PAN Central
Permanent Account Number for the owner or the business. Needed for every other registration.
- Who needs it
- Every business owner and every firm or company.
- Official fee
- Free (instant e-PAN with Aadhaar)
- Issued by
- Income Tax Department
- Apply at
- incometax.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
GST registration Central
Goods and Services Tax number (GSTIN).
- Who needs it
- Mandatory above ₹40 lakh turnover for goods (₹20 lakh in Telangana) and ₹20 lakh for services. Also for inter-state sale of goods and most marketplace sellers.
- Official fee
- Free
- Issued by
- GST Network
- Apply at
- gst.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
Udyam (MSME) registration Central
Registers you as a micro, small or medium enterprise.
- Who needs it
- Optional for all businesses. Unlocks MSME schemes and the lower trademark fee.
- Official fee
- Free
- Issued by
- Ministry of MSME
- Apply at
- udyamregistration.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
Import Export Code (IEC) Central
Code needed to import or export goods.
- Who needs it
- Anyone importing or exporting goods.
- Official fee
- ₹500 one time; free annual update
- Issued by
- DGFT
- Apply at
- dgft.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 2 Oct 2026 Source
Trademark registration Central
Protects your brand name and logo across India for 10 years.
- Who needs it
- Optional. Recommended before spending on signage and packaging.
- Official fee
- ₹4,500 per class (individuals, startups, MSMEs); ₹9,000 others
- Issued by
- Trade Marks Registry, IP India
- Apply at
- ipindia.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source
FSSAI Basic Registration (food license) Central
Food safety registration for small food businesses.
- Who needs it
- Food businesses with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore a year.
- Official fee
- ₹100 per year
- Issued by
- State Food Safety Department
- Apply at
- foscos.fssai.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
FSSAI State Licence (food license) State
Food safety licence for mid-size food businesses.
- Who needs it
- Food businesses with turnover from ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore.
- Official fee
- ₹5,000 per year
- Issued by
- State Food Safety Department
- Apply at
- foscos.fssai.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
FSSAI Central Licence (food license) Central
Food safety licence for large food businesses.
- Who needs it
- Food businesses with turnover above ₹50 crore, and e-commerce food operators.
- Official fee
- ₹7,500 per year
- Issued by
- FSSAI Regional Office
- Apply at
- foscos.fssai.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
Retail drug licence (Form 20 and 21) State
Licence to sell medicines under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
- Who needs it
- Pharmacies and medical stores. Needs a registered pharmacist and at least 10 sq m.
- Official fee
- ₹1,500 per form (₹3,000 for Forms 20 and 21)
- Issued by
- State Drugs Control Department
- Apply at
- ONDLS and your state portal
- Official check
- Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source
- Guide
- Pharmacy license (drug license) guide
Clinical establishment registration State
Registration of clinics and diagnostic centres under the state's clinical establishments law.
- Who needs it
- Private clinics. Rules differ by state (for example KPME in Karnataka).
- Official fee
- Varies by state
- Issued by
- State Health Department
- Apply at
- nsws.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
Biomedical waste authorisation State
Authorisation under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- Who needs it
- Every clinic or healthcare facility that generates biomedical waste.
- Official fee
- Varies by state
- Issued by
- State Pollution Control Board
- Apply at
- nsws.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
Municipal trade or health licence Municipal
Permission from your city to run a trade at your premises.
- Who needs it
- Depends on the city and trade. See the Metro Guide for each city's rules.
- Official fee
- Varies by city, from about ₹100 to ₹57,500 a year
- Issued by
- Your municipal corporation
- Apply at
- Metro Guide
- Official check
- Differs by state or city. Each guide shows its own date.
Shops and Establishments registration State
Registers your workplace and staff with the state Labour Department.
- Who needs it
- Most shops and offices; some states only from 10 workers.
- Official fee
- Free to about ₹27,000 depending on state and staff size
- Issued by
- State Labour Department
- Apply at
- Metro Guide
- Official check
- Differs by state or city. Each guide shows its own date.
Professional tax State
Annual tax on the business or owner, plus deduction from staff salaries.
- Who needs it
- Businesses in states that levy it. Delhi does not.
- Official fee
- Up to ₹2,500 a year
- Issued by
- State Commercial Taxes Department or municipal corporation
- Apply at
- Metro Guide
- Official check
- Differs by state or city. Each guide shows its own date.
EPF registration Central
Provident fund for employees.
- Who needs it
- Businesses with 20 or more employees.
- Official fee
- Free; 12% employer contribution
- Issued by
- EPFO
- Apply at
- epfindia.gov.in
- Official check
- Not officially verified
ESIC registration Central
Health insurance for employees earning up to ₹21,000 a month.
- Who needs it
- Businesses with 10 or more employees in notified areas.
- Official fee
- Free; 3.25% employer contribution
- Issued by
- ESIC
- Apply at
- esic.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
Fire NOC or fire licence State
Fire safety clearance based on occupancy, area, height and fuel use.
- Who needs it
- Eating houses using LPG, larger premises and taller buildings. Delhi: restaurants over 50 seats or 90 sq m.
- Official fee
- Varies by state and area
- Issued by
- State Fire Service
- Apply at
- nsws.gov.in
- Official check
- Differs by state or city. Each guide shows its own date.
Pollution Control Board consent State
Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate under the Air and Water Acts.
- Who needs it
- Larger kitchens, tandoors, DG sets and manufacturing units.
- Official fee
- Varies by category
- Issued by
- State Pollution Control Board
- Apply at
- nsws.gov.in
- Official check
- Differs by state or city. Each guide shows its own date.
Excise (bar) licence State
Licence to serve alcohol on your premises. Not available in Gujarat.
- Who needs it
- Restaurants and bars serving alcohol.
- Official fee
- Set in each state's excise policy; usually several lakh
- Issued by
- State Excise Department
- Apply at
- nsws.gov.in
- Official check
- Differs by state or city. Each guide shows its own date.
Weighing scale verification State
Verification and stamping of scales used for sale under Legal Metrology law.
- Who needs it
- Shops that sell goods by weight.
- Official fee
- Varies by instrument
- Issued by
- State Legal Metrology Department
- Apply at
- nsws.gov.in
- Official check
- Differs by state or city. Each guide shows its own date.
Packaged commodities registration (LMPC) State
Registration for packers and importers under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
- Who needs it
- Businesses that pack goods under their own brand.
- Official fee
- Varies by state
- Issued by
- State Legal Metrology Department
- Apply at
- nsws.gov.in
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
Music licence (PPL and IPRS) Private
Copyright licence to play recorded music in public. Issued by copyright societies, not the government.
- Who needs it
- Restaurants, cafés, salons and gyms that play music.
- Official fee
- Varies by tariff
- Issued by
- PPL India and IPRS
- Apply at
- pplindia.org
- Official check
- Checked on 27 Sep 2026 Source
Coaching centre registration State
Registration under the Ministry of Education's 2024 coaching guidelines, as adopted by each state.
- Who needs it
- Coaching and tuition centres in states that have notified rules.
- Official fee
- Set by the state
- Issued by
- State Education Department
- Apply at
- nsws.gov.in
- Official check
- Differs by state or city. Each guide shows its own date.
Fees are official government fees and exclude professional charges. Some fees vary by office; confirm on the portal before paying.