Establish a subsidiary of your foreign company in India to expand your business operations with complete legal compliance.
Core incorporation for foreign-owned companies entering India
Full setup with GST, MSME, and FDI compliance included
Complete FEMA compliance and transfer pricing readiness
Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling an established business, a Foreign Subsidiary offers the flexibility and credibility to grow with confidence.
Whether you are a multinational expanding geographically or a regional company entering South Asia, incorporating an Indian subsidiary is the cleanest, most compliant way to establish a permanent, revenue-generating presence without exposing your parent entity to Indian regulatory risk.
Software, SaaS, and technology companies looking to hire Indian engineering talent, serve Indian enterprise customers, or build an offshore development centre benefit greatly from a formal Indian subsidiary — enabling local payroll, GST invoicing, and access to Indian government tech contracts.
Foreign manufacturers setting up production facilities, sourcing operations, or contract manufacturing in India need a local entity to hold land/lease agreements, employ workers, and interface with Indian supply chains. A subsidiary provides the legal foundation for all of this activity.
International D2C and e-commerce brands selling to Indian consumers must comply with FDI rules for e-commerce, GST, and customs regulations. A properly structured Indian subsidiary enables marketplace listings, direct-to-consumer sales, and local warehousing partnerships under a fully compliant entity.
Consulting firms, legal support companies, marketing agencies, and financial services providers seeking to serve Indian clients under long-term retainers need a local entity for billing, contracting, and regulatory standing. An Indian subsidiary makes client acquisition and service delivery seamless.
Global companies setting up captive R&D units, AI/ML labs, or innovation centres in India leverage the subsidiary structure to access India's DSIR scientific research incentives, hire researchers locally, and hold intellectual property developed in India — while maintaining full parent-company ownership.
Protect your personal assets from business liabilities.
Built to attract investors and raise capital with confidence.
Operate as an independent business with lasting legal identity.
Unlock tax advantages and support long-term business growth.
Build trust with customers, banks, and business partners.
A subsidiary of a foreign company is an Indian company where the foreign company holds more than 50% of the paid-up share capital. It operates as a separate legal entity in India while being controlled by the foreign parent company.
From documentation to MCA approvals, our experts manage every step of your incorporation—so you can focus on building your business instead of paperwork.
Estimated incorporation timeline.
A single expert from start to finish.
Every application is reviewed before submission.
Clear pricing with government fees at actuals.
Everything you need for your Foreign Subsidiary.
See how StartBusiness compares to DIY registration and traditional CA firms.
Parent company documents, apostilled certificates, and director KYC.
You provide your documents. We handle everything else — every form, every filing, every follow-up with government portals — until your business is live.
A clear timeline from document upload to certificate — no guesswork, no waiting in the dark.
Plan the subsidiary structure and compliance requirements
Reserve company name with ROC
File incorporation documents and obtain certificate
Complete RBI reporting and FEMA formalities
Open bank accounts and commence operations
Get a free 15-minute consultation with a senior CA. Clear answers on entity types, timelines, and costs — with zero sales pressure.
Talk to an ExpertGot questions? Find quick, expert answers to everything you need to know before getting started
Yes, in most sectors India permits 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) under the automatic route — meaning no prior approval from the government or RBI is required. Sectors such as IT services, consulting, manufacturing, e-commerce, and R&D all allow full foreign ownership. A few sectors (defence, media, banking, insurance) have FDI caps or require government approval; our team will advise you on which route applies to your business before incorporation begins.
Yes. Section 149(3) of the Companies Act, 2013 requires that every company incorporated in India must have at least one director who has stayed in India for a total of not less than 182 days during the financial year. This is a continuing requirement — not just at the time of incorporation. If the foreign parent does not have an India-based person available, StartBusiness can help you identify and appoint a qualified nominee director to fulfil this statutory obligation.
FC-GPR (Foreign Currency — Gross Provisional Return) is a mandatory RBI filing required under FEMA regulations whenever a company in India allots shares to a foreign investor. After the share allotment to your parent company is recorded, the FC-GPR must be filed through the RBI's FIRMS (Foreign Investment Reporting and Management System) portal within 30 days of the allotment date. It reports the details of the FDI received, the valuation of shares, and the shareholding structure. Our Professional and Growth plans include complete FC-GPR filing support.
Yes, profits can be freely repatriated to the foreign parent company in the form of dividends, provided Indian corporate tax has been paid and the required tax deducted at source (TDS) on dividends is deposited with the Indian tax authorities. There is no RBI approval required for dividend repatriation under the automatic route for most sectors. The subsidiary must also comply with the applicable Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and the parent company's home country to optimise withholding tax on dividends.
The typical timeline ranges from 20 to 45 business days depending on the plan selected and the complexity of the foreign shareholding structure. The process includes name approval on MCA (3–5 days), DSC and DIN procurement for foreign directors (5–10 days), drafting and notarisation/apostille of parent company documents, SPICe+ filing, and post-incorporation registrations such as PAN, TAN, and GST. The notarisation and apostille of foreign directors' documents in their home country is often the longest step, and our team coordinates this process with you proactively.
An Indian subsidiary with foreign investment has two core annual FEMA obligations: (1) FC-GPR filing within 30 days of any new share allotment to foreign investors, and (2) the Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) Return submitted to RBI by 15 July each year, reporting the outstanding FDI position as of 31 March. Additionally, if the subsidiary has related-party transactions with the parent (royalties, management fees, intercompany loans), transfer pricing documentation under the Income Tax Act is required. StartBusiness's annual FEMA compliance package covers all of these filings, keeping your subsidiary audit-ready throughout the year.
“StartBusiness made our LLP registration incredibly simple. They handled all legal requirements and paperwork efficiently. Highly recommended for any new founders.”
Mr. Hemant Patil
Apaha Institute Of Construction Project Management LLP
“StartBusiness made our LLP registration incredibly simple. They handled all legal requirements and paperwork efficiently. Highly recommended for any new founders.”
Mr. Hemant Patil
Apaha Institute Of Construction Project Management LLP
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Get a free 15-minute consultation with a senior CA. Clear answers on entity types, timelines, and costs - with zero sales pressure.
