Case Studies

India Entry Case Studies

How India entry works in practice. These illustrative engagements show the approach we take for foreign companies and NRIs — from structure to steady-state compliance.

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In short: These are illustrative, representative India-entry engagements (not named clients) showing how we structure and execute setups: a German software company opening a wholly owned subsidiary at Kochi Infopark, a US SaaS firm building a Bengaluru GCC, a European manufacturer using Tamil Nadu with PLI, a Gulf-based NRI founder structuring a repatriable Indian company, and a US-based NRI/OCI founder incorporating a repatriable company remotely. Each shows the entity, FDI route, location and compliance path.

Note: these are illustrative, representative scenarios based on typical engagements — not real named clients. Client references are available on request.

Case studies

Case 1 — German software company → wholly owned subsidiary at Kochi Infopark (Kerala)

The client: A German B2B software company wanting a dedicated India development centre.

The challenge: A lean, 100%-owned structure to access Kerala's IT talent at competitive cost, with correct FEMA setup and repatriable profits.

What we did: Incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary (Pvt Ltd) under the 100% automatic FDI route with a registered office at Infopark, Kochi; appointed a resident-Indian director; filed FC-GPR with the RBI within 30 days of share allotment; set up GST with a Letter of Undertaking for zero-rated software exports, payroll with PF/ESI, and a cost-plus transfer-pricing model for the parent.

The outcome: A compliant Kochi development centre operating in roughly six weeks, with a repatriable structure and a clean monthly compliance calendar.

Case 2 — US SaaS company → Bengaluru Global Capability Centre (WOS)

The client: A US SaaS scale-up building an offshore engineering and support centre.

The challenge: Set up a captive GCC in Bengaluru with defensible transfer pricing and fast hiring.

What we did: Incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary in Karnataka under the automatic route; structured a cost-plus captive model with a Safe-Harbour-aligned margin; handled FC-GPR, STPI/GST for exports, and payroll.

The outcome: A running Bengaluru GCC with clean transfer-pricing documentation and scalable compliance.

Case 3 — European manufacturer → Tamil Nadu with PLI

The client: A European component manufacturer diversifying under China + 1.

The challenge: Choose a location with supply chain and incentives, and access a PLI scheme.

What we did: Incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary; selected a SIPCOT industrial location in Tamil Nadu; advised on PLI eligibility and customs (EPCG/MOOWR); set up GST and factory/labour registrations.

The outcome: A manufacturing entity positioned for incentives with an efficient customs and GST setup.

Case 4 — NRI founder → repatriable Indian private limited company

The client: A Gulf-based NRI launching a services business in India.

The challenge: Own the company while keeping profits fully repatriable.

What we did: Incorporated a private limited company with the NRI as majority shareholder and a resident co-director; funded it on a repatriable basis via NRE/inward remittance; filed FC-GPR; set up NRE/NRO banking and the compliance calendar.

The outcome: A repatriable, compliant Indian company with dividends and exit proceeds remittable after tax.

Case 5 — US-based NRI/OCI founder → repatriable Indian company, set up remotely

The client: A US-based NRI/OCI founder launching a technology-enabled services company in India while living in the United States.

The challenge: Own and run the company remotely from the US, keep profits repatriable, and incorporate without travelling to India.

What we did: Incorporated a private limited company with the OCI founder as majority shareholder and a resident-Indian co-director (Section 149(3)); completed KYC with an apostilled passport and OCI card; funded share capital on a repatriable basis via NRE / inward remittance; filed FC-GPR within 30 days; set up NRE/NRO banking, GST and the monthly compliance calendar. The founder's US personal-tax reporting on the India holding was flagged to coordinate with their US CPA.

The outcome: A remotely-incorporated, repatriable Indian company — operational without the founder travelling — with dividends and exit proceeds remittable after Indian tax and applicable US–India treaty relief.

Indicative fees — a guideline

Every engagement is quoted as a fixed fee once we understand your structure, state and transaction volume. The ranges below are indicative only, to help you budget — they are not a quotation. Government and statutory costs — Digital Signature Certificates, name reservation, stamp duty (which varies by state), apostille or attestation abroad, and PAN/TAN — are additional and charged at actuals.

One-time setup (professional fees)

Engagement	Indicative fee	Notes
Wholly owned subsidiary (Pvt Ltd)	USD 1,200–2,500	100% automatic route; most foreign companies and NRIs
LLP	USD 1,000–2,000	Where an LLP fits the sector and plan
Branch / Liaison / Project Office	USD 2,500–5,000	Higher — RBI/AD-bank approval via Form FNC

Ongoing (per year)

Service	Indicative fee	Notes
Annual compliance retainer	USD 1,500–4,500	ROC, audit, tax, GST, TDS, FLA — scales with volume and headcount
Resident director (where needed)	USD 2,000–4,000	Only where the group has no eligible resident individual
Transfer pricing / Form 3CEB (where applicable)	USD 800–2,500	For international related-party transactions

Indicative ranges as of 2026 — your fixed fee is confirmed on scoping. Use the cost & timeline estimator for an indicative scope, or request a fixed-fee proposal.

Frequently asked questions

Are these real client case studies?

They are illustrative, representative scenarios based on the kinds of engagements we handle — not named clients — to protect confidentiality. We can share client references on request.

Can you help a company like the ones described?

Yes. Whether you're a foreign software company, a manufacturer, a GCC or an NRI founder, we structure and execute the India entry end-to-end.

How long do these setups take?

A wholly owned subsidiary typically incorporates in 7–10 working days; including banking and FC-GPR, most setups are operational in about 4–8 weeks.

Do you work with companies from my country or sector?

We work with foreign companies and NRIs across countries and sectors — SaaS/IT, manufacturing, fintech, pharma and services. The structure adapts to your sector and home country's tax treaty with India.

How much does it cost for a foreign company to set up in India?

As a guideline, professional fees to incorporate a wholly owned subsidiary are typically about USD 1,200–2,500 one-time, with an annual compliance retainer of roughly USD 1,500–4,500 depending on transaction volume and headcount; a branch, liaison or project office costs more because of the RBI approval. Government and statutory costs — DSC, name reservation, stamp duty by state, apostille/attestation and PAN/TAN — are additional and charged at actuals. These are indicative ranges only; we confirm a fixed fee once we understand your structure, state and volume.

Reviewed by CA Regi Tom Antony, Regi Tom Antony & Associates. Last updated: October 2026.

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