There have been loads of questions asked on how to register a sole proprietorship
company in India. This article seeks to be your one-stop guide on how to go
about registering your sole proprietor company in India. But first, let’s start
by understanding what sole proprietorship is all about and what it has to
offer.
First, Sole Proprietorship is an easier form of business to set
up; it has far less legal hurdles to surmount and is relatively easy to handle
its day to day operations. The sole proprietor company and the owner
(proprietor) are regarded as a single legal entity in India, unlike, say a
Private Limited Company or a Public Limited Company. The sole proprietor is
taxed as a single individual. This significantly cuts down on the hassles as
you only have to file a personal income tax for one person.
As a sole proprietor, you and your Company are the same. You
can even operate right from the comfort of your home, and for that, there is no
need for special registration. But if in
future there is a need for expansion and you have to set up a commercial office
or store, you will have to fill out the necessary paperwork at your local
municipal corporation. You will also have to check up with Shops and Establishment
Act.
Now let’s take a plunge into the details of Sole
Proprietorship, how to register a sole proprietorship company in India, the
cost implication of setting your brand online taxation in sole proprietorship
as well as the business licenses you would need.
Registration of Sole
Proprietorship
You could easily register your e-commerce business under the
sole proprietorship category at your nearest municipal corporation office. You
would have to fill and submit the Shops and Establishment Form to complete your
registration. You would also be required to submit an undertaking. The registration fee varies depending on the
state and the municipal corporation area. You can get a list of the municipal
corporation area offices in your city on the municipal corporation’s website.
Take note that during the registration process, you will be
required to submit a proof of your address to Shops and Establishment. You may
also be required to submit proof of your home address or the address of
wherever you want to operate from.
Cost of Setting Up a
Sole Proprietorship Company
There is absolutely NO extra cost involved. All that you would
need is a current account opened in the name of your business in any bank of
your choice. It’s as simple as that! So
all you need to do is to walk into any local bank branch of your choice and
request for the form for proprietorship companies and get a bank account for
all your financial transactions.
Taxation
A separate PAN is NOT required for taxation for your business. Your
personal PAN is enough. And when filing your income tax returns as a sole
proprietor, you will fill it in your name. Also, because you and your sole
proprietorship firm are legally the same entity, you do not have to pay
corporate taxes. In Sole Proprietorship, all profits, losses, liabilities and
assets are subjected to the personal tax rate.
Service tax applies only if you are offering a service to your
customers. If you are selling goods, then VAT, Excise and / Sales tax are
applicable. And all these taxes are only applicable if you have an annual
turnover of more than twenty lacs. You may have to consider professional tax if
you would be employing other people.
Business Licenses
Depending on the nature of your sole proprietorship, you may
require different types of licenses and registrations.
1. Shops and
Establishment
This is strongly recommended. This registration is very
necessary if you intend to set up a physical shop and plan to employ other
people. It is also necessary for setting up your personal payment gateway on
your online store.
2. VAT/CST Registration
VAT or CST would be required if you would be selling
goods. It becomes applicable if your
turnover exceeds five lacs per annum.
3. Service Tax
This is compulsory and becomes a requirement if your annual
turnover is more than 20 lacs.
4. Professional Tax
This type of tax is necessary even if it is only one employee
you have. Each state has own guidelines. So you would have to find out if it is
necessary for you to register for professional tax in your state.
All these licenses and registrations may vary from state to state,
so you may have to check up the guidelines and guidelines for your state.
But before you set up your online shop as a sole proprietor,
ensure you have a catchy business name and get it trademarked. Make sure it is
not a generic name.
Now, you know all you need to about how to register a sole
proprietorship company in India. What are you waiting for? Go set up one ASAP!
