How much does public limited company registration cost?

CorporateWalla's professional fee starts at ₹17,499 plus GST. The MCA SPICe+ fee is nil if authorised capital is up to ₹15 lakh, name reservation is ₹1,000, and stamp duty on the MOA and AOA depends on the state. DSCs for directors and subscribers are extra at actuals. We confirm the full cost after seeing your capital and state.

How many directors and shareholders does a public company need?

A public company needs at least three directors and at least seven members. The maximum is fifteen directors, which can be increased by a special resolution. There is no upper limit on the number of members. Directors and members can be the same people, so seven persons can include the three directors.

Is there a minimum capital for a public limited company?

No. The minimum paid-up capital requirement for companies was removed by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015. You can start with any authorised and paid-up capital that suits the business. Keeping authorised capital at or below ₹15 lakh keeps the SPICe+ filing fee nil, though stamp duty still applies by state.

How long does it take to register a public limited company?

With documents ready, we usually file SPICe+ within 7–10 business days and incorporation takes 15–20 business days in total, depending on name approval and MCA processing. Delays usually come from name rejection, mismatched address proofs or DSC issues. These are service timelines, not a guarantee of approval.

What is the difference between a private and public limited company?

A private company needs two directors and two members, can have at most 200 members and must restrict share transfers in its articles. A public company needs three directors and seven members, has no member limit, can offer securities to the public and has stricter rules on board powers, related-party transactions and meetings.

Can a public limited company be registered with SPICe+?

Yes. Public companies are incorporated through SPICe+ like private companies. Part A reserves the name and Part B covers incorporation, DIN, PAN, TAN and linked registrations through AGILE-PRO-S, along with the e-MOA and e-AOA. The name must end with the word "Limited" and must not resemble an existing company or registered trademark.

Does a public company need independent directors?

Not every public company. Section 149(4) requires listed public companies to have independent directors, and the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014 extend this to unlisted public companies above prescribed paid-up capital, turnover or borrowing thresholds. A newly registered small public company usually falls below them, but the position should be checked each year.

Can I convert my private company into a public company instead?

Yes. An existing private company can convert by altering its articles through a special resolution, increasing directors and members to the public-company minimums and filing with the Registrar. If you already run a private company, conversion keeps the CIN and history. See our private to public conversion service for that route.

All services›Public Limited Company Registrationहिन्दी

Public Limited Company Registration in India

A public limited company is registered with the MCA through the SPICe+ form and needs at least three directors and seven members (subscribers), with at least one director resident in India and a name ending in "Limited". There is no minimum paid-up capital, and the MCA filing fee is nil where authorised capital is up to ₹15 lakh; name reservation is ₹1,000 and stamp duty depends on the state. Our CA/CS team handles DSCs, the name, SPICe+, e-MOA and e-AOA, PAN and TAN, and the first compliance steps.

15–20 business days (indicative) delivery

CA-led team

50% upfront, 50% on delivery

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Trademark® Reg. 5857120

30-min callback

Who Should Register a Public Limited Company?

A public limited company suits a business that expects many shareholders, needs freely transferable shares or plans to raise money from the public in future. For a founder-led startup with a few investors, a private limited company is usually simpler and cheaper to run.

You want to	Better fit
Raise money from more than 200 shareholders	Public limited company
List on a stock exchange in future	Public limited company
Bid for tenders that ask for a public company	Public limited company
Start with 2 founders and seed investors	Private limited company
Keep control and restrict who can buy shares	Private limited company
Already have a running Pvt Ltd and now need a public company	Convert Pvt Ltd to Public

Public Limited Company Registration Requirements

Requirement	Public limited company	Source
Minimum members (subscribers)	7	Section 3(1)(a)
Minimum directors	3 (maximum 15, more by special resolution)	Section 149(1)
Resident director	At least one director in India for 182 days or more in the financial year	Section 149(3)
Minimum paid-up capital	None	Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015
Name	Must end with "Limited"	Section 4(1)(a)
Registered office	Required in India, with proof	Section 12
Incorporation form	SPICe+ (Part A for name, Part B for incorporation)	MCA
Commencement of business	INC-20A within 180 days of incorporation	Section 10A

Step-by-Step Registration With Forms

1. DSCs for all directors and subscribers who will sign electronically.
2. SPICe+ Part A: reserve the name, with up to two proposed names, ending in "Limited". Fee ₹1,000.
3. MOA and AOA: draft the objects, capital and articles for a public company. They are filed as e-MOA (INC-33) and e-AOA (INC-34) where linked forms apply.
4. SPICe+ Part B: incorporation details, directors and subscribers, registered office, capital and DIN applications for directors who do not have one.
5. AGILE-PRO-S: linked form for GSTIN (optional), EPFO, ESIC, bank account and, in some states, professional tax.
6. Stamp duty paid online with the forms, at the rate of the state of the registered office.
7. Certificate of Incorporation with CIN, PAN and TAN on approval.
8. After incorporation: bank account, receipt of subscription money, INC-20A within 180 days, first auditor within 30 days of incorporation, share certificates and statutory registers.

INC-24 is not part of a fresh incorporation; it is used later to approve a change of name. Converting an existing private company is a separate process.

Public Company Registration Fee and Timeline

Item	Amount	Note
CorporateWalla professional fee	From ₹17,499 + GST	Starter package
SPICe+ filing fee	Nil up to ₹15 lakh authorised capital	Above that, by the fee table
Name reservation	₹1,000	Per SPICe+ Part A or RUN application
Stamp duty on MOA and AOA	By state	Depends on authorised capital and state
DSCs	At actuals	For each director and subscriber

Stage	Indicative time
DSCs	1–2 business days
Name reservation	2–4 business days
MOA, AOA and SPICe+ Part B preparation	3–5 business days
MCA processing and incorporation	5–10 business days

Use the company registration cost calculator to estimate stamp duty for your state.

