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Free guides, simplified explanations and practical insights for founders and entrepreneurs navigating finance, taxes and compliance in India.

Featured Guides

Essential Reading for Every Entrepreneur

The four most important topics every business owner in India should understand โ€” explained simply, without the jargon.

Startup 8 min read
๐Ÿข

How to Start a Company in India: A Founder's Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about registering a company in India โ€” from choosing the right structure to getting your Certificate of Incorporation. A step-by-step guide for first-time founders.

Tax & GST 6 min read
๐Ÿงพ

GST Basics for Startups: What Every Founder Needs to Know

What is GST? Do you need to register? When should you charge GST to customers? How do you file returns? Simple answers to the most common GST questions from startup founders.

Accounting 7 min read
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Accounting for Small Businesses: The Basics You Actually Need

You don't need to be an accountant to understand your own finances. This guide covers the accounting basics every small business owner should know to stay on top of their numbers.

Funding 10 min read
๐Ÿ’ฐ

Startup Funding Basics: How to Raise Money for Your Business

What are the different types of startup funding? What do investors look for? What financial documents do you need? A practical introduction to startup funding for first-time founders.

Deep Dive

๐Ÿข How to Start a Company in India

Everything you need to know, broken down into easy-to-understand sections.

What types of companies can I register in India?

India offers several business structures, each with different features. Here are the most common ones:

  • Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd): Best for startups looking to raise investment. Gives credibility, limited liability and is easy to scale.
  • Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): Great for service businesses and professionals. Flexible with less compliance than a Pvt Ltd.
  • One Person Company (OPC): Designed for solo founders who want company benefits without a co-founder requirement.
  • Sole Proprietorship: Simplest structure, no formal registration needed. But offers no limited liability protection.
  • Partnership Firm: Traditional structure for 2+ partners. Being replaced by LLPs due to better legal protection.

What documents do I need to register a Private Limited Company?

To register a Private Limited Company, you typically need:

  • PAN Card of all directors
  • Aadhaar Card / Passport of all directors
  • Recent bank statement or utility bill of all directors (address proof)
  • Passport size photos of all directors
  • Electricity bill or rent agreement for the registered office address
  • NOC from the property owner for using the address
  • Proposed company name (you can suggest 3 options)

How long does company registration take?

Typically, a Private Limited Company registration takes 7โ€“15 working days depending on MCA processing times and document readiness. The process involves:

  • DSC (Digital Signature Certificate) issuance: 1โ€“2 days
  • DIN (Director Identification Number) application: 1โ€“2 days
  • Company name approval: 1โ€“3 days
  • MOA/AOA drafting and filing: 2โ€“3 days
  • Certificate of Incorporation: 3โ€“5 days after filing

We handle the entire process and give you regular updates throughout.

What happens after my company is registered?

After getting your Certificate of Incorporation, there are several important next steps:

  • Apply for GST registration (if your turnover will cross โ‚น20 lakhs)
  • Open a current bank account in the company's name
  • Issue share certificates to all shareholders
  • Hold the first board meeting within 30 days
  • Appoint a statutory auditor within 30 days
  • File Form INC-20A (commencement of business) within 180 days
  • Set up your accounting and bookkeeping systems
Deep Dive

๐Ÿงพ GST Basics for Startups

Goods and Services Tax simplified for founders and small business owners.

What is GST and why does it matter for my business?

GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a single tax that replaced multiple indirect taxes in India from July 2017. Think of it as a tax added to the price of goods and services when they're sold.

It matters for your business because:

  • You need to charge GST on your invoices if you're GST registered
  • You can claim back GST you pay on business expenses (called Input Tax Credit)
  • Many corporate clients will only work with GST-registered vendors
  • Non-compliance can attract penalties and interest

When do I need to register for GST?

GST registration is mandatory if:

  • Your annual turnover exceeds โ‚น40 lakhs (goods) or โ‚น20 lakhs (services) โ€” โ‚น10 lakhs for special category states
  • You sell goods or services across state borders (interstate supply)
  • You sell products on e-commerce platforms (Amazon, Flipkart, etc.)
  • You're involved in import or export of goods/services

Even if you're below the threshold, voluntary registration can be beneficial โ€” it allows you to claim input tax credit and gives your business more credibility with clients.

What are the different GST rates?

