A public limited company is the only business structure in India that can raise capital directly from the general public by issuing shares, and it is the entity most large Indian businesses eventually convert into before an IPO. Registering one is more document-heavy than a private limited company: you need a minimum of 3 directors and 7 shareholders, a compliant Memorandum and Articles of Association, and a SPICe+ filing that survives Registrar of Companies scrutiny on the first attempt.
LegalDev handles the entire public limited company registration process for you, from name reservation through SPICe+ filing to the Certificate of Incorporation, so your company is legally ready to raise funds, sign contracts, and hire under its own name.
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A public limited company (PLC) is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 and registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) whose shares can be offered to the general public and freely transferred, subject to the company's articles. It is a separate legal entity from its shareholders and directors, meaning the company itself can own property, enter contracts, sue, and be sued in its own name. Every public limited company's name must end with the word "Limited."
There are two categories of public limited company in practice:
Unlisted public company:- Registered as a public limited company under the Companies Act but its shares are not yet traded on a stock exchange. Most newly registered public companies fall in this category.
Listed public company:- Has completed an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and its shares trade on a recognised stock exchange such as the NSE or BSE. Listing brings additional SEBI compliance on top of Companies Act requirements.
You do not need to list on a stock exchange to register as a public limited company. Many businesses choose the public limited structure early to build the governance framework and shareholder base needed for a future IPO, without listing immediately.
People often confuse these three terms. Here is the real difference:
To register a public limited company in India, you need:
A person can be both a director and a shareholder at the same time, which is how many founding teams satisfy the 7-shareholder requirement without bringing in outside investors at incorporation.
For Directors and Shareholders
For the Registered Office
Incorporation Documents Prepared by LegalDev
Step 1: Obtain Digital Signature Certificates (DSC)
Every proposed director and subscriber to the MOA needs a Class 3 DSC to sign incorporation forms electronically on the MCA portal. This usually takes 1 to 2 working days.
Step 2: Apply for Director Identification Number (DIN)
DIN for up to 3 directors is generated automatically inside the SPICe+ form itself; you do not need to file it separately.
Step 3: Reserve the Company Name
Apply through Part A of the SPICe+ form (or the RUN service) with up to two proposed names. The name must be unique, must not resemble an existing registered company or trademark, and must follow MCA naming guidelines. It's worth checking name availability and any conflicting trademark before submission, since this is the single biggest cause of delay.
Step 4: Draft the MOA and AOA
The Memorandum of Association defines the company's objects and scope of business. The Articles of Association lay out its internal rules of governance, including how shares are transferred and how directors are appointed. Both are filed electronically (eMOA/eAOA) as part of SPICe+.
Step 5: File SPICe+ Part B
This single integrated form covers company incorporation, PAN and TAN application, EPFO and ESIC registration, and (optionally) GST registration. Upload all supporting documents and have the 7 subscribers and 3 directors sign digitally.
Step 6: Pay Government Fees and Stamp Duty
MCA fees depend on the authorised share capital slab, and stamp duty on the MOA and AOA depends on the state where the registered office is located. Both are calculated and paid within the SPICe+ workflow.
Step 7: Certificate of Incorporation
Once the Registrar of Companies verifies the application, it issues the Certificate of Incorporation along with the company's Corporate Identity Number (CIN), PAN, and TAN. This is your company's official proof of legal existence.
Step 8: Open a Current Bank Account
Use the Certificate of Incorporation, PAN, and MOA/AOA to open a current account in the company's name.
Step 9: File Declaration of Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A)
Before the company starts any business activity or exercises borrowing powers, it must file Form INC-20A confirming that subscribers have paid for their shares. This is due within 180 days of incorporation and is mandatory for every company, including public limited companies.
There is no single fixed government fee. Total cost depends on your authorised capital, the state your registered office is in, and the number of directors needing a DSC. Here is a realistic breakdown:
The wide range exists because public limited companies typically start with higher authorised capital than private companies (to accommodate 7+ subscribers and future fundraising plans), and MCA fees and stamp duty scale with that capital. LegalDev gives you a fixed, itemised quote before you pay anything, based on your actual capital structure and state.
Timelines can extend if the proposed name is rejected, documents are incomplete, or the ROC raises a resubmission query, which is why getting the documentation right the first time matters more than speed of filing.
Registration is the starting line, not the finish line. Public limited companies carry heavier ongoing compliance than private companies:
Most newly incorporated public companies stay well below these higher thresholds in year one, but it's worth planning your capital structure with these numbers in view, since crossing them triggers extra compliance automatically.