Private vs Public Limited Company

Point	Private limited	Public limited
Minimum directors	2	3
Minimum members	2	7
Maximum members	200 (excluding employees)	No limit
Share transfer	Restricted by articles	Freely transferable
Offer shares to the public	Not allowed	Allowed, subject to SEBI rules
Name ends with	Private Limited	Limited
Governance	Several exemptions	Stricter rules on board powers, loans and related parties
Professional fee at CorporateWalla	See Pvt Ltd page	From ₹17,499

Read our guide on Pvt Ltd to Public Ltd conversion if you are deciding between registering fresh and converting.

Common Mistakes and Rejection Reasons

Proposed name too close to an existing company or a registered trademark
Only six subscribers, or a director counted twice without signing the memorandum
Address proof older than two months, or name mismatch between PAN and Aadhaar
No director who meets the 182-day residency condition
Articles copied from a private company, with transfer restrictions a public company does not need
Authorised capital set above ₹15 lakh without need, so the SPICe+ fee and stamp duty rise
Missing INC-20A within 180 days, which blocks the company from starting business

Worked Example and Current Position (October 2026)

Seven investors in Bengaluru want a public company with three of them as directors, ₹10 lakh authorised capital and ₹5 lakh paid-up. The SPICe+ fee is nil because authorised capital is within ₹15 lakh; they pay ₹1,000 for the name, Karnataka stamp duty on the MOA and AOA, DSCs at actuals and CorporateWalla's fee from ₹17,499 plus GST. After incorporation, the company opens its bank account, collects the ₹5 lakh, and files INC-20A within 180 days.

Illustrative scenario. As of October 2026, incorporation continues through SPICe+ with nil filing fee up to ₹15 lakh authorised capital. Director KYC is now due once every three financial years.

Transparent 3-tier pricing

Pick the speed and depth that matches your need. Same quality, same CA team — only the timeline changes.

Starter

₹17,499

Timeline: 15–20 business days

Structure review: 3 directors, 7 subscribers, capital

Name check and reservation (one application)

DIN allotment for new directors through SPICe+

MOA and AOA drafting (e-MOA, e-AOA)

SPICe+ filing with PAN and TAN

Certificate of Incorporation

DSCs for directors and subscribers

Standard

Custom quote

Timeline: Starter timeline + 2–3 weeks

Everything in Starter

DSCs for directors and subscribers

First board meeting minutes and statutory registers

First auditor appointment and ADT-1 support

Share certificates and INC-20A commencement declaration

Pro

Custom quote

Timeline: Annual

Everything in Standard

First-year ROC compliance: AGM, AOC-4, MGT-7

Board and general meeting calendar for a public company

GST, accounting and payroll setup on request

Government fee — paid by you at actuals

SPICe+ filing fee: nil where authorised capital is up to ₹15,00,000 (Rule 38(2), Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014); above that, as per the Companies (Registration Offices and Fees) Rules, 2014. Name reservation: ₹1,000 per application. Stamp duty on MOA and AOA: as per the state of the registered office. DSCs: at actuals. All paid separately.

Every price above is a professional fee, excluding GST and government charges. 50% upfront, 50% on delivery.

Professional fee excludes GST, MCA fees, stamp duty and DSC charges, which are paid at actuals. Payment: 50% upfront, 50% on delivery. Timelines are service timelines, not a guarantee of MCA approval.

How it works

Step 1

Structure and eligibility

Confirm at least three directors, seven subscribers, at least one director resident in India, the authorised and paid-up capital and the registered office.

Step 2

DSCs and name

Obtain DSCs for directors and subscribers and reserve a name ending in "Limited" through SPICe+ Part A.

Step 3

MOA and AOA

Draft the objects, capital clause and articles suited to a public company, and pay state stamp duty.

Step 4

SPICe+ filing

File SPICe+ Part B with e-MOA, e-AOA and AGILE-PRO-S, applying for DIN, PAN, TAN and other linked registrations.

Step 5

Incorporation

Receive the Certificate of Incorporation with CIN, PAN and TAN after the Registrar approves the filing.

Step 6

Post-incorporation

Open the bank account, receive subscription money, file INC-20A within 180 days and appoint the first auditor.

Get a free 15-min CA consultation

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Documents required

PAN of every Indian director and subscriber

Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence as identity proof

Recent bank statement or utility bill as address proof (not older than two months)

Passport-size photograph of each director and subscriber

Passport and apostilled or notarised address proof for foreign directors or subscribers

Registered office proof: utility bill not older than two months

Rent agreement and owner's NOC, or ownership document

Board resolution and documents of any corporate subscriber

Proposed names, main objects and capital structure

Email ID and mobile number of each director and subscriber

Why CorporateWalla®?

No cap on members

A private company is limited to 200 members; a public company has no such limit, which suits wide shareholding and future listing.

Freely transferable shares

Articles of a public company do not have to restrict share transfers, which makes raising capital from many investors easier.

Public fund-raising possible

Only a public company can offer securities to the public, subject to the Companies Act and SEBI rules on prospectus and listing.

Credibility with lenders and tenders

Some tenders, lenders and partners prefer a public company because of its stricter governance and disclosure rules.

CA/CS-led filing

Our CA/CS team drafts the MOA and AOA for a public company and checks every SPICe+ attachment before filing.

Frequently asked questions

Section 3(1)(a) of the Companies Act, 2013 needs at least seven persons to subscribe to the memorandum of a public company, and Section 149(1) needs at least three directors. At least one director must have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the financial year. There is no minimum paid-up capital since the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015.

Read the detailed guides

Public Limited Company Registration in major cities

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