Public Limited Company Registration in Online India

Registering a Public Limited Company in India is the ideal choice for businesses looking to raise funds from the public, expand operations at scale, and establish a credible corporate identity. Unlike other business structures, a public limited company can issue shares to the general public through stock exchanges, making it significantly easier to attract large-scale investments and institutional funding.

A Public Limited Company is a business entity incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, that offers its shares to the general public and is listed or eligible to be listed on a recognised stock exchange. It has a separate legal identity from its shareholders and directors, offering limited liability protection to all its members. bkauditors.com provides end-to-end assistance for public limited company incorporation, ensuring full compliance with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) regulations across India.

Before initiating the public limited company registration process, it is essential to meet the minimum statutory requirements as mandated by the Companies Act, 2013. These requirements ensure that the company has a strong legal and structural foundation right from the start.

The eligibility and requirements for registering a public limited company in India involve fulfilling certain legal and structural criteria set by the MCA and Companies Act, 2013. Meeting these requirements ensures a smooth and legally compliant registration process.

Selecting the right company name is a critical step in the public limited company incorporation process. The name must be unique, meaningful, and compliant with MCA naming guidelines under the Companies Act, 2013. A well-chosen name enhances brand identity and ensures faster approval.

Preparing the correct documents is essential for a smooth public limited company registration in India. The documents required include KYC documents of directors and shareholders, address proof of the registered office, and key incorporation documents.

The pre-incorporation process involves all the preparatory steps that need to be completed before formally filing for public limited company registration with the MCA. Completing these steps in advance ensures a faster and error-free incorporation process.

The public limited company registration process in India is carried out through the MCA portal using the SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) form. Here is the complete step-by-step process:

The time required for public limited company registration in India depends on the accuracy of documents submitted and the processing time at the MCA and Registrar of Companies (ROC). With proper documentation and expert assistance, the process can be completed within 10–15 working days.

After obtaining the Certificate of Incorporation, a public limited company must fulfil several post-incorporation compliances to maintain its active legal status and avoid penalties under the Companies Act, 2013.

The public limited company registration fees in India include government fees, stamp duty, and professional service charges. The fees vary based on the authorised share capital of the company and the state of incorporation.

Choosing the right business structure is crucial for long-term success. Here is a comprehensive comparative analysis between a Public Limited Company, Private Limited Company Registration, and Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Registration: Parameter Public Limited Company Private Limited Company LLP Minimum Members 7 Shareholders, 3 Directors 2 Shareholders, 2 Directors 2 Partners Maximum Members Unlimited 200 Shareholders Unlimited Public Fund Raising ✅ Allowed ❌ Not Allowed ❌ Not Allowed Share Transferability Freely Transferable Restricted As per LLP Agreement Stock Exchange Listing ✅ Eligible ❌ Not Eligible ❌ Not Eligible Compliance Level High Moderate Low Suitable For Large-scale businesses SMEs & Startups Professional firms Governing Law Companies Act, 2013 Companies Act, 2013 LLP Act, 2008

Here is a focused comparison between a Public Limited Company and a Private Limited Company highlighting only the key differences: Parameter Public Limited Company Private Limited Company Minimum Shareholders 7 2 Maximum Shareholders Unlimited 200 Minimum Directors 3 2 Name Suffix "Limited" "Private Limited" Public Invitation for Shares ✅ Permitted ❌ Prohibited Share Transferability Freely Transferable Restricted by AOA Stock Exchange Listing ✅ Allowed ❌ Not Allowed Prospectus Requirement Mandatory Not Required Statutory Meetings Mandatory Not Mandatory Compliance Requirements Stringent Less Stringent

bkauditors.com is India's most trusted business compliance platform, offering seamless and affordable public limited company registration services across India. Our team of experienced professionals ensures a hassle-free incorporation experience from start to finish.

