One of the first questions every founder asks is: "What will it actually cost to register my company?" The honest answer is that the total depends on your structure, your state (stamp duty varies), and your authorised capital. Here's a transparent breakdown so there are no surprises.

What makes up the cost

Every company registration has three cost buckets:

• Government fees — charged by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) for filing forms
• Stamp duty — a state-level charge on the MOA/AOA, which varies significantly by state and authorised capital
• Professional fees — what you pay a CA / CS / platform to prepare and file everything correctly

There are also small one-time costs like the Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for each director.

Typical cost by structure

Why quotes differ so much

If you've collected quotes, you've probably seen a wide range. The reasons:

• Stamp duty differs by state. The same Pvt Ltd costs more to register in some states than others purely because of stamp duty on the MOA/AOA.
• Authorised capital. Higher authorised capital can increase government fees and stamp duty.
• Number of directors. Each director needs a DSC, which adds a small per-person cost.
• Bundled vs transparent pricing. Some providers quote a low headline price, then add "government fees" and "processing charges" later.

How to avoid being overcharged

• Ask for government fees and professional fees shown separately. A trustworthy provider will never hide the split.
• Confirm whether DSC, PAN and TAN are included in the quote.
• Check whether the price includes the commencement-of-business filing (INC-20A) and the first year's basics.
• Be cautious of prices that look too cheap — they often exclude statutory costs you'll pay anyway.

Don't forget ongoing compliance costs

Registration is a one-time cost. After that, a company has recurring obligations: annual ROC filings (AOC-4, MGT-7), director KYC, accounting, GST returns (if registered), and income-tax filing. Budget for these from day one — penalties for missed filings often cost far more than the compliance itself.

The FilingLab approach

We quote a single all-inclusive professional fee with government fees and stamp duty shown separately, so you know exactly where every rupee goes. No bundled "processing charges", no surprises. [Get an exact quote for your state](/pricing).