Shop and establishment registration

Overview

Shops, offices, restaurants and other commercial establishments are regulated by the shops and establishments law of the state they are in. These laws cover working hours, holidays, leave and employee records, and most require the establishment to register (or, in some states, send an intimation) when it starts operating.

Rules differ a lot between states: who must register, how many employees trigger it, the fee, whether the registration is renewed, and how the application is made. Many states have moved registration online through their labour department portals. The registration certificate is also commonly used as proof of a business's existence, for example to open a current account.

Our team checks your state's current rules, prepares the application and files it with the labour department or local authority.

Who needs it

• Shops, offices, showrooms, restaurants, hotels and service businesses
• Proprietors who need business address proof for a current account
• Businesses opening a new branch or office in another state

Documents required

What we usually ask for. Our team confirms the exact list for your case before anything is filed.

• Identity and address proof of the owner or employer
• Proof of the premises (rent agreement or ownership document, utility bill)
• Details of the establishment: name, nature of business, date of opening
• Number of employees and their details, where the state's form asks for them
• Photograph of the shop front, in some states

How it works

1. 1

   Check your state's law

   We confirm whether registration or intimation applies in your state for your size and type of establishment.

2. 2

   Prepare the application

   We fill in the establishment and employer details and collect the documents.

3. 3

   File and pay

   The application is filed on the state portal or with the local authority, and any fee is paid.

4. 4

   Certificate

   The registration certificate (or acknowledgement) is issued. Display it at the premises if the state requires.

Typical timeline

Most state laws expect the application within a set period of starting the business (often around 30 days, but it varies). Processing time depends on the state labour department.

Get a free quote

Answer a few questions and our team will contact you. It takes about two minutes.

Official sources

The government portals and laws this page is based on:

• Shram Suvidha portal