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Online OPC Registration – Start Your One Person Company In India

Pragya Pathak

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Updated: 31-01-2026 at 5:30 AM

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500K+ Users

All types of businesses in India work and operate as per the legal guidelines laid down in the Companies Act of 2013, and one of the businesses covered under the law is that of a One Person Company (OPC). As the name suggests, a One Person Company allows individuals to start their own companies with a distinct legal identity. An OPC comprises all the essential features that other companies have, such as succession, limited liability, etc.

OPC registration allows solo proprietors to start their legally verified businesses with all the perks that other business models enjoy. This type of company is extremely beneficial for people, like professionals, freelancers, and OPC registration for startups, who wish to create a trusted pool of clients or customers and operate on a small scale with full control.

Read the article to learn more about the One Person Company, ranging from its meaning and advantages to the formal registration process and usual timelines, including information on OPC registration fees and OPC registration without office address.

Overview

The table below summarises some key details about the One Person Company (OPC) that one should know.

Name of the company	OPC
Full form	One Person Company
Governing law	Companies Act of 2013
Meaning	Allows individuals to start their own companies with a distinct legal identity
Suitable for	Single entrepreneurs
OPC registration cost in India	Varies, but usually includes the government fees, professional fees, and DSC/DIN charges

What Is An One Person Company (OPC)?

A One Person Company (OPC) is a type of business model recognised under the Companies Act of 2013. This type of business model allows a single person to establish and run their own companies with a separate legal identity.

Before the law came into existence and force, an individual could not legally establish a company under their sole ownership. If people still wanted to, they could only opt for a sole proprietorship, which did not separate the company’s identity from the owner’s identity. It was compulsory to have two directors and two members for a private company, and three directors and seven members to establish a public company, which was the biggest hurdle in opening a single-person company.

But with the introduction of this new model of business, known as the One Person Company, new provisions were added in the Companies Act. Sections, like Section 2(62), which states that a company can be established with just one director and one member, and both of the roles can be fulfilled by the same person. Any citizen of India or even a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) can apply to open an OPC. This new model of business was introduced by the authorities to promote entrepreneurship among Indian citizens and also encourage more and more people to start their own businesses, specifically those who wish to start their own businesses with no partners.

Advantages Of One Person Company Registration

There are several advantages of starting a One Person Company by doing the formal OPC registration process. Some of the key advantages of the same are laid down below for one’s reference:

One of the major advantages of going through with the OPC registration process is establishing a distinct legal identity for the business entity. This means that the business gets an identity of its own, which is separate from that of the owner. This becomes very handy in situations when the company faces financial loss and protects the assets of the owner, as creditors can only come for the assets of the business.
Compared to other models of business, a One Person Company enjoys relaxed guidelines and requirements, such as no need of preparing cash flow statement, no need for a Company Secretary (CS) to sign the books of accounts, etc. This makes the working of an OPC easier as there is only one person involved in all the activities of the business.
A One Person Company is easier to incorporate as only one person is acting as the member and the director. The minimum amount of capital needed to incorporate an OPC is Rs. 1 lakh, but there is no requirement of a minimum paid-up capital.

Disadvantages Of OPC Company Registration

Along with advantages, it has a range of disadvantages as well. Some of the disadvantages of an OPC are described below in brief points:

An One Person Company is ideal for small businesses and startups only. Only one person can operate this type of business, and it is the authorised limit. Hence, this type of business model cannot grow after a certain point, and no shareholders or partners can be invited to join this business model.
As there is only one person who is the owner and the management of the One Person Company, at times, the owner can end up making risky, bad, and unethical decisions, as there is no one to advise them.

Things To Ensure While Applying For OPC Registration

There are some important things that applicants should ensure while completing the One Person Company registration online process. Some important points to take care of are as follows:

There should be a minimum and maximum of one member in the company.
Applicants are required to appoint a nominee before the incorporation of the company.
Please take the consent of the nominee through Form INC-3.
The name of the company should be selected in accordance with the provisions in the Companies (Incorporation Rules) of 2014.
The minimum amount of capital needed for a One Person Company is Rs. 1 lakh.
Please ensure that a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of the proposed director is obtained.
And lastly, submit proof of the registered office of the One Person Company that you’re applying for.

Step-By-Step OPC Registration Process

Applicants can apply for One Person Company registration by following the OPC registration online process. The registration process is mentioned below in a stepwise manner for one’s clarity:

Step 1: The first step of starting the OPC registration process is applying for a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) from the proposed director with the help of some supporting documents, like proof of address, Aadhaar card, PAN card, photograph, and contact information.

Step 2: After successfully obtaining a Digital Signature Certificate, the next step is applying for a Director Identification Number (DIN) for the proposed director. This is taken with the help of the SPICe+ form along with other essential details of the director, like name and proof of address. Please note that the form DIR-3 can only be filed by existing companies, which means that from January 2018, applicants were no longer required to fill out and file form DIR-3 separately, as DIN is now allowed to file with the SPICe+ form for a maximum of three directors.

Step 3: Please think of and decide the name of your company. The name should be in the format of ‘XYZ (OPC) Private Limited’. The name is put for approval with the SPICe+ form, along with the reason for selecting and wanting that name. Only one name can be submitted, and if it gets rejected, applicants can file for another name by filling other SPICe+ form.

Step 4: Submit the scanned copies of all the required documents. Ensure that you have compiled and attached all the required documents, along with the SPICe+ form, SPICe-AoA, SPICe-MoA, and the Digital Signature Certificate of the proposed director, and upload them all to the MCA website for approval and verification. Please note that you don’t have to file separate applications for PAN or TAN of the company, as they are now generated automatically at the time of incorporation of the company.

Step 5: After successful verification and approval, the Registrar of Companies (ROC) issues a Certificate of Incorporation, and then the applicants can start their formal business activities.

What Are The Documents Required For OPC Registration?

There are some documents that the applicants are required to attach while completing the OPC registration online in India. The list of required documents is as follows:

Memorandum of Association (MoA), a document comprising all the objectives of the company, including the reason why the company came into existence
Articles of Association (AoA), a document that consists of all the laws that are to be abided by the company
Form INC 3 with an Aadhaar and PAN card (As there is only one director and one member, a nominee is to be appointed on behalf of such single members in case they become incapacitated or die, and hence, cannot perform their daily essential duties; this form represents their consent for the same)
Proof of Registered Office of the proposed company, along with the proof of ownership, and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the owner
A declaration by a professional stating that all the formalities have been completed

Also Read: GST 2.0 In India- Reforms, New Tax Structure & Impact On Consumers And Businesses In 2026

General Timelines For OPC Registration

The usual timeline of the components involved in successful OPC registration is described below in brief points for one's reference:

The Digital Signature Certificate and Director Identification Number of the proposed directors are generally obtained in a day.
Certificate of Incorporation of a One Person Company is issued in around 3 to 5 days.
The whole process of OPC registration takes about 10 days, based on departmental approvals.

Conclusion

One Person Company registration is a major step taken by those who wish to start their own business units without any partners and reap the benefits as other business models do. The whole process of OPC registration not only provides legal recognition to the businesses of single entrepreneurs but also almost all the other essential benefits that other models of businesses enjoy. It also marks a clear distinction between the business owner’s identity and the company’s identity, which reduces their financial risk considerably.

Overall, the new addition of this type of business model will benefit all those individuals who wish to start their own business units without partnering up with any other person. This model not only promotes entrepreneurship and accountability but also provides the freedom and flexibility needed to take such a big step of starting a business.

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