Built for the solo founder
Before 2013 a single person in India had only one realistic option — a sole proprietorship, in which there is no legal separation at all between you and the business. The One Person Company changed that. An OPC is a proper company with its own legal identity, its own PAN, and limited liability, yet it needs only one shareholder and one director, who can be the same person. The only unusual requirement is a nominee: you must name someone who would take over the company in the event of your death or incapacity, and they must consent in writing.
- One owner is enough. No need to add a spouse or friend as a token second shareholder purely to meet a legal minimum.
- Limited liability. Unlike a proprietorship, your personal assets are legally separate from business debts.
- Separate legal identity. The company contracts, sues and is sued in its own name, which professionalises how clients deal with you.
- Easier credit. Banks generally lend more readily to a registered company than to a proprietorship with the same numbers.
- Lighter than a Pvt Ltd. No annual general meeting is required, and board meeting requirements are minimal.
- Converts as you grow. An OPC can be converted into a private limited company when you're ready to take on partners or investment.
Documents you'll need
Note the nominee requirement — it is the one item that catches most first-time applicants out, so identify your nominee early.
- PAN and Aadhaar of the sole director and shareholder.
- PAN and Aadhaar of the nominee, which is mandatory for an OPC.
- Identity proof — voter ID, passport or driving licence.
- Address proof — bank statement or utility bill, under two months old.
- Passport-size photograph.
- Registered office proof — utility bill, plus rent agreement and owner's NOC if rented.
How the process runs
1
DSC and DINWe obtain your Digital Signature Certificate and Director Identification Number.
2
Nominee consentForm INC-3 is prepared and filed with your nominee's written consent. This is a statutory requirement unique to the OPC structure.
3
Name approval and filingWe reserve your company name and file SPICe+ with an electronic memorandum and articles drafted for single ownership.
4
Certificate, PAN and TANThe Certificate of Incorporation arrives with your CIN, PAN and TAN, typically around fifteen days from start.
Two limits worth knowing
An OPC must convert to a private or public limited company if paid-up capital exceeds ₹50 lakh or average annual turnover exceeds ₹2 crore over three consecutive years. An OPC also cannot carry on non-banking financial investment activity. For most solo consultants, freelancers and small traders neither limit is a concern.
Frequently asked
Who can be my nominee?
Any natural person who is an Indian citizen and resident in India, and who gives written consent in Form INC-3. It is usually a spouse, parent, sibling or adult child. You can change the nominee at any time by filing the relevant form, and the nominee has no rights in the company while you are alive and capable.
How is an OPC different from a proprietorship?
A proprietorship is not a separate legal entity — you and the business are the same person in law, so business debts are your debts. An OPC is a registered company with its own identity and limited liability. The trade-off is that an OPC has annual filing obligations and costs a few thousand rupees a year to maintain.
Can I own more than one OPC?
No. A person can incorporate only one OPC and can be the nominee for only one other. If you need a second company you would incorporate a private limited company instead.
What ongoing compliance applies?
Annual return in Form MGT-7A, financial statements in Form AOC-4, an income tax return, and a statutory audit regardless of turnover. No annual general meeting is required, which is the main relief compared with a private limited company.
★★★★★
"OPC registration confused me completely at first — particularly the nominee part. They explained it clearly, handled the forms, and finished in under two weeks. I'd recommend them to any solo founder."
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Ananya KrishnamurthyFashion brand founder · Chennai, Tamil Nadu