India Market Entry
A single India desk for foreign companies, and for US CPA and UK chartered accountancy firms, that want to set up and run operations in India without learning every regulator's rulebook first.
Overview
We take a foreign business from the first structuring conversation to a running Indian entity: choosing between a private limited company, an LLP or a branch, incorporating it, reporting the foreign investment to the RBI, registering for GST and payroll laws, finding an office and hiring the first team.
Our dedicated pods work as an extension of your headquarters. Because India works while London and New York sleep, files sent at 18:00 London or New York time can be reviewed and ready by 09:00 the next morning. Every engagement has direct partner involvement.
A private limited company typically takes 10–15 business days to incorporate once documents are in order. Apostille or notarisation of foreign directors' documents can add time.
What we do
- Entity structuring: private limited company, LLP or branch office
- DIN and DSC for foreign directors; ROC filings and board documentation
- FEMA ODI, FDI and APR filings; Form FC-GPR and RBI reporting
- Multi-state GST registrations
- Contract review under Indian law
- ESOP formulation and stock management; US-flip structuring for startups
- Dividend repatriation and withholding; double taxation (DTAA) planning
- Payroll set-up with PF, ESI, Professional Tax and LWF registrations
- Works with QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, Drake Tax, CaseWare, ProConnect and CCH Axcess
Deliverables
- Entity recommendation note comparing structures, tax and compliance load
- Certificate of Incorporation with PAN and TAN, and the post-incorporation checklist
- FC-GPR filed through your Authorised Dealer bank within 30 days of share allotment
- Registrations for GST, PF, ESI, Professional Tax and Shops & Establishments as applicable
- A compliance calendar for the new entity in the Shardhan Compliance Portal
Who it is for
- US, UK and other foreign companies opening an Indian subsidiary or captive centre
- US CPA and UK chartered accountancy firms building an India desk
- Startups considering a US-flip or an Indian holding structure
How an engagement runs
- Requirement discovery scope analysis and pain-point mapping
- Contracting and SLA transparent pricing and a formal engagement letter
- Resource allocation a dedicated team pod
- Deliverables clarity format alignment and QC checkpoints
- Process transition virtual training and system integration
- Execution pilot launch, then full scale
Related compliance
Recent updates
Frequently asked questions
Typically 10–15 business days for a private limited company, provided all documents are in order. Where foreign directors are involved, documents must be apostilled or notarised as required, which can add time.
Yes. Once the entity is set up we help recruit, and run monthly payroll with TDS, PF and ESI compliance.
Yes. We use a dedicated pod model: the same professionals learn your preferences and work as an extension of your staff.
We track RBI, FEMA, GST and labour-law changes and advise proactively on how they affect you and your India entity.
Team members are selected for communication skills as well as technical ability, and trained on Western business etiquette and reporting standards.
Discuss India Market Entry with us
Tell us about your entity and what you need. We reply with a scope and fee proposal under a formal engagement letter.