How does ProLead price its work?
Each package has a defined scope, a written fee and a named list of what is and is not included. You receive the quote in writing after a free consultation, so there is nothing to negotiate on a call. Incorporation services are billed as a fixed fee with milestone-based billing; some ongoing services run on a retainer model instead.
The work changes with your facts, so the fees below are indicative. The sections below show the packages, what else is billed separately, what drives the cost and the time, and the deadlines that are fixed by rule.
What are the packages?
| Package | Best for | What it typically covers | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidiary set-up | A foreign company that will hire, sign contracts and invoice in India | Route confirmation, name approval, director digital signatures, the SPICe+ filing, PAN and TAN, and the post-incorporation FEMA filings | Starts at USD 1,000 |
| Registrations and licences | A company that has incorporated and needs the registrations that follow | GST, provident fund, ESI, professional tax and similar registrations | Starts at USD 500 |
| GCC / GDC set-up | A group building a captive or global delivery centre | Entity set-up, registrations and licences, and support on structure and location | Same as subsidiary set-up, since a GCC normally uses the same legal vehicle |
| Nominee director | A parent that needs a resident director while it builds a local presence | A resident-director arrangement, indemnified by the parent | Starts at USD 100 per month, varies by industry and other factors |
| Registered office | A parent that needs a compliant address for the Registrar | Virtual or physical registered office arrangement | Starts at USD 75 per month, varies by city, location and commitment period |
| Employer of Record | Hiring in India before your entity is ready | Employment and payroll through ProLead’s own Indian entity while you decide on a structure | Highly case-specific: depends on headcount, average employee pay and duration |
| Accounting and payroll | An entity that needs bookkeeping and payroll run reliably | Bookkeeping, month-end close, payables and receivables, and payroll processing | Starts at USD 300 per month |
| Tax compliance | An entity that needs its tax filings kept current | TDS, corporate tax filings and GST compliance | Starts at USD 150 per month |
| Secretarial and exchange control | An entity that needs its Companies Act and FEMA filings kept current | Board and shareholder meeting documentation, Registrar filings, exchange control filings and annual returns | Starts at USD 150 per quarter |
The packages are modular. You can start with one and add another as the entity grows. Clients, including GCC/GDC clients, can also access ProLead’s network of partners, such as real estate and recruitment consultants, on a complimentary, no-fee basis.
These packages are priced for a foreign company entering India. If you are an Indian entrepreneur or founder instead, see ProLead for Indian businesses.
What else is billed separately?
These are paid to third parties or to the authorities, not to ProLead, and sit outside every package fee above: MCA fees and state stamp duty, notarisation and apostille or attestation in your home country, a valuation certificate from an independent professional where one is required, and bank charges.
Ask any adviser to list these separately. A low headline fee that leaves them out is not a lower price.
What drives the cost of setting up in India?
Five things move the total more than anything else:
- Authorised capital. The MCA fee is set by nominal share capital, and state stamp duty on the memorandum and articles depends on the state and on capital.
- Your home country’s documents. Notarisation and apostille or attestation are third-party costs that vary by country.
- The entity type. A subsidiary, branch office and liaison office have different set-up steps.
- Foreign investment steps. A valuation certificate and the FEMA filings are needed when shares are issued to a non-resident.
- Ongoing services. Accounting, tax, payroll, registered office and nominee director services recur, so they often outweigh set-up cost over time.
The cost guide explains each government cost in more detail. We do not print government fee or stamp duty amounts here because they change and vary by state.
What drives the timeline?
Speed depends on how ready you are. Parent documents that are notarised and authenticated early, directors who have their identity documents to hand, a name that is approved on the first attempt and a bank that accepts your foreign directors’ KYC all shorten the path. Authentication in your home country and bank account opening are typical delays.
The industry standard for a foreign-parent structure runs 8 to 12 weeks. ProLead’s usual process runs up to about 30 days when documents are ready. ProLead completed one engagement in under three weeks, including opening the bank account; the case study describes it. See also the timeline guide.
Which deadlines are fixed by rule?
| Step | Period |
|---|---|
| Name reservation | Valid for 20 days from approval |
| Allotment of shares (fresh allotment; not the subscriber shares issued at incorporation) | Within 60 days of receiving the consideration, or the money is refunded |
| FC-GPR filing | Within 30 days of allotment |
| Valuation certificate | Not more than 90 days old at the date of investment |
| First board meeting | Within 30 days of incorporation |
| First auditor | Appointed by the board within 30 days of registration |
| Commencement declaration (INC-20A) | Within 180 days of incorporation |
We do not know of an official service standard for name approval, incorporation or bank account opening, so treat any such figure as an estimate.
How do you choose a package?
If you will trade, hire and invoice in India and want control of the entity, start with a wholly owned subsidiary. If you need people on the ground first, compare an Employer of Record with a subsidiary in our comparison. If you are building a captive centre, start with the GCC set-up page.
How do you get a written quote?
ProLead prepares a written quote after a free, no-commitment consultation. It sets out the scope, the ProLead fee for each package and which government and third-party costs are extra. Incorporation and other set-up packages are billed as a fixed fee with milestone-based billing; ongoing packages run on a monthly or quarterly retainer.
Book a free consultation with your sector, parent country, planned headcount and target date, or message us on WhatsApp. We reply with a written quote that lists the scope, the fee and the third-party costs separately.
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
How much does it cost to set up a subsidiary in India?
Do you publish fixed prices?
Are government fees included in ProLead's fee?
How long does it take to set up a subsidiary in India?
Can I start with set-up and add compliance later?
Is there a charge for the first consultation?
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.