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India entry advice for foreign companies

A written plan from our lawyers, company secretaries and chartered accountants: the structure that fits, the foreign investment route for your sector and what each choice means for control, tax and hiring.

Your India plan in writing, before you commit money.

  • A written reply within 12 hours
  • Structures compared for your case
  • Your sector checked
  • Advice in writing
  • A written plan for your board
  • Subsidiary, branch, liaison office or employer of record, compared
  • Your sector checked against the foreign investment rules

We reply by email within 12 hours.

2004the year we began practice
3offices: Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru
One firmlawyers, company secretaries and chartered accountants

Request your India entry plan

    Add a timeline or call time

    We reply by email within 12 hours. We use your details only to reply: see our privacy policy.

    Three professionals planning in a glass meeting room

    Trusted by global groups and Indian leaders

    • Otis
    • Motul
    • Petronas India
    • Air Charter International
    • Gulf Oil
    • Hinduja
    • JSW Steel
    • HDFC Securities
    • Canara Bank
    • Rustomjee

    What the plan covers

    QuestionWhat you get
    Which structure
    • A wholly owned subsidiary, a branch office, a liaison office or an employer of record, compared on control, liability, tax and cost
    • Why most foreign parents choose a private limited company
    Which investment route
    • Whether your sector allows 100% foreign ownership under the automatic route, as most do, including IT and software
    • Any cap or condition on your sector, known before you spend
    Who runs it
    • The resident director rule in section 149(3) of the Companies Act, 2013, and how to meet it
    • How your board keeps control: signing powers and bank signatories
    Money and tax
    • How money moves between India and your parent
    • The tax questions to settle early, with our chartered accountants
    People
    • Your own company or an employer of record first, and when to move
    • The contracts and workplace policies a new team needs
    Timeline and cost
    • How long each route takes before you can hire
    • Your first-year costs beyond our fee

    Every enquiry gets a written reply within 12 hours.

    Then your questions answered and your plan in writing. These are the steps.

    Fees and timeline

    Quoted in writingYour fee, in writing with the scope
    Within 12 hoursOur written reply to your enquiry

    Legal work for global companies in India

    Legal and litigation support

    For listed and multinational corporations

    Scope
    Litigation management, recovery of outstanding dues and legal due diligence support.
    Notable
    Long-standing legal partnerships with listed and multinational corporations across India.

    One firm for your India entry questions

    Legal, tax and company law answers from one team.

    1. 01Structure
    2. 02Investment route
    3. 03Resident director
    4. 04GCC planning
    5. 05Tax questions
    6. 06Hiring model
    7. 07Contracts

    The senior team you work with

    Jatin PopatFounder and Managing DirectorCompany secretary and lawyer; formerly compliance head at a listed multinational.
    P. ShivakumarHead of OperationsCompany secretary, over a decade in company law.
    Aditya AgrawalFounder’s OfficeChartered accountant, formerly in Deutsche Bank’s private and corporate banking.
    A founder at a desk at dusk on a video call about India

    Questions foreign companies ask us

    Can a foreign company own 100% of an Indian company?

    Yes, in most sectors, including IT and software, under the automatic route. Some sectors carry a cap or conditions; we check yours first.

    Do LLCs exist in India?

    No. Most foreign parents choose a private limited company, which limits the shareholders’ liability in a similar way.

    Subsidiary, branch or liaison office: which should we choose?

    It depends on what the Indian entity will do. A liaison office may not earn income in India, a branch office is part of your parent and a subsidiary is a separate company.

    Does an Indian company need a director who lives in India?

    Yes. At least one director must stay in India for 182 days or more in the financial year, of any nationality. Our resident director service covers it.

    Plan your India entry with one firm

    Send the form and we reply by email within 12 hours.

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