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One Person Company

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One Person Company

A One Person Company (OPC) is a unique form of company introduced by the Companies Act, 2013, designed specifically for solo entrepreneurs, professionals, and first-generation founders who want the credibility and limited liability protection of a private limited company — but without the need for a co-founder or second shareholder. An OPC is owned and managed by a single individual who acts as the sole shareholder, with a nominated person stepping in only in the event of the shareholder’s death or incapacity.

OPC structure offers the best of both worlds — the separate legal identity, limited liability, and perpetual succession of a corporate entity, combined with the simplicity and sole control of a proprietorship. It is ideal for freelancers, consultants, small traders, D2C founders, and single-owner tech businesses who want a formal company with their name on it — credible for banks, clients, and government tenders — without diluting ownership to a partner or nominee shareholder.

We offer end-to-end OPC incorporation and compliance services — from name reservation, DSC / DIN, drafting of MOA & AOA, SPICe+ filing, PAN / TAN / GST, bank account opening, nominee documentation, to ongoing annual ROC filings, income tax, and eventual conversion into a Private Limited Company when the business scales — so your OPC is set up cleanly, runs compliantly, and supports long-term growth.

1 Shareholder
Sole owner with full control
1 Director
Minimum — up to 15 allowed
1 Nominee
Mandatory successor in writing
Ltd Liability
Personal assets protected
Laws & Frameworks We Work Under
Companies Act, 2013
Companies (Incorporation) Rules
Income Tax Act, 1961
GST Act, 2017
SPICe+ Framework
MCA V3 Portal
Shops & Establishments Act
MSME Framework

Who Can Form a One Person Company

Eligible

Who Can Incorporate an OPC

OPC is designed for individual entrepreneurs who meet specific residency and eligibility criteria under the Companies Act.

  • Only a natural person can form an OPC
  • Must be an Indian citizen
  • Resident in India (stays 120+ days)
  • NRIs also permitted post 2021 amendment
  • Can be only one OPC per person
  • Minor cannot be member or nominee
Restricted

Who Cannot Form an OPC

Certain persons and business activities are specifically barred from forming or operating an OPC.

  • Body corporates cannot form OPC
  • Minors barred from membership
  • No Non-Banking Financial activity
  • No Section 8 (charitable) activity
  • Cannot invest in securities of others
  • One person — one OPC limit applies

Our OPC Incorporation & Compliance Services

01

Name Reservation

RUN / SPICe+ Part A filing for name approval with “(OPC) Private Limited” suffix.

02

DSC & DIN

Digital Signature Certificate for the director and Director Identification Number allotment.

03

SPICe+ Filing

Integrated incorporation via SPICe+ Part B, AGILE-PRO, INC-9, and MOA / AOA preparation.

04

Nominee Documentation

Mandatory nominee consent in Form INC-3 with witnessed signatures and ID proof.

05

Tax & MSME Registrations

PAN, TAN, GST, MSME / Udyam, Professional Tax, and Shops & Establishment registrations.

06

Bank Account & Startup

Current account opening, EPFO / ESIC setup, and Startup India recognition where applicable.

07

Annual ROC Compliance

AOC-4, MGT-7A, board meetings, statutory registers, and Directors’ Report preparation.

08

OPC to Pvt Ltd Conversion

Voluntary or mandatory conversion into Private Limited Company on crossing thresholds.

OPC vs Other Business Structures

OPC

One Person Company

Single shareholder, limited liability, separate legal entity — ideal for solo founders wanting corporate status.

Solo Limited
Proprietorship

Sole Proprietorship

Simplest form — no separate entity, unlimited personal liability, minimal compliance and no ROC filings.

Simple Unlimited
Pvt Ltd

Private Limited Company

Minimum 2 shareholders & 2 directors, separate legal entity, preferred by VCs and investors.

2+ Investor
LLP

Limited Liability Partnership

Minimum 2 partners, hybrid of company and partnership — lighter compliance than a company.

LLP Hybrid
Partnership

Partnership Firm

Traditional partnership under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 — simple but with unlimited liability.

Firm Unlimited
Public Ltd

Public Limited Company

Minimum 7 shareholders & 3 directors, can raise capital from public — higher compliance burden.

7+ Listed

When Should You Choose a One Person Company

Solo Entrepreneurs

Founders starting a business alone who want corporate credibility without a co-founder or partner.

Freelancers & Consultants

IT professionals, designers, and consultants billing Indian and international clients as a company.

D2C Founders

Solo e-commerce and D2C brand owners building on Amazon, Flipkart, Shopify, or own website.

Small Traders

Single-owner trading businesses wanting limited liability and cleaner GST / banking setup.

Professional Services

Agencies, trainers, creators, and service providers wanting a registered company identity.

Government Tenders

Solo businesses needing corporate status to qualify for government contracts and tenders.

Personal Asset Protection

Entrepreneurs wanting to ring-fence personal assets from business liabilities.

Future-Ready Structure

Founders starting solo today but planning to convert to Pvt Ltd once they scale or raise capital.

