Entry planning
- Structure considerations
- Tax and compliance overview
- Implementation roadmap
- Specialist requirements
India Market Entry
Establish and operate your business in India.
One financial coordination partner from market-entry planning to monthly accounting, payroll, tax, compliance and reporting.
Direct answer
How can a foreign company start operating in India?
A foreign company may consider an Indian subsidiary, limited liability partnership, branch office, liaison office or project office, subject to its intended activities and applicable regulations. The appropriate structure depends on ownership, control, funding, tax treatment, regulatory eligibility and long-term plans.
Legal, tax and regulatory advice should be obtained for the specific facts before selecting an entry structure.
Entity formation, banking, people, tax and parent-company reporting should be planned as connected workstreams.
Before choosing a structure
Start with the intended activity and operating model.
Ownership, sector, funding, customer contracts, employees, locations, related-party transactions and exit plans can all affect the evaluation. Corporate legal and secretarial work is coordinated with appropriately qualified independent professionals.
Review the official MCA SPICe+ instruction kit ↗Entry-form orientation
Common structures serve different purposes.
This comparison is an orientation tool, not a recommendation. Eligibility, foreign-investment rules, tax, liability and commercial objectives require specific advice.
Indian subsidiary
A separate Indian company; commonly considered for long-term operating activity, employees and local contracts.
Limited liability partnership
A partnership form that may suit certain activities, ownership arrangements and foreign-investment conditions.
Branch office
An extension of the foreign entity for permitted activities, subject to eligibility and regulatory requirements.
Liaison office
A non-commercial presence for permitted liaison activity; it cannot undertake income-generating business in India.
Project office
A presence connected to an eligible Indian project and the applicable regulatory conditions.
India readiness check
Shape your first planning conversation.
This short tool does not select a legal structure. It identifies the workstreams that should be discussed with appropriately qualified advisers.
Connected workstreams
Plan the operation—not only the registration.
A successful launch connects the legal entity to the finance processes that allow it to transact, employ people, report and remain compliant.
Setup coordination
- Incorporation process
- PAN, TAN and GST
- Banking coordination
- Local professional network
Finance launch
- Chart of accounts
- Approval workflows
- Payroll implementation
- Parent reporting formats
Ongoing operations
- Managed accounting
- Tax and payroll
- Monthly close
- Management reporting
A structured journey
From intent to dependable operations.
01
Understand
Activities, ownership, investment, locations, workforce and reporting needs.
02
Structure
Coordinate evaluation of entity, legal, tax and regulatory considerations.
03
Establish
Coordinate registrations, banking and the initial operating requirements.
04
Implement
Set up accounting, payroll, controls, calendars and reporting processes.
05
Operate
Deliver and monitor agreed monthly finance and compliance activities.
Local professional network
One coordinated view across specialist work.
Subject to the engagement, we can coordinate with appropriately qualified company secretaries, corporate lawyers, banks, payroll and HR specialists, technology providers, insurance advisers and commercial-property professionals.
Each independent adviser remains responsible for their own advice, professional obligations and deliverables.
Start an India entry discussion →Official reference points
Start with primary regulatory sources.
Ministry of Corporate AffairsSPICe+ incorporation instruction kit ↗Reserve Bank of IndiaForeign Investment in India directions ↗Goods and Services TaxOfficial GST portal ↗
Regulations and portal procedures change. Confirm the current official position and obtain advice for the specific facts before acting.
Your India plan
Build the financial foundation before operations begin.
Share your intended activity, parent-company country, proposed location, employee plan and launch timeline.
Discuss your India plans