Common questions about Public Limited Company Incorporation in India. What is Public limited company in India?To answer what is Public limited company, It is a publicly traded entity that requires a minimum of seven members, with no limit on the maximum number of shareholders. It allows shares to be offered to the public and traded on stock exchanges. The public limited company meaning depends on this specific function and the process it includes.What are the requirements to be a Director? The Director needs to be over 18 years of age and must be a natural person. There are no limitations in terms of citizenship or residency. Therefore, even foreign nationals can be Directors in an Indian Private Limited Company.What are the requirements to be a Director? The Director needs to be over 18 years of age and must be a natural person. There are no limitations in terms of citizenship or residency. Therefore, even foreign nationals can be Directors in an Indian Private Limited Company.What is the capital required to start a Limited Company? You can start a Limited Company with any amount of capital. However, the fee must be paid to the Government for issuing a minimum of shares worth Rs.5 lakhs [Authorized Capital Fee] during the incorporation of the Company. There is no requirement to show proof of capital invested during the incorporation process.What is the capital required to start a Limited Company? You can start a Limited Company with any amount of capital. However, the fee must be paid to the Government for issuing a minimum of shares worth Rs.5 lakhs [Authorized Capital Fee] during the incorporation of the Company. There is no requirement to show proof of capital invested during the incorporation process.Is an office required for starting a Limited Company? An address in India where the registered office of the Company will be situated is required. The premises can be commercial/industrial/residential where communication from the MCA will be received.Do I have to be present in-person to incorporate a Limited Company? No, you will not have to be present at our office or appear at any office for the incorporation of a Limited Company. All the documents can be scanned and sent through email to our office. Some documents will also have to be couriered to our office.What are the documents required for incorporation? Identity proof and address proof are mandatory for all the proposed Directors of the Company. PAN Card is mandatory for Indian Nationals. In addition, the landlord of the registered office premises must provide a No Objection Certificate for having the registered office in his/her premises and must submit his/her identity proof and address proof.How long it will take to incorporate a Company? bkauditors.com can incorporate a Limited Company for in 14-20 days. The time taken for incorporation will depend on the submission of relevant documents by the client and the speed of Government Approvals. To ensure speedy incorporation, please choose a unique name for your Company and ensure you have all the required documents prior to starting the incorporation process.How long is the incorporation of the Company valid for? Once a Company is incorporated, it will be active and in existence as long as the annual compliances are met with regularly. In case, annual compliances are not complied with, the Company will become a Dormant Company and may be struck off from the register after a period of time. A struck-off Company can be revived for a period of up to 20 years.What is the Director Identification Number? Director Identification Number is a unique identification number assigned to all existing and proposed Directors of a Company. It is mandatory for all present or proposed Directors to have a Director Identification Number. Director Identification Number never expires and a person can have only one Director Identification Number.What is the authorized capital fee? The authorized capital of a Company is the number of shares a company can issue to its shareholders. Companies have to pay the Government an authorized capital fee to issue shares in a Company. Companies have to pay an authorized capital fee of a minimum of Rs.5 lakhs.What are the statutory compliances required for a Limited Company? A limited company must hold a Board Meeting at least once every 3 months. In addition to the Board Meetings, an Annual General Meeting must be conducted by the Private Limited Company, at least once every year.Can NRIs/ Foreign Nationals be a Director in a Limited Company? Yes, a NRI or Foreign National can be a Director in a Limited Company after obtaining Director Identification Number. However, at least one Director on the Board of Directors must be a Resident India.Can NRIs/ Foreigners hold shares in a Limited Company? Yes, NRIs / Foreign Nationals / Foreign Companies can hold shares of a Limited Company subject to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Guidelines.What are the FDI guidelines for Foreigners in a Limited Company? 100% Foreign Direct Investment is allowed in India in many of the industries under the Automatic Route. Under the Automatic Route, only a post-investment filing is necessary with the RBI indicating the nature of investment made. There are a few industries that require prior approval from the RBI, in such cases, approval must first be obtained from RBI prior to investment.What if the difference between a Public and a Private Limited Company? A Public Limited Company is a Company that is listed on the recognized stock exchange and the securities of a Public Limited Company are Traded publicly. A Private Limited Company is not listed on the stock exchange and the securities are held by the members privately. What are the types of Public Limited Companies? Private Limited Company is of three types: A company that is limited by the shares A company that is limited by guarantee. Unlimited CompanyWhat are the advantages and the disadvantages of a Public Limited Company? There are several advantages of incorporation like they offer Limited Liability protection, transferability, borrowing capacity, and others. Whereas the disadvantages of a Public Limited Company are such that a Public Limited Company is difficult to form, there are a lot of legal formalities, lack of secrecy, and a lot of regulatory requirements.How many people are required to incorporate a Limited Company?To incorporate a Limited Company, a minimum of seven people are required. A Limited Company must have a minimum of three Directors and seven shareholders.