While starting your own business, the very first question that comes to mind is, ‘How should I form a company?’ For starting a business in a single person’s name, a sole proprietorship registration can be done but if one wants central registration with a separate legal entity and the benefits of a company form of organisation; he/she will have to for Private Limited Company or Limited Liability Partnership which requires minimum of 2 partners/Directors.

There comes a question that what can be done if a single person wants to incorporate a registered company along with benefits of corporate outlook, separate legal entity etc, then he/she can go for One Person Company registered with MCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs) which will have benefits of both Private Limited Company and Sole Proprietorship.

This post presents a stepwise procedure to legally register a one person company. As per the Companies Act 2013, section 2(62), a One Person Company means a company that has only one member.

Any person who is residing in India and holds Indian citizenship is eligible to form a one person company. This type of company is a legal entity which is separate from its member. The liability of a member is very limited. The best advantage of the OPC is that you can start up your own business solely on your own.

Requirements to Form a One-Person-Company

The requirements for starting such a company are:

• One director (minimum)

• One member (minimum)

• One nominee

• Application for the allotment of Direction Identification Number should be made.

• You need to have a Digital Signature Certificate

• Step-By-Step Guide to Form a One Person Company (OPC)

The complete procedure to form a company with OPC status requires you to fulfil following steps. 

• Apply for DIN (Director Identification Number) in DIR-3 form.

• Apply for DSC – Digital Signature Certificate.

• Search for a name for your company. Check the availability of the name by visiting the official website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. You need to submit minimum 6 names in order of your preference while submitting the application for company registration.

• Apply for the reservation of name with the Registrar of Companies.. The name will end with the words “private limited.”, but also include ‘(OPC)’ before the suffix. This application is basically for reservation of the name for your one person company.

• Draft a MOA and AOA (Memorandum of Association and Articles).

• File the required  SPICe with the Registrar of the Companies..

• Pay the RoC fees and stamp duty digitally according to the authorised capital of the company. You can pay the fees online on mca.gov.in

• After payment of all the required RoC fees and stamp duties, your documents and forms will be scrutinszed by the Registrar of the Companies. If ROC suggests you to make any changes, make the necessary changes and submit the documents.

• After ROC approves your application, you should receive a digitally signed certificate of incorporation in the name of your one person company. After your company is formed legally, you should carry out certain necessary procedures.. Also, apply for necessary registrations related to tax. Open a current bank account with any reputed bank..

The above steps will give an idea of how you should legally register a one person company. Also, note that a person can incorporate only a single one person company. This means you cannot establish more than one one person company.

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