Operating without the required licenses exposes your business to fines, closure notices, and legal liability. We identify exactly which licenses apply to your business and handle the entire application process — from documentation to approval.
India's regulatory landscape requires businesses to obtain specific licenses and registrations depending on their industry, location, size, and activities. Operating without the required licenses can result in heavy fines, forced closure, and criminal liability for the business owners.
At EaseYourFiling, we first conduct a thorough assessment of your business to identify every applicable license, then handle the complete application process — document preparation, portal submissions, follow-ups with authorities, and delivery of the final certificate.
A registered trademark gives your business exclusive rights to use your brand name, logo, tagline, and product names across India for 10 years (renewable indefinitely). It prevents competitors from using similar marks and gives you legal recourse against infringement.
The TM symbol (™) can be used immediately after filing the application, while the ® symbol can only be used after the trademark is officially registered. Trademark registration is governed by the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and administered by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.
The registration process involves a trademark search to check availability, filing Form TM-A in the appropriate class (there are 45 classes covering all goods and services), responding to any examination report raised by the Trademark Office, and surviving the 4-month opposition period after publication in the Trademark Journal.
We conduct a comprehensive search on the Trademark Registry database to check if your mark is available and identify any conflicting marks.
We file Form TM-A on the IP India portal in the correct class(es) with your brand details, logo, and signed Form-48 (Power of Attorney).
If the Trademark Office raises an examination report with objections, we prepare and file a detailed response to overcome the objections.
Once accepted, the trademark is published in the Trademark Journal for a 4-month opposition period. We monitor for any oppositions filed.
If no opposition is filed (or opposition is overcome), the Registration Certificate is issued and the ® symbol can be used.
A Trade License is a municipal license that grants permission to carry on a specific trade or business from a particular premises. It is issued by the local municipal corporation, municipality, or panchayat and is mandatory for shops, restaurants, factories, and most commercial establishments.
The license ensures that the business is being conducted in compliance with local regulations regarding safety, hygiene, and zoning. Operating without a trade license can result in fines and closure of the business premises by the municipal authority.
The application is made to the local municipal authority with supporting documents. The license must be renewed annually and displayed prominently at the business premises.
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) registration or license is mandatory for all businesses involved in food manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, or sale. This includes restaurants, cloud kitchens, food manufacturers, importers, exporters, and online food delivery businesses.
There are three categories based on turnover: Basic Registration for businesses with turnover below ₹12 lakh per year, State License for turnover between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore, and Central License for turnover above ₹20 crore or businesses operating across multiple states. The FSSAI number must be displayed on all food products and at the business premises.
Operating a food business without FSSAI registration can attract imprisonment of up to 6 months and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh. We handle the complete application process including food safety management plan preparation.
The Import Export Code (IEC) is a 10-digit code issued by the DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) and is mandatory for any business importing or exporting goods or services from India. Without an IEC, customs clearance is not possible and banks cannot process foreign remittances related to trade.
The IEC has lifetime validity and requires no renewal — once obtained, it remains valid as long as the business exists. It is linked to the business's PAN and must be updated annually on the DGFT portal (no fee for update). The application is processed entirely online and the IEC is typically issued within 2–3 working days.
ISO certification demonstrates that your business meets internationally recognized standards for quality management, environmental management, information security, or food safety. It enhances credibility with clients, helps win government tenders, and improves internal processes and efficiency.
Common certifications include ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 27001 (Information Security Management), and ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management). The certification is issued by an accredited certification body after a thorough audit of your processes.
The certification process involves a gap analysis of current processes, documentation of the quality management system, an internal audit, and a certification audit by the accredited body. The certificate is valid for 3 years with annual surveillance audits.
A Drug License is mandatory for retail pharmacies, wholesale drug dealers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. It is issued by the State Drug Control Authority and ensures that drugs are stored, handled, and sold in compliance with safety standards.
There are two main types: Retail Drug License (Form 20 & 21) for retail pharmacies and Wholesale Drug License (Form 20B & 21B) for wholesale dealers. A qualified pharmacist must be present on the premises for retail licenses. Separate storage requirements apply for Schedule H and Schedule X drugs.
A Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the State Fire Department is required for hotels, hospitals, malls, factories, multiplexes, educational institutions, and large commercial buildings. It certifies that the premises meets all fire safety standards and is equipped to handle fire emergencies.
The NOC is issued after a fire safety audit of the premises by the Fire Department. The premises must have adequate fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, emergency exits, and a documented emergency evacuation plan. The NOC must be renewed annually.
GS1 India barcode registration provides your products with globally unique identification numbers required for retail distribution, e-commerce platforms, and export. EAN-13 barcodes are used for retail products while GS1-128 barcodes are used for logistics and supply chain management.
GS1 India membership assigns a unique GS1 Company Prefix to your business, from which you generate unique barcodes for each of your product SKUs. Barcodes are required by major retail chains, e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, and export customers.
FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) registration is mandatory for NGOs, associations, and societies that wish to receive foreign donations or contributions. No foreign contribution can be accepted without prior FCRA registration or prior permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
There are two types: Registration for established organizations that have been in existence for at least 3 years and have spent ₹15 lakh on charitable activities in the last 3 years, and Prior Permission for specific projects. All FCRA funds must be received in a designated FCRA bank account at the SBI New Delhi Main Branch.
An annual return in Form FC-4 must be filed by 31st December every year, along with audited financial statements. Non-compliance can lead to cancellation of FCRA registration.
12A registration exempts the NGO, trust, or Section 8 company from paying income tax on its income, provided the income is applied towards the charitable or religious objectives of the organization. Without 12A, the organization must pay income tax like any other entity.
80G registration allows donors to claim a 50% deduction on donations made to the organization from their taxable income. This makes the organization more attractive to donors and significantly increases fundraising potential. Both registrations are granted by the Income Tax Department.
Applications are made in Form 10A (for 12A) and Form 10G (for 80G) on the Income Tax portal. Provisional registration is valid for 3 years, after which regular registration must be obtained. The organization must not have any income from business activities, or must maintain separate books of accounts for business income.