation fee for companies with authorised share capital up to ₹15 lakh. If you’re reading an older blog quoting ₹1 lakh or ₹10 lakh as the limit, that’s outdated always cross-check the current fee schedule on mca.gov.in before filing, since slabs do get revised.

Beyond ₹15 lakh capital, fees kick in on a slab basis, rising with every additional lakh. Name reservation through Part A costs ₹1,000 per submission and this is where first-time founders often lose money without realising it, since a rejected name means paying ₹1,000 again. DIN allotment is bundled into SPICe+ free when applied for fresh directors; a standalone DIN application costs ₹500. AGILE-PRO-S, the linked form for GST, EPFO, ESIC and bank account, is mandatory to fill even if you opt out of every service no separate fee, but skipping the form isn't allowed.

State-Wise Company Registration Cost: Why Your Friend's Bill Looks Different

Here's the part almost nobody explains clearly: stamp duty on your MOA (Memorandum) and AOA (Articles of Association) is charged by the state, not the centre, under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, along with each state's own Stamp Act. That's why a founder in Bengaluru and one in Chennai, registering identical companies with identical capital, pay completely different amounts the single biggest reason state-wise company registration cost varies across India.

A few state-specific breaks worth knowing: several states, including Karnataka and Maharashtra, offer stamp duty concessions to DPIIT-recognised startups under their state startup policies. Neither is applied automatically at SPICe+ you claim it from the state industries department after incorporation, so confirm the current position with that state before you rely on it. These numbers move with every state budget, so treat this table as directional. The MCA V3 portal auto-calculates your exact stamp duty at the time of filing based on your registered office state, and that figure is the one to trust on the day.

One thing worth saying plainly, because most cost blogs get it backwards: Bengaluru is not the cheap place to incorporate. Karnataka charges roughly ₹10,000 in stamp duty on a ₹1 lakh company while Delhi charges about ₹350 for the same thing. That single line item is a bigger swing than any professional fee you will negotiate.

DSC, Name Approval and the Other Small-Small Costs

• Digital Signature Certificate (Class 3, per director): ₹1,000 – ₹4,000 depending on validity (1 or 2 years) and the certifying agency.
• Name resubmission (if your first choice is rejected or too similar to an existing name): ₹1,000 per attempt, avoid this by keeping 2-3 backup names ready with a genuinely distinctive element.
• Notarisation of consent forms and affidavits: roughly ₹200 – ₹500, varies by city and notary.

How Much Do Cas, CS and Lawyers Actually Charge for Company Registration?

A Chartered Accountant or Company Secretary typically charges ₹2,000 to ₹15,000 for handling your Pvt Ltd registration end-to-end for drafting the MOA and AOA, applying for DSCs, filing SPICe+ and AGILE-PRO-S, and following up with the ROC until your Certificate of Incorporation is in hand. Where you land in that range depends on your number of directors, whether GST and MSME are bundled in, and which city you're in.

One honest word of caution: if someone quotes ₹999 all-inclusive, read the fine print. Rock-bottom packages usually exclude DSC, stamp duty, and GST registration and costs added back later, one invoice at a time, until the final bill looks nothing like what was promised. Transparent, itemised pricing upfront beats a flashy low headline number.

Why are we saying that CAs and CSs really matter? Because these professionals actually help in handling all the legalities. Along with this their attestation required to sign the forms. So even if you know all the legal requirements, taxation rules, and have proper knowledge of how things should work as per the Companies Act, 2013, still you required A CA/CS to check and sign the documents for you.

A professional takes care of your overall legal requirements, the know-how of the process, and all related matters. This reduces the chances of errors, penalties and unnecessary legal complications.

At One-Startup, we tell you which setup actually costs you least including the times the honest answer is “register an LLP, not a Pvt Ltd” or “wait another quarter.” You get an itemised quote with government fees listed separately, before you pay anything.

What Are the Hidden Costs of Pvt Ltd Registration?