GST in India has multiple rate slabs. The most common ones are:

  • 0% โ€” Essential goods like food grains, milk, healthcare services
  • 5% โ€” Common use items, packaged foods, some textiles
  • 18% โ€” Most goods and services including software, tech services, professional services
  • 40% โ€” Luxury goods, tobacco, paan masala

Most software, tech and professional services fall under 18% GST. We'll help you confirm the right rate for your business.

What GST returns do I need to file and how often?

The main GST returns for most businesses are:

  • GSTR-1: Details of all sales invoices โ€” filed monthly (or quarterly for smaller businesses)
  • GSTR-3B: Summary of sales, purchases and tax payable โ€” filed monthly
  • GSTR-9: Annual GST return โ€” filed once a year

We manage all your GST return filings so you never miss a deadline or face a penalty.

Deep Dive

๐Ÿ“Š Accounting Basics for Small Businesses

You don't need to be a numbers person to understand your business finances.

What financial statements does every business need?

Every business should track three key financial statements:

  • Profit & Loss Statement (P&L): Shows your revenue, expenses and profit over a period. Tells you if your business is making money.
  • Balance Sheet: Shows what your business owns (assets) and what it owes (liabilities) at a specific date. Shows the financial health of your business.
  • Cash Flow Statement: Shows actual money coming in and going out. Profit doesn't always mean cash โ€” this statement tells you if your business has enough cash to operate.

What is bookkeeping and why is it important?

Bookkeeping is the process of recording all financial transactions of your business โ€” every sale, purchase, expense and payment. Think of it as maintaining a diary of everything financial that happens in your business.

  • Helps you understand where your money is going
  • Required for filing accurate tax returns
  • Essential for getting loans or investment
  • Helps you catch errors and fraud early
  • Gives you data to make better business decisions

What accounting software should I use for my small business?

Popular accounting software options for Indian businesses:

  • Tally Prime: India's most popular. Great for GST compliance, widely used by CAs and accountants.
  • Zoho Books: Cloud-based, affordable, excellent GST features. Good for small businesses and startups.
  • QuickBooks: Good for businesses with international operations or clients.
  • Busy Accounting: Good for trading businesses and retail.

We help you set up whichever software works best for your business and train you on the basics.

Deep Dive

๐Ÿ’ฐ Startup Funding Basics

A practical introduction to raising money for your startup in India.

What are the different types of startup funding?

Startups can raise money in several ways depending on their stage:

  • Bootstrapping: Using your own savings. No dilution, full control. Best for early stages.
  • Friends & Family: Raising from people who trust you. Informal and quick but can strain relationships.
  • Angel Investors: High net-worth individuals who invest in early-stage startups in exchange for equity.
  • Venture Capital (VC): Professional investment firms that invest larger amounts (usually Series A onwards) in exchange for equity and board seats.
  • Bank Loans / MSME Schemes: Debt funding. You keep equity but have to repay with interest.
  • Government Grants: Startup India, SIDBI and various state government schemes offer grants and soft loans.

What financial documents do investors want to see?

Before meeting investors, make sure you have these documents ready:

  • Financial Projections: 3โ€“5 year projections showing expected revenue, expenses and profitability
  • Historical Financials: Past P&L and balance sheets if available
  • Cap Table: A table showing who owns what percentage of the company
  • Valuation Model: How you arrived at your company's valuation
  • Unit Economics: CAC, LTV, gross margin and other key metrics
  • Use of Funds: How you plan to spend the money you raise

We help startups prepare all these documents as part of our fundraising preparation service.

What is Startup India and how do I get recognized?

Startup India is a government initiative to build a strong ecosystem for startups in India. Getting DPIIT recognition as a startup gives you:

  • 3-year income tax exemption (subject to conditions)
  • Exemption from Angel Tax on investments received
  • Access to โ‚น10,000 Cr Startup India Fund of Funds
  • Fast-track patent application with 80% fee rebate
  • Self-certification for 9 labour and environment laws

To be eligible, your startup must be less than 10 years old, have turnover under โ‚น100 Cr and work towards innovation or improvement of processes. We handle the entire registration process.

Have Questions? Just Ask Us.

Our advisors are happy to answer your questions โ€” whether it's about starting a company, GST, accounting or anything else related to your business finances.

Chat with us!