Documents Required for OPC Incorporation

Shareholder / Director

  • PAN card (mandatory)
  • Aadhaar card
  • Passport-size photograph
  • Passport (if applicable)
  • Voter ID or Driving Licence
  • Latest bank statement / utility bill
  • Mobile number & email ID

Nominee

  • PAN card of nominee
  • Aadhaar of nominee
  • Address proof of nominee
  • Consent in Form INC-3
  • Witnessed signatures
  • Photograph of nominee
  • Relationship with shareholder

Registered Office

  • Latest utility bill (≤ 2 months)
  • Rent agreement (if rented)
  • NOC from owner of premises
  • Property tax receipt or sale deed
  • Board to display company name
  • MOA & AOA (drafted by us)
  • Form INC-9 declaration

Our End-to-End OPC Incorporation Process

1

Consultation

Understanding the business, activities, and suitability of OPC over other structures.

2

DSC & Name

Digital Signature, DIN, and SPICe+ Part A name reservation with OPC suffix.

3

Drafting

MOA, AOA, INC-3 nominee consent, INC-9, AGILE-PRO, and office address declarations.

4

Incorporation

SPICe+ Part B filing, Certificate of Incorporation, PAN, TAN, EPFO / ESIC, and GSTIN.

5

Post-Setup

Bank account, first board meeting, statutory registers, and ongoing compliance calendar.

Why Set Up an OPC with Us

✓
Full control — single shareholder decision-making
✓
Limited liability — personal assets protected
✓
Separate legal entity & perpetual succession
✓
Corporate credibility with banks & clients
✓
Lighter compliance than Pvt Ltd
✓
No mandatory AGM requirement
✓
Seamless conversion to Pvt Ltd on scale
✓
End-to-end coordination under one roof

FAQs on One Person Company (OPC)

What is a One Person Company (OPC)?
A One Person Company is a form of company introduced under Section 2(62) of the Companies Act, 2013, that can be incorporated by a single individual as its sole shareholder. It combines the corporate benefits of a Private Limited Company — separate legal entity, limited liability, and perpetual succession — with the simplicity of a proprietorship. An OPC must mandatorily nominate a successor who will take over the company in case of the shareholder’s death or incapacity.
Who is eligible to incorporate an OPC in India?
Only a natural person who is an Indian citizen can incorporate an OPC. Earlier, the individual was required to be a resident in India, staying at least 182 days in the preceding financial year. However, after the 2021 amendment, NRIs are also permitted to incorporate OPCs, and the residency requirement was reduced to 120 days. A person can form only one OPC at a time and cannot be a nominee in more than one OPC.
What is the minimum capital requirement for an OPC?
There is no minimum paid-up capital requirement for an OPC. You can start with any authorized and paid-up capital that suits your business — commonly ₹1 lakh or even lower. However, OPCs must mandatorily convert into a Private or Public Limited Company if their paid-up capital crosses ₹2 crore or their average annual turnover exceeds ₹20 crore for three consecutive financial years, although these thresholds have been relaxed over time.
Why is a nominee mandatory in an OPC?
Since an OPC has only one shareholder, the Companies Act requires a nominee to ensure business continuity. The nominee is a person who will automatically become the member of the OPC in case of the death or incapacity of the sole member. The nominee’s written consent must be filed in Form INC-3 at the time of incorporation, and their name must appear in the Memorandum of Association. The nominee can be changed anytime during the life of the OPC.
How is an OPC different from a sole proprietorship?
A sole proprietorship is not a separate legal entity — the owner and the business are treated as one, and the proprietor has unlimited personal liability for business debts. An OPC, on the other hand, is a registered company with its own PAN, separate legal identity, and limited liability protection — the owner’s personal assets are ring-fenced from business obligations. OPCs also enjoy perpetual succession and higher credibility with banks, customers, and vendors.
What are the annual compliance requirements for an OPC?
OPCs must maintain books of accounts, conduct at least one board meeting in each half of the calendar year (if there are multiple directors), file Form AOC-4 (financial statements) and Form MGT-7A (simplified annual return), file income tax returns, TDS returns, and GST returns where applicable. OPCs are exempt from holding an Annual General Meeting (AGM), which reduces compliance load compared to a Private Limited Company.
When must an OPC convert into a Private Limited Company?
An OPC can voluntarily convert into a Private Limited Company anytime after two years of incorporation. Mandatory conversion is triggered if the OPC’s paid-up share capital exceeds ₹50 lakh or its average annual turnover crosses ₹2 crore over three consecutive years — though thresholds have been amended and relaxed over time. On conversion, the OPC must induct a second shareholder and meet the minimum requirements of a Private Limited Company.
How long does OPC incorporation take?
With complete documentation, OPC incorporation via the SPICe+ form typically takes 7 to 15 working days — including name reservation, DSC / DIN, MOA / AOA drafting, SPICe+ Part B filing, and issuance of the Certificate of Incorporation along with PAN and TAN. Additional steps like bank account opening, GST registration, and Startup India recognition add another 1 to 3 weeks depending on the banker and departments involved.

Start Your One Person Company the Right Way

Partner with our specialists for end-to-end OPC incorporation — name approval, SPICe+ filing, nominee documentation, tax registrations, and ongoing compliance — all under one roof.

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