Register your public limited company online with Legal Startup. A dedicated corporate expert helps with name approval, digital signatures, DIN, MoA and AoA, SPICe+ filing and the documents of your directors and subscribers, and can also help you convert an existing private company.
Free call & custom quote · Professional fee + government fee & stamp duty
Public limited company registration in India means incorporating a company under the Companies Act, 2013 by filing the SPICe+ form, with the e-MoA and e-AoA, with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) through the MCA portal. A public company needs at least 3 directors and 7 shareholders, and once approved it receives a Certificate of Incorporation with a Corporate Identification Number (CIN), and PAN and TAN.
Last updated: October 2026. Forms, fees, stamp duty and time limits can change, so we confirm the current position before filing.
A public limited company is a separate legal entity whose shares can be offered to the public and are freely transferable. Shareholders have limited liability, so their risk is limited to the unpaid amount on their shares. It is not a company that must be listed on a stock exchange; an unlisted public company is also valid, and listing is a separate, later step.
A public company suits businesses that expect a large number of shareholders, want to raise funds from the public through a prospectus, or plan to list in future. In return it follows stricter rules than a private company: more directors and members, mandatory annual general meeting, more disclosures and, above prescribed limits, a whole-time company secretary.
Registration is done online through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. For official forms, name search and the fee schedule, visit the MCA portal (mca.gov.in), the official website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. Once your company is incorporated, you can protect its brand with our trademark registration online service.
Important requirements and timelines every founder should know.
The right route depends on who the founders are and what you are starting from.
Incorporating a fresh company with at least 3 directors and 7 shareholders.
An existing private limited company that wants to become public.
Businesses that want to raise money from the public or list later.
Directors or shareholders who live outside India.
Seven or more founders, investors or members coming together.
Check whether your preferred company name is available.
Not sure whether a public company is the right structure? Tell us about your plan and our experts will suggest the right one free of charge.
Why businesses choose to incorporate as a public limited company.
Shareholders are liable only up to the unpaid amount on their shares, so personal assets are generally kept separate.
A public company can invite the public to subscribe to its shares and debentures, following the rules.
Shares can be transferred without the restrictions that apply to a private company.
Only a public company can list on a stock exchange, if you choose to do so later.
The company owns assets, signs contracts and can sue or be sued in its own name.
Greater disclosure and governance can build trust with lenders, investors and large clients.
Incorporate from anywhere in India without visiting a Registry office.
From name check to Certificate of Incorporation, here is how online registration works.
Timelines depend on name approval, document accuracy and Registry workload. Not to scale.
The proposed directors need a DSC to sign the e-forms. We guide you through issuance and verification.
The name must end with "Limited". We check availability on the MCA register against naming rules and similar names, and suggest alternatives if needed.
We draft the company objects and internal rules, and collect documents for at least 3 directors, 7 subscribers and the registered office.
The integrated form covers name reservation, DIN allotment, PAN and TAN. The MCA fee and stamp duty are paid at filing.
If the ROC asks for corrections, we revise the documents and resubmit within the time allowed.
On approval you receive the certificate with CIN, plus PAN and TAN. We then explain your first compliance dates.
Keep these ready to avoid delays. Our expert will confirm the exact list for your case.
The total cost of public limited company registration depends on the authorised capital, the state of your registered office and the number of directors and shareholders. It generally has three parts:
The MCA fee is linked to authorised capital. The fee schedule can change, so we confirm the current amount before filing.
State stamp duty applies to the MoA and AoA and varies by state and authorised capital.
Our fee depends on the number of directors and subscribers and the case. Call free for a custom quote before you pay anything.
A public issue, listing, conversion from private, GST registration and ongoing compliance are quoted separately. We share a clear, itemised quote before you begin – no hidden charges. Get your free quote →
Choose the situation that matches your plan, or call free for a custom quote.
Starting a new public limited company with 3 directors and 7 shareholders.
Your private limited company wants to become a public limited company.
NRI or foreign members, or plans to raise money from the public.
Our professional fee is quoted after a free call. Government fee and stamp duty are separate and depend on authorised capital and state. Not sure which option fits? Ask for a free consultation.
If you expect many shareholders or plan to raise money from the public, this structure may fit.
Companies that intend to invite the public to subscribe to shares or debentures.
