What should an India entry partner do for you?
An entry partner helps a foreign company choose the right structure, prepare documents, incorporate, receive the capital and then keep the company compliant. The first two tasks are one-off. The last two continue for as long as the Indian company exists, so judge a provider on the whole cycle and not only on incorporation.
Before you speak to anyone, know your answers to two questions: which route into India fits your plan, and who in your group will approve documents and directors’ actions.
Which credentials should you look for?
Look for professionals you can verify. A practising Chartered Accountant or Company Secretary should certify the filings that need one. Ask for their membership details and confirm them with the relevant professional institute.
Look also for experience with foreign-owned companies, because FEMA reporting, foreign-director documents and transfer pricing differ from a purely domestic company. Check whether the firm has people qualified in your home country, and whether it can work in your time zone. A provider that is not a law firm should say so and should work with lawyers where you need a legal opinion.
What should you ask a provider?
| Ask | A good answer includes |
|---|---|
| Who signs and files each form? | Named professionals, and which filings need a practising CA or CS |
| What does the fee include and exclude? | A written scope, with government fees, stamp duty and other pass-through costs shown separately |
| Which FEMA filings follow incorporation? | FC-GPR, the FLA return, and who diarises them |
| What happens after incorporation? | Compliance calendar, bookkeeping, tax, payroll and secretarial support, with named owners |
| How do you handle a nominee director or registered office? | A plain explanation of the role, the responsibility and the exit terms |
| What is your experience with foreign-owned companies? | Named team members, and familiarity with FEMA reporting, foreign-director documents and transfer pricing |
| Can we leave? | A clear handover of registers, DSCs and filing access |
What are the red flags?
- A fixed timeline or approval promised up front. Only a few deadlines are set by rule, such as 20 days for a reserved name and 30 days for FC-GPR, and the rest depend on documents, banks and queues.
- A price that leaves out government fees, stamp duty or the FEMA filings, or that gives no scope.
- Pressure to use the provider’s nominee director or registered office without an explanation of the responsibility involved.
- No account of the annual compliance that follows.
- Claims of a guaranteed outcome, or of legal advice from a firm that is not a law firm.
How should you compare quotes?
Ask each provider to fill in the same scope: incorporation, registered office, bank account support, FEMA filings, first-year compliance and any nominee director service. Then compare total first-year cost and who is accountable for each item. See how we present cost and timeline and our services for an example of a scope laid out item by item.
Speak to more than one provider, and ask each for references you can contact directly.
Where does ProLead fit?
ProLead Business Consulting is one such provider. It is a firm of chartered accountants and advisers, founded in 2012, with a presence across Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin and Amritsar, and in Singapore and the USA. It reports 500+ businesses incorporated and 40+ GCC/GDC clients. It is not a law firm and does not give legal opinions, and filings that need a practising professional are coordinated with ProLead’s chartered accountants and company secretaries. Read about ProLead, or book a free consultation and put the questions above to us.
Note: Rules and forms change often. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check the current position with a practising Chartered Accountant or Company Secretary before you act.
Frequently asked questions
What should an India set-up provider be able to show me?
Is the cheapest quote the best choice?
Should the provider keep our company records?
Can one firm handle both set-up and ongoing compliance?
Sources
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Rules and forms change, so confirm the current position with a practising Chartered Accountant or Company Secretary before you act. See our disclaimer.