What’s in an India feasibility study
| Question | What we answer |
|---|---|
| Can we do this in India? | FDI route (automatic or government approval), sectoral caps, licences and any land-border restrictions on your investors |
| Which structure? | Liaison office, branch, subsidiary, LLP, or an employer of record first — try the structure chooser |
| Where? | State, city, SEZ or GIFT City — incentives, talent cost and stamp duty differences |
| What will it cost? | Set-up, payroll (with PF, gratuity and statutory costs), rent, compliance and tax — year one and steady state |
| Who else is there? | Competitor and partner financials from public filings (below) |
Research from public filings — India’s hidden advantage
Every Indian company, private or listed, files its financial statements and annual return with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. That means you can see a private competitor’s revenue, margins, debt, shareholders and directors — something rarely possible in the US or UK. We pull and analyse these filings, plus GST registration and import–export codes, to size competitors, vet distributors and shortlist acquisition targets. How to run basic checks yourself: verifying an Indian company.
Cost and tax model
- Subsidiary: can opt for a 22% base corporate rate (about 25.17% with surcharge and cess).
- Branch of a foreign company: taxed at 35% plus surcharge and cess.
- Money back to the parent: dividends, service fees and royalties each carry Indian withholding, reduced by your country’s treaty — see repatriating profits.
- GST: 18% on most services; exports of services can be zero-rated.
What you get
- A go / no-go memo with the recommended structure and a 90-day entry plan.
- A three-year cost and tax model in Excel your finance team can adjust.
- A regulatory checklist with every registration and filing in year one.
- Competitor, partner or target profiles from public records.
- When you decide to go ahead, we can handle the company setup in India.
How we work with clients abroad
- Fully remote: engagement letter and NDA by e-signature, data through your virtual data room or a shared drive, calls on your time zone (US mornings, Europe and Gulf afternoons, Japan and Singapore mornings IST).
- In English, in writing: every finding is referenced to a document or a public record, so your board, lawyers or auditors can rely on it.
- On the ground when needed: offices in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Rajkot and Dubai for site visits, bank meetings and management interviews.
- Clear scope: CA work — accounting, tax, FEMA and corporate filings. Legal opinions come from your lawyers; we work alongside them.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in an India market entry study?
Regulatory mapping (FDI route, caps, licences), the recommended entity, a location view, a three-year cost and tax model, and competitor or partner research from public filings, ending in a go / no-go recommendation.
Can you get financial information on private Indian companies?
Yes. Indian private companies file their financial statements and annual returns with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and these can be viewed for a small government fee. We analyse them for competitor and partner research.
Do foreign companies need government approval to enter India?
Most sectors allow 100% foreign investment under the automatic route with no prior approval. Some sectors, and investors with more than 10% beneficial ownership from countries sharing a land border with India, need government approval.
How is a foreign company's Indian subsidiary taxed?
As an Indian company. It can opt for a 22% base rate — about 25.17% including surcharge and cess — in exchange for giving up most deductions.