Last reviewed: 25 September 2026. Everything we have written for founders — organised as the journey actually unfolds. Bookmark this page; the guides below are cross-linked and each carries its own review date.
Stage 1 — Structure and incorporation
- Which business entity should you register? — proprietorship to private limited, compared honestly.
- LLP or company for your startup? — the founder's decision framework.
- After registration: the first-year compliance checklist — INC-20A, ADT-1, share certificates and every clock that starts on day one.
- Registering a not-for-profit instead? Section 8 first-year guide.
Stage 2 — Foundations founders skip (and regret)
- Founder agreements — equity, vesting, IP and exit clauses before the first fight, not after.
- ESOP planning — pool, vesting, valuation and the tax at exercise.
- DPIIT recognition — eligibility, deep-tech changes and the benefits chain.
- Sheets and Excel automation for accounts teams — the cheap way to look CFO-run early.
Stage 3 — Funding and FEMA
- Investor due diligence checklist — finance, tax, ROC and cap-table items, from the investor's side.
- FLA return for startups with foreign investors — the July filing every FDI-touched startup owes.
- Foreign money into non-profits: prior permission vs registration — for the social-venture track.
Stage 4 — Scale-stage discipline
- SaaS accounting in India — GST on exports, MRR, Stripe/Razorpay reconciliations.
- GST IMS and hard-locking — the ITC machine your accounts team now runs monthly.
- Budget 2026-27 action checklist — what changed for MSMEs and startups this year.
Key startup deadlines — FY 2026-27
| Compliance | Due |
|---|---|
| FLA return (any FDI on books) | 15 July (annual) |
| FC-GPR after allotment | 30 days from allotment |
| DIR-3 KYC (directors) | Once every 3 FYs, by 30 June following the third FY (from 31 Mar 2026); changes in mobile, email or address within 30 days |
| AOC-4 / MGT-7 after AGM | 30 / 60 days from AGM |
| ESOP perquisite TDS (section 392, old 192) | On exercise — payroll month |
Frequently asked questions
Where should a first-time founder start?
Entity choice. LLP vs private limited decides your funding ceiling, ESOP ability and compliance load — read the comparison guides first, then the first-year checklist so the clocks that start on day one never surprise you.
What do investors check before a seed cheque?
Clean cap table, ROC filings current, GST/TDS discipline, FEMA filings if any foreign money, and founder agreements with vesting. Our due-diligence checklist is written from the investor side of the table — fix items before the data room opens.
When does FEMA enter a startup’s life?
The day foreign money (or a foreign founder) touches the cap table: FC-GPR within 30 days of allotment, FLA every July, valuation rules on every issue. Miss these and the next round’s lawyers find it.
Is DPIIT recognition worth the paperwork?
For most funded startups, yes — eligibility for the section 140 (old 80-IAC) tax holiday and scheme access ride on it. Angel tax no longer applies from AY 2025-26, so recognition is not needed for that. Recognition first, benefits second; the guide covers both.
From incorporation to the data room — one team for structure, compliance, valuation and FEMA.
Startup ValuationFounder AgreementsStartup CFO RetainerGeneral information as of 25 September 2026, not professional advice. Verify current law for your facts; every linked guide carries its own review date.