RM Legal advises founders, promoters and family businesses in Surat on choosing and setting up the right legal entity, and on the compliance that follows. Our team of lawyers and company secretaries handles incorporation of private limited companies, LLPs and one person companies, conversion of existing firms, and ongoing filings. Our office is at SNS Atria, Vesu.
Companies and LLPs are incorporated online through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal. Applications are processed centrally by the Central Registration Centre, and once incorporated, entities with a registered office in Gujarat fall under the jurisdiction of the Registrar of Companies, Gujarat, at Ahmedabad. A Surat business does not ordinarily need to visit the Registrar's office to incorporate.
For a private limited company or OPC, incorporation is done through the integrated SPICe+ form. It covers name reservation, incorporation, allotment of Director Identification Numbers, the PAN and TAN of the company, and registrations such as EPFO and ESIC. The memorandum and articles of association are filed electronically with it.
For an LLP, the proposed name is first reserved through the RUN-LLP service, and the LLP is then incorporated through the FiLLiP form. The LLP agreement must be filed with the Registrar within 30 days of incorporation.
Each proposed director or designated partner needs a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) to sign the forms.
For a company, the first steps include:
For an LLP, the LLP agreement must be filed within 30 days.
Depending on the business, registrations such as GST, professional tax, Gujarat Shops and Establishments registration, Udyam (MSME) registration and an Import Export Code may also be required.
A private limited company must hold an annual general meeting, file its financial statements (Form AOC-4) and annual return (Form MGT-7 or MGT-7A) with the Registrar, and ensure each director completes annual KYC. An LLP must file its statement of account and solvency (Form 8) and its annual return (Form 11) every year. Late filings attract additional fees for each day of delay.
Government fees and stamp duty depend on the type of entity, its authorised capital or contribution, and the State. Companies with an authorised capital of up to ₹15 lakh are exempt from MCA filing fees on incorporation, though stamp duty and the cost of Digital Signature Certificates still apply. These are separate from professional fees.
Can I use my home address as the registered office?
Yes. A residential address can be used as the registered office, supported by proof of address and a no-objection letter from the owner.
Is there a minimum capital requirement?
No. There is no minimum paid-up capital requirement for a private limited company or an LLP.
How long does incorporation take?
If the documents are in order and the name is approved without objection, incorporation commonly takes one to two weeks. Name objections or document queries from the Registrar can extend this.
Can my partnership firm be converted into an LLP or a company?
Yes. A partnership firm can be converted into an LLP under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, or into a company under the Companies Act, 2013, subject to the conditions and filings prescribed.
Can a non-resident or foreign national be a director?
Yes. However, every company must have at least one director who is resident in India, and every LLP must have at least one designated partner who is resident in India.
Should I register my brand as a trademark at the same time?
It is advisable. Company or LLP registration does not give trademark rights over a name. A trademark application protects the brand itself. See Trademark Registration in Surat.
Reviewed by Richa M. Goyal, Managing Partner. Last reviewed: October 2026.