How To Register Your Online Business In India

Establishing a new business in India is an arduous and time-consuming process, but if you learn from your mistakes, enjoy your laurels, and keep patience, soon the fruits of your labor

will start to pour in. You need a business plan to outline your business objectives, funding and its setup. Once you know in which direction you are headed, it becomes simpler to start.

Entrepreneurs seeking to launch their company must first receive a permit to operate it. This article shares information on the procedure of registering online businesses in India.

Company registration for online businesses in India can be done in two ways, either as a

Private company or as a Public company. To register your online business in India, you need to have a good knowledge of the Companies Act, 1956. Every business that wants to register

as a company must apply under this Act.

Registering an E-Commerce Business in

India: Sole Proprietorship For starters, sole proprietorship is the easiest way to start a company, because it demands lesser legal compliance and is easier to handle. You, as a proprietor, are a single entity in all

legal matters. Thus, your brand/company and you exist as one soul, with no bias whatsoever. You can run a proprietary business out of your home, for which no special registration is

required. However, when your business turns profitable and you seek expansion, it is wise to set up a physical office/commercial store. And for that, you need to complete paperwork as per the Shops and Establishment Act of 1965, and register the documents with your local

municipal corporation for further processing.

For an ecommerce business that intends to accept online payments, must be a registered

company. Only registered companies can integrate an authorized payment gateway into their website.

Registration of Sole Proprietorship for E-

Commerce Business You can register your E-Commerce business under sole proprietorship at your nearest local

municipal corporation office. To complete the registration process with the authorities, you need to submit the duly filled Shops and Establishment Form.

Essential documents for submission to the municipal corporation include:

• Registration Form • Undertaking

• Fee Schedule

Cost to Establish a Sole Proprietorship

Business There is absolutely NO additional cost required. All you really need is a current account in the name of your business, at a bank of your choice. However, for opening an account you

would need to submit an address proof of the establishment like electricity or telephone bill, or a rental agreement, if you will be renting the commercial space.

Apply for Company’s Registration This is the final step in establishing a sole proprietorship business. This includes incorporating company name, registering the office address, notice for appointment of

company directors, manager and secretary, and declaring the employees’ salary structure. The following forms are needed to proceed with the process.

Form 1: Application form for availability or change of a company name is declared in Form 1. Once you apply for a new company name, the MCA (municipal authority) will suggest four different forms, you have to choose the most suitable one from the options. Proprietors

can download this form from the website www.mca.com. Form 18: You must declare authentic office address for your new E-Commerce

establishment in Form 18, which you can collect from your local municipality office or download from the website www.mca.com Form 32: For a new E-Commerce company, Form 32 declares the appointments of new

Directors, Managers, and Secretary. For convenience download the form from www.mca.com or walk into your local municipal office.

After submitting these forms, once the application has been approved by the munic ipal authority, you will receive a confirmation email on your store being successfully incorporated, and the status of the form will change to “Approved.”

Essential Documentation for Registration

Process Promoters who intend to be the Directors in a company must apply for Director’s Identification Number (DIN), and thus they must have Permanent Account Number (PAN)

and Digital Signature Certificate. The DIN application (DIN 1 form) is available on the website – www.mca.gov.in. Shareholders can apply for DIN online as it is a convenient way to upload and attach essential documents.

Upon obtaining the DIN, Directors must apply for the availability of the proposed name of the company to the ROC. Shareholders must fill the MCA-21 form (available on the

www.mca.gov.in portal) for the same. Upon receiving confirmation on the name, the proposed company must be incorporated within 6 months; else, the name must be renewed by paying a fee.

Here is the procedure for ease of understanding.

Step 1: Fill An Application To Obtain Directors Identification Number (DIN); It Hardly Takes One Day To Receive It From The Government Authority.

Step 2: Apply For The Digital Signature Of Directors Of The Proposed Private Limited Company (Pvt. Ltd.) In India.

Step 3: File An Application To The Respective Registrar Of Company (ROC) To Obtain Approval On Company’s Name. Step 4: Once the confirmation on name obtained, now fill an application for company’s

registration to same ROC of the state, where the company has its headquarters. Simultaneously, the company’s members must be ready with the legal documents like

Memorandum of Association and Article of Association, identity proof and residential proof of the Stakeholders. Step 5: Apply For VAT At The Commercial Tax Office, Followed By Professional Tax At

The Profession Tax Office, Both These Identification Codes You Shall Receive Within A Few Days.

Step 6: Apply for Provident Fund (PF) with the respective Provident Fund Organization. You need to submit the essential documents of the employees in the process. Step 7: Register with the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation for medical insurance of

the employees. In case if your employees meet with an accident on job, this plan would take care of the medical expenses on behalf of the company. Submit the essential documents of

the employees to the regional office. Step 8: Once All Approvals Are Through, Apply For The Certification Of Company’s Incorporation.

If you find the process complicated and cumbersome, you can hire the services of a reputed law firm that exclusively deals with Company Registration process. Some of these top service

providers are based in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, NOIDA, Gurgaon, Pune, and Delhi.