For UK, EU, US and UAE companies
Expand into India with one partner on the ground
Company setup, manufacturing, offices and local partners, checked before you meet them. One partner for the whole project.
Free first call. Reply within 48 hours.
25 yearsOur main partner in India: a working relationship of 25 years. How we work
25 yearswith our main partner in India
Freeintroduction, no fee for your company
Checkedpartners, before you meet them
One partnerreceives your project, never a list
Importing into the UK or the EU? Compare the duty on your product from India and China, live from the official tariff: UK calculator or India-EU trade deal calculator.
What do you want to do in India?
Set up a company or office
Subsidiary, branch, liaison office or LLP. Structure, registrations, bank account, registered office and resident director.
Start with thisManufacture in India
Contract manufacturing with a vetted factory, or your own plant. Sourcing, samples, quality checks and export paperwork.
Start with thisBuild a software team
A software development company or a dedicated offshore team in India, checked on references, security and code ownership.
Start with thisFind an Indian partner
Joint venture partner, distributor or sales agent, checked before you meet them, with the right agreement in place.
Start with thisInvest in an Indian business
Take a stake or buy a business. Sector rules on foreign investment, due diligence and the approvals you need.
Start with thisGuides: how to set up a company in India, how contract manufacturing in India works, choosing a joint venture partner in India, building a software team in India and foreign direct investment in India.
Why India projects stall
Expanding into India is rarely blocked by one big obstacle. It is blocked by many small steps that must happen in order, each handled by a different provider, with nobody owning the whole project.
- 01
Six providers, no project owner
A lawyer for the structure, an accountant for tax, a broker for the office, a recruiter, a supplier search. Each one waits for the others.
- 02
Approvals in sequence
Director IDs, incorporation, tax registrations, bank account, foreign investment reporting. One missing document delays everything after it.
- 03
Partners you cannot check from abroad
A directory listing or a good video call says little about a factory or a distributor. Missed deadlines and quality drift are the classic costs.
What we handle for you
You deal with one partner in India, chosen for your project. Behind that partner, specialists handle each part of your expansion.
- Legal structure
- Which entity fits your plan, what your sector allows for foreign ownership, and the approvals involved.
- Tax and compliance
- GST and tax registrations, foreign investment reporting, annual filings and accounting.
- Costs and budget
- A cost range for setup and for the first year, before you commit to anything.
- Offices and location
- Choice of city, registered office, coworking or leased space, and local hiring.
- Manufacturing partners
- Factories shortlisted for your product, visited and checked, then audited during production.
- Commercial partners
- Distributors, agents and joint venture partners, with background checks and contracts.
New to India? Read doing business in India and the India market entry strategy. Leaving China, or adding a second country? Read China plus one with India and India vs China manufacturing. Producing without your own entity? See how contract manufacturing in India works. Selling in India? See how to find a distributor in India. Buying into an existing business? Read how to acquire a company in India and the guide to foreign direct investment in India.
Before you meet anyone
Checked before you meet them
Middlemen posing as factories, certificates nobody can verify, samples that look nothing like the order. These are the stories buyers tell. Partners are checked on these points before your project reaches them.
- Check
A real, registered business
Company registration, tax and import-export numbers checked against official records.
- Check
A factory, not a trader
For manufacturing partners: the site exists, the machines are theirs and the capacity matches what they claim.
- Check
Certificates that hold up
ISO, GMP or sector certificates confirmed with the body that issued them.
- Check
Track record with foreign clients
Export history and references from buyers outside India.
- Check
Clear English and quick replies
A named contact who answers technical questions, not a different person every time.
How an India project runs
From your company to a checked partner on the ground, in four steps. You decide at every stage.
GB · US · AE
Your company
You describe your project in two minutes: what, sector, timing, budget.
Match
We qualify and match
Your request goes to the one partner suited to your project and sector.
IN
Checked partner in India
A partner checked before any introduction, who contacts you within 48 hours.
Go
Your project runs
Company setup, manufacturing, a local partner or an investment.
