Ever since the Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi, launched the Startup India program, there has been an incredible surge in the number of startups coming up. 

With tax exemptions, benefits and help provided by the government, more and more people are creating a company of their own. The most fascinating thing is that a majority of the startups have young founders and owners, which speaks volumes about the incredible creative minds that India has.

Since they did not have the backing of the government earlier and had to do everything on their own, not many people got into it with all their hearts. However, ever since the program started, people are now brave knowing that the government will back them in the process and hence are coming up with new ideas. 

Moreover, some people do not even know if their company falls into the category of a startup or not. Keeping all such things in mind, we have created a blog post to help you in this regard by explaining the eligibility criteria to be called a startup and the procedure to register your company as one. 

Before going deep into the dynamics of the eligibility and procedure, let us understand what exactly a startup is.

What is a startup?

A startup is a business managed by the collection of a few people that solves a problem. 

Such companies come into formation when the founders find some negatives in the existing system they have been working in and intend to solve the issues by creating a new company of their own. 

Apart from this, a startup can also come into existence when the founder(s) come with a potentially great idea. The services such startups provide are the services they think currently exist of inferior quality or do not exist at all.

The biggest advantage of a startup is that it improves employment in the country as it is the direct result of more and more companies coming up. With the possibility of increased job opportunities, the Indian government has tried to help young companies grow and thrive in the Indian market. The Startup India initiative helps you to innovate and improve economic sustainable development. 

Now that you have a better idea about what a startup is and what Startup India talks about, let us look into what all companies qualify as a Startup in India. 

The startup eligibility criteria

What makes you a startup under the Startup India program?

• The firm has to be a private limited company or a limited liability partnership
• The company remains a startup for the first ten years, post the date of registration. In the recent past, the Indian government changed that to 10 years from 7 years to give opportunities and tax exemptions for the companies for a longer run
• The company remains a startup if the turnover per year does not cross the Rs 100 crore mark in any of the 10 years. Once the company crosses the mark, it no longer remains eligible to be called a startup. The mark of Rs 100 crore to has been improved by the Indian government in the recent past from Rs 25 crore
• The firm should have approval from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP)
• The firm should be funded by an Incubation Fund, an Angel Fund or a Private Equity Fund
• A patron guarantee from the Indian Patent and Trademark office is necessary
• You must have a recommendation letter by an incubation
• The firm must come up with innovative ideas and schemes
• All the details regarding the funding must be registered with SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India)

Procedure for registering a startup in India

Step 1: Incorporate your business

First things first, you need to incorporate your business as a Private Limited Company or a Limited Liability Partnership or a Partnership firm. You just need to follow the normal procedure that includes you filling up a form to get the registration. 

Step 2: Register under Startup India

Now you need to register your firm or company as a startup in the Startup India scheme of the government. You just need to fill the form available for you on the Startup India website. You have to fill in all the details and upload a certain number of documents as well. 

Step 3: Documents you need to upload in a PDF format only

1. You need a letter of recommendation along with the registration form. You can get any one of the following recommendation letters. 

• A recommendation letter from an Incubator known in a post-graduate college in India, in a format approved by the DIPP. This is regarding the innovative nature of the business; OR
• A recommendation letter from an incubator that the Government of India funds as part of any specified scheme to promote innovation; OR
• A letter from any of the Incubators, recognized by the Government of India, in DIPP format. 
• A letter of funding not less than 20% in equity, by an Incubation Fund, Private Equity Fund, Angel Fund, Accelerator, Private Equity Fund, registered with SEBI that endorses the innovative nature of business; OR
• A recommendation later by the Central or any State Government of India; OR 
• A patent was filed and published in the Journal of Indian Patent Office in areas affiliated with the nature of the business being promoted. 

1. Registration or Incorporation Certificate

You need to upload the certificate of incorporation of your company or LLP, or the registration certificate for a partnership company. 

1. Brief description of your business

Step 4: You need to mention if you need tax exemption

In India, startups do not have to pay income tax for the first three years but to avail such benefits, the company must be certified by the Inter-Ministerial Board (IMB). This is where companies registered with DIPP get relaxation as the registration is enough to get the benefits. 

Step 5: Self-certification of the following conditions

• You are a Private limited company, an LLP or a partnership firm.
• Your business must be incorporated or registered in India, not before 5 years. 
• Your company’s turnover must not be more than Rs 100 crore. 
• The company has to keep innovating something new or making the existing system better in its own way.
• Your business must be a fresh idea and not a splitting up or reconstruction of an existing business. 

Step 6: Get your recognition number

On application of this registration, you will get a recognition number with immediate effect. You get the certificate of registration or incorporation only after the authority goes through all your uploaded documents. 

You need to be careful while uploading the data, as any discrepancy in it can cause you a huge fine of up to 50% of your paid-up capital or Rs 25,000 at the very least.