Businesses that plan to list on a stock exchange now or in future.
Seven or more people forming a company with free transfer of shares.
Ventures that need large capital from many contributors.
Companies that have outgrown the private structure and want to move to a public company.
Investors setting up an Indian entity with a resident director, subject to FEMA and FDI rules.
A quick view of how a public company differs from other common structures. Ask us which one suits your plan.
| Structure | Minimum members | Raising money from the public | Share transfer | Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public limited company | 3 directors, 7 shareholders | Allowed, under the rules | Freely transferable | Highest |
| Private limited company | 2 directors, 2 shareholders | Not allowed | Restricted | Higher |
| LLP | 2 partners, 2 designated partners | Not allowed; no shares | By agreement | Moderate |
| One Person Company | 1 director and shareholder | Not allowed | Restricted | Moderate to higher |
| Partnership firm | 2 partners | Not allowed | By consent of partners | Lower |
Careful planning before filing prevents most delays and rejections.
Incorporation is the start. Here are the steps that follow.
Open a current account in the company's name and deposit the subscribers' capital.
The Board appoints the first auditor and the appointment is filed with the ROC (Form ADT-1).
File Form INC-20A after share capital is paid in, so the company can start business and borrow.
Hold the required board meetings each year and an annual general meeting, and keep statutory registers and minutes.
Registering the company name does not give trademark rights. File a trademark for your brand and logo.
File financial statements and annual return with the ROC, complete statutory audit and income tax return, and complete director KYC.
Plan your brand protection early: see our trademark registration online service, and our trademark hearing online service if your mark faces an objection. For local support, see our pages for trademark registration in Dwarka and Jaipur.
Quick answers on public limited company registration in India.
A public limited company is a company registered under the Companies Act, 2013 that can invite the public to subscribe to its shares, and whose shares are freely transferable. Shareholders have limited liability, and the company name ends with the word Limited.
Obtain Digital Signature Certificates for the directors, choose a name ending with Limited, and file the SPICe+ form with the e-MoA, e-AoA and supporting documents on the MCA portal. After the Registrar of Companies approves, you receive the Certificate of Incorporation with a CIN, plus PAN and TAN.
A public limited company needs at least 3 directors and at least 7 shareholders. There is no maximum limit on the number of shareholders, and at least one director must be a resident in India.
No minimum paid-up capital is prescribed under the Companies Act, 2013. The government fee and stamp duty depend on the authorised capital, and listing on a stock exchange has its own separate requirements.
A public company needs at least 3 directors and 7 shareholders, can invite the public to buy shares and allows free transfer of shares. A private company needs 2 directors and 2 shareholders, cannot invite the public and restricts share transfer.
Each director and subscriber needs PAN, identity and address proof, a photograph, and email and mobile details. The company needs proof of registered office, such as a recent utility bill, plus a rent agreement and NOC from the owner if the premises are not owned.
Timelines depend on name approval, document accuracy and the Registrar's workload. Gathering documents from seven or more subscribers and three directors can add time, and queries or a rejected name can extend it further.
The cost has three parts: the MCA government fee, state stamp duty on the MoA and AoA, and the professional fee. Government fee and stamp duty depend on the authorised capital and the state of the registered office, so we confirm them before filing.
Yes. The company passes a special resolution to alter its Articles, increases directors and members to the public company minimum, changes the name to end with Limited, and files the change with the Registrar. The process involves board and shareholder approvals.
No. A public company can remain unlisted. Listing is a separate step that follows SEBI rules and stock exchange requirements, including an IPO process and additional disclosures.
Key steps include appointing the first auditor, filing the declaration for commencement of business (INC-20A), holding board meetings and an annual general meeting, and annual filings of financial statements and annual return with the ROC. A company secretary is required above prescribed capital limits.
Yes, subject to the Companies Act, 2013 and applicable FEMA and FDI rules for the business activity. At least one director must be a resident in India, and foreign directors need additional document attestation.
Most startups begin as a private limited company because it has lighter compliance and fewer members. A public company suits businesses that expect many shareholders, plan to raise money from the public or intend to list in future.
Planning to register a public limited company? Speak to our corporate expert today – the consultation and the quote are free.
Tell us what you need and our team will get back to you with the right guidance.
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