Company incorporation, registrations, payroll, compliance and accounting for foreign businesses opening a back office, shared service centre or captive team in India — handled by a Kochi Chartered Accountancy firm since 1987.
Book a consultation partners@agacas.comHow does a foreign company set up a back office in India?
Most foreign companies incorporate a wholly owned private limited subsidiary under the automatic FDI route, open a bank account, bring in share capital and report it to RBI, then register for GST, PF, ESI, professional tax and Shops & Establishments before hiring. A. George & Associates in Kochi handles each step and then runs payroll, accounting, transfer pricing and annual compliance.
- Usual structure
- Wholly owned private limited company
- Key filings
- FC-GPR, FLA, GST, PF/ESI
- Location
- Kochi, Kerala (Infopark, SmartCity, SEZ)
- Support
- Setup plus ongoing compliance
Opening your own back office in India gives you direct control over a finance, operations or support team at a fraction of the cost in the UK, US, Europe or the Gulf. The legal, tax and employment setup, however, has to be right from day one.
A. George & Associates acts as your single point of contact: we help you choose the right structure, incorporate the entity, complete foreign investment reporting, register for tax and labour laws, and then keep the books, payroll and filings running. For the wider market-entry decision, see our India entry guide for foreign companies.
Kochi and wider Kerala offer a large pool of commerce and accounting graduates, lower attrition than the major metros, and established IT parks and SEZs such as Infopark and SmartCity.
What do we set up and run for you?
Choosing the structure
- Private limited company (wholly owned subsidiary)
- Limited Liability Partnership
- Branch office or liaison office (RBI approval route)
- SEZ / STPI unit options for export services
Incorporation & FDI
- Name approval and incorporation with the Registrar of Companies
- Director DIN and digital signatures for foreign directors
- Bank account opening and capital remittance
- FDI reporting to RBI (FC-GPR) and annual FLA return
Registrations
- PAN, TAN and GST registration (including export / LUT)
- Shops & Establishments registration
- Provident Fund, ESI and Professional Tax
- Import Export Code where required
Payroll & HR compliance
- Salary structuring and monthly payroll
- TDS on salaries, PF, ESI and professional tax filings
- Employment contracts and statutory registers
- Employer-of-record style support while the entity is set up
Accounting & tax
- Monthly bookkeeping and reporting to your group in your format
- GST returns and refunds on export of services
- Transfer pricing policy and documentation for intra-group charges
- Income tax returns, tax audit and statutory audit coordination
Ongoing corporate compliance
- Board meetings, minutes and statutory registers
- Annual ROC filings (AOC-4, MGT-7)
- Nominee / resident director arrangements
- Registered office and premises support in Kochi
What are the steps to set up?
Structure and plan
We agree the entity type, ownership, location and headcount plan and give you a setup checklist and timeline.
Incorporate
Documents are collected, notarised or apostilled as required, and the company is incorporated and bank account opened.
Register and remit capital
Tax and labour registrations are completed and share capital is brought in and reported to RBI.
Hire and go live
Payroll, accounting and compliance calendars start, so your team can begin work on a compliant footing.
Why choose A. George & Associates?
- One firm for structuring, incorporation, tax, payroll and audit coordination
- Experience with SEZ, STPI and export-of-services units, including GST refunds
- Transfer pricing support for cost-plus captive arrangements
- Offices in India, UAE and Singapore to coordinate with your group
- Based in Kochi, close to Infopark, SmartCity and Kerala's talent pool
Timelines depend on document readiness and government processing. Branch and liaison offices need RBI approval through an authorised dealer bank.
Frequently asked questions about Back Office Setup in India
Which structure is best for a back office in India?
Most foreign companies use a wholly owned private limited subsidiary, which can be set up under the automatic FDI route for most service sectors and allows hiring, invoicing and profit repatriation. A branch office suits some cases but needs RBI approval and has a narrower scope of permitted activities.
Do I need an Indian resident director?
A private limited company must have at least one director who has stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous calendar year. We can help arrange a resident director where needed.
How does the Indian entity get paid by the parent?
Usually through a service agreement where the parent pays cost plus an arm's-length mark-up. This needs to be supported by transfer pricing documentation, and the services usually qualify as exports for GST.
Can you help us hire before the company is incorporated?
Yes. We can arrange interim payroll and compliance support so your first hires can start while incorporation and registrations are completed.
Can we set up in an SEZ or STPI?
Yes. SEZ and STPI units in Kerala can offer customs and GST benefits for export services. We handle unit approvals, periodic filings and exits.
How long does it take to set up a company in India?
Incorporation itself usually takes a few weeks once documents are ready; foreign documents must be notarised or apostilled first. Bank account, capital remittance and registrations add further time, so plan for roughly two to three months to be fully operational.
Plan your India back office
AGA Tower, Major Road, Vyttila, Kochi 682019 · +91 97449 22222 · partners@agacas.com
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