It is the process of incorporating a company under the Companies Act, 2013 that is legally permitted to issue shares to the public and have its shares traded freely, subject to its Articles of Association.
A minimum of 3 directors is required, with at least one being a resident of India.
At least 7 shareholders (subscribers to the MOA) are required. There is no upper limit.
No. The minimum paid-up capital requirement was removed by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015. A company can be incorporated with any authorised capital that suits its business needs.
Yes. The entire process is completed through the MCA portal using the SPICe+ form, from name reservation to the Certificate of Incorporation.
Typically 10 to 20 working days if all documents and approvals go through without resubmission.
Total cost usually ranges from around ₹40,000 to ₹1,00,000 or more, depending on authorised capital, state stamp duty, and professional fees.
A public limited company can raise capital from the public and has no cap on shareholders, while a private limited company cannot invite public investment and is capped at 200 shareholders.
No. A company can register as a public limited company and remain unlisted indefinitely. Listing requires a separate IPO process regulated by SEBI.
PAN and address proof of all directors and subscribers, DSC and DIN for directors, registered office proof, and the MOA and AOA.
Yes. Every director and subscriber must hold a Class 3 DSC to sign incorporation forms electronically.
Yes, but at least one director on the board must be an Indian resident who stayed in India for 182 days or more in the preceding financial year.
SPICe+ (Simplified Proforma for Incorporating Company Electronically Plus) is the integrated MCA form that combines name reservation, DIN allotment, incorporation, PAN, TAN, and EPFO/ESIC registration into a single filing.
It is the Declaration of Commencement of Business, which every company must file within 180 days of incorporation before it can start operations or borrow money. Missing it can attract penalties.
A whole-time Company Secretary is mandatory only once the company's paid-up share capital reaches ₹10 crore or more.
For unlisted public companies, once paid-up capital reaches ₹10 crore, turnover reaches ₹100 crore, or outstanding loans/deposits/debentures reach ₹50 crore.
Yes. Directors can also subscribe to shares, which is how many founding teams meet the 7-shareholder requirement.
You need to submit a fresh name (or use your backup name option) and refile, which typically adds a few working days to the timeline.
GST registration can be applied for through the SPICe+ form at the time of incorporation, but it is only mandatory if your business crosses the applicable turnover threshold or operates in a category requiring compulsory registration.
Authorised capital is the maximum value of shares a company is permitted to issue. Paid-up capital is the actual amount shareholders have paid for the shares they hold.
A minimum of 4 board meetings per year, with no more than a 120-day gap between two consecutive meetings.
Within 9 months of the end of the first financial year; every subsequent AGM is due within 6 months of the financial year closing.
Yes, by passing a special resolution and filing the required forms with the ROC to obtain a new Certificate of Incorporation.
The Corporate Identity Number is a unique 21-digit identifier assigned to every company registered in India; it appears on the Certificate of Incorporation and all statutory filings.
You need a registered office address in India with valid proof (rent agreement, utility bill, and NOC if rented); it can be a commercial or, in some cases, residential address.
Yes, stamp duty is a state subject and varies depending on where your registered office is located and your authorised capital.
Yes, subject to shareholder approval and ROC filings, a public limited company can convert into a private limited company and vice versa.
15 directors, which can be increased beyond that by passing a special resolution.
Yes. This requirement cannot be waived under any circumstance; at least one board member must meet India's residency test.
Public limited company filings involve more subscribers, more documents, and stricter ROC scrutiny than private company filings. A professional service reduces resubmission risk, gets your capital structure and MOA object clauses right the first time, and manages the DSC, DIN, and post-incorporation compliance calendar for you.
LegalDev Tax India Private Limited (CIN: U69202UT2023PTC016183) is a professional consultancy firm handling company registration, GST, trademark, and compliance filings for businesses across India. Our team works directly with your documents and the MCA portal, tracks your application status until the Certificate of Incorporation is issued, and stays available for the post-incorporation filings (INC-20A, first board meeting minutes, auditor appointment) that most founders miss.
Public limited company registration gives your business the legal structure to raise capital from the public, build shareholder credibility, and set the governance foundation for a future stock exchange listing. The process is entirely online through the MCA's SPICe+ form, but it demands more subscribers, tighter documentation, and closer attention to compliance deadlines than a private limited company registration. Getting the name, MOA object clauses, and subscriber documentation right on the first attempt is what separates a 10-day registration from a 25-day one.