More than incorporation – a strategic starting point
India market entry advisory covers everything that happens before the first document is filed. The entity type, FDI route, transfer pricing model, DTAA structure, and intercompany framework must be decided in the right sequence – because getting any one of them wrong creates restructuring work that typically costs 3 - 5x more than getting it right at inception.
Most CA firms start with incorporation. We start with strategy. A 45-minute conversation about your business model, sector, headcount plans, and intercompany flows determines whether you need a WOS, a branch, a GCC, or a combination. The incorporation follows once the structure is clear.
Our advisory work is led by Ex-Big 4 professionals – the same people who advise large multinationals on India entry. The difference is that we work with mid-market companies at fees that match mid-market reality.
The full scope of India market entry advisory
WOS, Branch, Liaison, LLP, JV – the right choice depends on your sector, FDI route, tax objective, and long-term India plans. We model all options before recommending one.
Automatic vs Government Route, sector eligibility, investment caps, FEMA filing obligations. Getting the route wrong invalidates the entire investment.
Which DTAA applies, what rates apply to your specific payment flows, how to structure intercompany transactions to legitimately minimise WHT.
Designing the intercompany pricing model before the first transaction – management fees, royalties, cost allocations. This is the highest-value intervention in the entire entry process.
Permanent Establishment risk analysis – what activities in India create a tax liability for the foreign parent. Particularly critical for companies with Indian sales staff, advisory relationships, or contract-signing authority in India.
What filings are required, at what frequencies, by which deadlines. Building the compliance calendar before the entity is operational so nothing is missed from month one.
The companies we work with
You've decided to enter India. You need to know which entity to form, which FDI route applies to you, and what your transfer pricing obligations will be. We give you this picture in the first consultation – before any money is committed.
Your India entity is operational but the structure was set up without proper advice. Transfer pricing is undocumented, FEMA filings are missed, or the entity type is wrong. We assess, fix, and maintain.
Your sales or advisory team is operating in India without a formal entity. You have staff making decisions, signing contracts, or managing relationships in India. PE risk is building. We assess the exposure and design a structure that manages it.
You're setting up a 10 - 500 person India team to provide services to your global operations. The pricing model, entity structure, ESOP design, and compliance framework all need to be right from the start.
How we work – structure before filing
We ask about your business model, sector, headcount plans, and intercompany flows. You receive a preliminary structure recommendation and a list of key questions to resolve before incorporation.
A short written summary of our recommendations – entity type, FDI route, DTAA considerations, transfer pricing approach, and next steps. This memo costs nothing. It's the deliverable from the free consultation.
If you proceed, we produce a full India entry advisory report – entity comparison, FDI route analysis, TP methodology recommendation, DTAA analysis, compliance obligations schedule, and fee proposal for implementation.
We handle incorporation, FEMA filings, transfer pricing documentation, GST registration, payroll setup, and everything required to make the entity operational.
Monthly compliance (GST, TDS, payroll), annual filings (ITR, Form 3CEB, FLA Return), and advisory support for new transactions and regulatory questions.
India market entry questions
Ready to get started? Book a free 30-minute consultation.
Expert team reviews your situation and gives you a clear structure recommendation. No commitment. Written summary after the call.