How do I register a company in Kerala?

A Private Limited company or LLP in Kerala is registered centrally with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs using the SPICe+ or FiLLiP forms, which also bundle PAN, TAN and often EPFO and ESIC. Partnership, proprietorship, Shops Act and professional tax registrations are handled through Kerala state portals.

Is professional tax applicable in Kerala?

Yes, professional tax is levied in Kerala. Employers register to deduct and deposit it from salaries. Levied by local bodies (panchayats and municipalities), half-yearly. Register with your local body.

How to Register a Business in Kerala

Registering a business in Kerala means dealing with two layers: central registrations that are the same across India, and Kerala state registrations that are specific to where you operate. Here is exactly what you file and where, with the official portals.

Company & LLP (central)

A Private Limited company or LLP in Kerala is registered centrally with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the same process nationwide. Use SPICe+ for a company or FiLLiP for an LLP; PAN, TAN and often EPFO and ESIC are bundled in.

MCA portal (SPICe+ / FiLLiP) ↗

Kerala business single window

Partnership firms, proprietorship registrations, trade licences and state incentives in Kerala go through the state single-window or industries portal.

Kerala single window ↗

Shops & Establishment

Almost any commercial workplace in Kerala, including a small office or a two-person startup, needs this state labour registration, usually within 30 days of starting.

startupmission.kerala.gov.in ↗

Professional tax: Levied in Kerala

Levied by local bodies (panchayats and municipalities), half-yearly. Register with your local body.

Professional tax detail →

Building a startup in Kerala? The state startup body is Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM). See the Kerala schemes deep dive for grants, incubators and recognition.

A typical order of registration in Kerala

Decide your structure. Private Limited or LLP if you will raise funding or want limited liability; proprietorship or partnership for the simplest start.
Register the entity. Company or LLP centrally on the MCA portal; partnership with the Kerala Registrar of Firms; a proprietorship is built from the registrations below.
Get PAN, TAN and GST as needed. PAN and TAN come with incorporation; register for GST if you cross the threshold or sell online or across states.
Take the state registrations. Shops & Establishment for your Kerala premises, and professional tax since Kerala levies it, plus a trade licence if your activity needs one.
Add free recognitions. Udyam (MSME) and DPIIT startup recognition are free and worth taking, and open schemes and tenders.

Get your full Kerala checklist

The free mapper turns your entity, sector and situation into a complete checklist of exactly what you need, including which state items apply to you.

Run the compliance mapper

💬State portals in Kerala can be fiddly, and documents are easy to get wrong. If you would rather not deal with it, the registrations can be done for you as an optional paid service, in cash or a small equity stake with written guardrails. You can always file yourself or use any professional you choose. See how it works.

← All states Professional tax by state Shops Act by state Compliance FAQ Compliance calendar

Please read: This is general information about registering a business in Kerala, reviewed in July 2026. It is not legal or tax advice and does not create an advisor relationship. State requirements, portals, thresholds and fees change and depend on your specific facts. Links go to government or single-window portals we do not control; where none is verified we point to the National Single Window rather than guessing a URL. Always confirm on the official portal or with a qualified Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary or lawyer before acting. TheStartupsHub is owned and managed by Dave Groups. Founders never pay to read or learn here.