Beyond the fees everyone lists, here are the hidden costs of Pvt Ltd registration that catch founders off guard:

• Registered office proof: if you don't own commercial property, you'll need a rent agreement plus a No-Objection Certificate and a recent utility bill or a virtual office subscription, which typically runs ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 a month in metro cities.
• Bank account minimum balance: Although it is not the hidden cost because you need to introduce the investment to the company. But most banks require a current account with a minimum balance of ₹10,000 to ₹25,000 for a Pvt Ltd company, not a government fee, but money to maintain the minimum balance.
• MSME/Udyam registration scams: Udyam registration is genuinely free on the official government portal, but plenty of look-alike sites charge ₹1,500 – ₹2,500 for the same thing. Only use udyamregistration.gov.in. Udyam registration may also help eligible businesses access government schemes, credit support, public procurement and e-tender opportunities, and protection against delayed payments.
• financial year closing. You also have to file INC-20A, the declaration of commencement of business, within 180 days of incorporation, miss it and the company cannot legally start operations. Budget ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 for all of this in year one. It is not part of registration, but it arrives faster than most founders expect.

Real Numbers: Total Cost for 3 Common Scenarios

LLP vs OPC vs Pvt Ltd: Quick Cost Comparison

Cost alone shouldn't drive this decision, but it's a fair starting point. LLPs skip the authorised-capital stamp duty structure, keeping them ₹2,000-5,000 cheaper than a Pvt Ltd. An OPC costs about the same as a Pvt Ltd but suits solo founders wanting limited liability. Pvt Ltd remains the default if you're planning to raise funding, since investors overwhelmingly prefer it. Otherwise, don't pay the premium for a structure you don't need yet.

How to Bring Your Registration Cost Down (Without Cutting Corners)

• Start with a lower authorised capital (₹1-5 lakh is common) and increase it later via Form SH-7 when you actually raise money, no point paying higher stamp duty upfront for capital you won't use for a year.
• If your business is genuinely location-flexible, your registered office state decides your stamp duty than Delhi at roughly ₹350 against Karnataka at roughly ₹10,000 on a ₹1 lakh company. Just be honest about it: the registered office has to be a real address you can produce a utility bill and NOC for, so this is not a state you pick on a spreadsheet.
• Keep 2-3 backup company names ready before you file because name rejection is the most common, and most avoidable, extra cost.
• Ask any service provider for a complete, itemised quote before you pay anything like government fee, stamp duty, DSC, and professional charge, listed separately.

One thing we won’t pretend to control: government fee slabs and state stamp duty rates change from time to time, sometimes without much notice. Every number here reflects rates as of September 2026, so always get your exact, state-specific figure confirmed before you file, rather than relying on any blog, including this one.

One-Startup Insight

The cost founders most often pay twice is the ₹1,000 name reservation. In our filings the rejections are rarely about a rude or odd name; they are about a name that sounds too close to something already on the MCA register, or a name whose activity does not match the objects clause in the MOA. Checking the MCA name search and the trademark register together, before you file Part A, is a ten-minute job that saves that ₹1,000 and three days.

If you've read this far, you're clearly someone who likes real numbers before committing and we respect that. Whenever you're ready, no pressure, drop us a message on WhatsApp and we'll send an exact, itemised quote for your state and capital, free of cost.

How will One-Startup help you set up your company?

One-Startup is built on 15+ years of offline compliance work, now backing 200+ founders and 500+ GST filings. Our office is in Greater Noida West, Delhi NCR, and we work both ways via virtual consultations or in-office, whichever suits you.

We provide genuine consultation for each business, as we understand that every business is different and requires advice accordingly. We offer personalized support and have experts for different types of businesses.

???? Chat with us on WhatsApp for a free, itemised registration quote

Related reads

Private Limited Company Registration in India (2026): Step-by-Step Guide

Company Registration Timeline in India: How Long Does It Take in 2026?

Digital Signature Certificate: Types, Cost, Renewal & Troubleshooting

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Company Registration in India

Post-Incorporation Compliance Timeline for New Companies in India

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Sources:

Ministry of Corporate Affairs (mca.gov.in), Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014, Indian Stamp Act, 1899 and the relevant state Stamp Acts.