Ways to enter India, compared
The right structure depends on what you want to do in India and on your sector. Here is the short version.
| Structure | Suited to | What it can do | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wholly owned subsidiary | Most companies that want to operate, hire, invoice or manufacture in India | Almost any activity your sector allows | 100% foreign ownership in most sectors. Needs at least one director who lives in India. |
| Limited liability partnership (LLP) | Service businesses that want a lighter structure | Operate and invoice in India | Open to foreign investment only in sectors with 100% automatic-route access. |
| Branch office | Companies that want to act in India as the parent company | A limited list of activities (consultancy, import and export, research...) | Needs approval through the Reserve Bank of India. Manufacturing is generally not allowed. |
| Liaison office | Testing the market before a full setup | Represent the parent, market research, contacts. No revenue. | Needs approval through the Reserve Bank of India, usually for a limited period. |
| Joint venture | Sectors with foreign ownership limits, or when a local partner brings licences or a network | Whatever the joint company is set up to do | Success depends on choosing and checking the partner, and on the shareholder agreement. |
| Contract manufacturing | Producing in India without your own entity | An Indian factory makes your product under contract | Fastest route to production. Supplier checks and quality control do the heavy lifting. |
Summary for general information. Foreign investment rules depend on your sector and change over time.
Typical timeline
Setting up a subsidiary in India, step by step
Indicative order and timing for a private limited company. Your partner confirms the timeline for your case.
Week 1
Structure and documents
Entity choice, sector check, directors, documents signed and legalised abroad.
Weeks 1 to 2
Digital IDs
Digital signatures and director identification numbers, done remotely.
Weeks 2 to 4
Incorporation
Name approval and incorporation filing. Tax numbers are issued with the certificate.
Weeks 3 to 8
Bank account
Account opening, often the slowest step, with documents and verification visits.
Weeks 4 to 10
Registrations
GST and other registrations, foreign investment reporting, office and first hires.
Indicative ranges. Bank account opening and sector approvals vary a lot from one case to another. Details in the guide to setting up a company in India from abroad.
Why companies plan their India move with us
A partner we have known for 25 years
Not a contact found last month: a working relationship that has lasted 25 years.
One partner, start to finish
No more chasing six providers who do not talk to each other.
Matched to your sector
Not a directory: your request goes to a partner who already works in your industry.
Costs and timeline before you commit
Your partner gives you the steps, a cost range and the timing first.
Setup and production in one project
Entity, office, hiring and manufacturing move together instead of in silos.
Questions about expanding into India
Can a foreign company own 100% of an Indian company?
In most sectors, yes. India allows 100% foreign ownership through the automatic route in a large majority of sectors. Some sectors, such as defence, insurance, media or multi-brand retail, have caps or need government approval. We check your exact activity before recommending a structure.
How long does it take to set up a company in India?
Incorporation itself often takes a few weeks once your documents are signed and legalised. The full setup, including bank account, tax registrations and office, usually takes longer. Branch and liaison offices need approval through the Reserve Bank of India, which adds time. Your partner gives you a realistic timeline for your case.
How much does it cost to expand into India?
It depends on the structure, the city and what you need on the ground. The main costs are professional fees, the registered office, a resident director if you do not have one, and ongoing accounting and compliance. Your partner gives you a cost range before you commit to anything.
Do I need an Indian partner or director?
You do not need an Indian shareholder in most sectors. A private company does need at least one director who lives in India. If you do not have one, a nominee or professional resident director can be arranged, with clear limits on their role.
Can I manufacture in India without building a factory?
Yes. Contract manufacturing lets an Indian factory produce for you under contract, without setting up an entity. It is often the first step before deciding on your own plant. The key is choosing a factory that has been checked on site and keeping quality control during production.
Which industries do you work with?
All industries. Each request goes to a partner who knows your sector: the right lawyers and accountants, and factories or partners that already work in your field.
Is my project too small?
Probably not. Buyers often report that Indian suppliers ignored them because their first orders were small. Partners are matched to the size of your project, from a first production run of a few hundred units to a full subsidiary.
Is the introduction free?
Our introduction is free for your company. We work with reliable partners in India, including a main partner we have worked with for 25 years, and they pay us a referral fee when they take on a project. You agree the scope and price of their work directly with them, before anything starts.
Get your India plan
Tell us what you want to do in India. We pass your project to a partner in India suited to it. They contact you for a first call, then a plan with:
- the structure that fits your project and sector
- the steps in the right order
- a cost range for setup and the first year
- a realistic timeline
- the specialists and partners you need on the ground