Start a business: what to do next

1. Test it before you spend

   Before you buy stock, print cards or register anything, find out if people will pay.

   • Write one line: who you will sell to, what you will sell and at what price.
   • Talk to 10 people who could be your customers. Ask what they buy today and what they pay for it.
   • Try one small real sale. If nobody pays, change the idea before you spend more.

   Cost: nothing. Time: a week or two of asking around.

   Do it yourself (free)Read: get your first 10 customers We do itTalk it through with a mentor1:1 guidance call, price shown when you book

   Also: ready-made business blueprints with real costs, suppliers and licences (price shown on each).

2. Check the name

   Check the name before you print it, buy a domain or open social pages.

   • Google the name in quotes, with your city. If a business like yours already uses it, pick another.
   • Check the same name on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and see if the .in or .com web address is free.
   • Search the trade marks register on the official IP India site: tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in. You log in with an OTP on your email or mobile. Try close spellings too.
   • Planning a company or LLP? The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (mca.gov.in) checks and approves the name when you apply, so ask there or ask a professional.

   A clear search does not prove you are free to use a name. If the name matters to your business, ask a registered trade mark agent or lawyer. We do not offer trademark search or filing. Be careful with anyone who promises a guaranteed trademark.

   Cost: nothing. Time: one sitting.

   Do it yourself (free)Read: how to check a business name

3. Registrations: know where to look

   You may not need every registration. What you need depends on what you sell, how much you sell and your state. Use only the official government site for each one.

   • Udyam (MSME): free, at udyamregistration.gov.in. You need your Aadhaar and PAN, and your GST details if you have GST. You upload no documents and there is no renewal. The portal says no agent or private website is allowed to do it for you, so never pay for it.
   • GST: apply on gst.gov.in. It is compulsory once your yearly sales go above a limit: ₹40 lakh for goods (₹20 lakh in some states) and ₹20 lakh for services (₹10 lakh in special category states). It can be compulsory even earlier, for example if you sell goods to other states or through some online marketplaces. Check the current rule on the portal.
   • Food business: you need an FSSAI registration (small businesses, up to ₹12 lakh a year) or a licence (bigger ones). Apply on foscos.fssai.gov.in. The FSSAI helpline is 1800 112 100.
   • Shop and Establishment: this is a state rule, so it differs by state. Search for your state's labour department and open the official result.

   Look-alike websites and agents charge for things that are free or that you may not need. Check that the address ends in gov.in or nic.in. Ask a professional if you are unsure.

   Cost: Udyam is free. Fees for other registrations are shown on the official portal. Time: Udyam can be done in one sitting.

   Do it yourself (free)Read: Udyam registration, free

4. Get your domain

   A domain is your web address, like yourbusiness.in. You can start on a free firmgenie.page address and add your own domain later.

   • Pick a short name that is easy to spell. Choose .in or .com.
   • Buy it from a domain seller. For .in, the official list of sellers is on registry.in.
   • Register it in your own name and your own email, so you keep control. Check the renewal price before you pay, because it can differ from the first year.

   Cost: set by the seller. Time: one sitting.

   Do it yourself (free)Start with a free web address We do itDomain purchase and connection₹999 + 18% GST

5. Build your website

   Tell us about your business and AI writes your website. Building and trying it is free. Go live on your own domain when you are ready.

   • Have ready: your business name, what you sell with prices, your address, opening hours and a few clear photos.
   • Read every line the AI writes. Fix any wrong price, address or phone number before you share it.

   Cost: free to build and try. Time: one sitting.

   Do it yourself (free)Build my website, free We do itGo live: Website plan₹799/month + 18% GST. No setup fee.

6. Get on Google (Google Business Profile)

   When people near you search for what you sell, your business can show up on Google Search and Maps with your hours, photos and phone number. Adding it costs nothing.

   • Open business.google.com/add and sign in with a Google account. Search first, in case your business is already listed.
   • Enter your real business name, the same as on your board. Do not add extra keywords. Pick the one category that fits best.
   • Add your address, or your service area if you go to customers. If you work from home and go to customers, you can hide your address. A P.O. box or a virtual office address is not allowed.
   • Verify it. Google decides which options you see: phone or text, email, a video call or a postcard. A postcard code usually arrives within 14 days and expires after 30 days.
   • Then add photos and a short description.

   Cost: nothing. Time: fill it in one sitting, then wait for verification.

   Do it yourself (free)Read: set up your Google Business Profile We do itProfile setup and verification help₹3,999 + 18% GST

7. Get your first customers

   Your first customers come from people you talk to, not from a big launch.

   • Message 10 people you know this week. Offer one product at one price, and say how to pay.
   • Show a UPI QR at your counter. You never enter your UPI PIN to receive money. If anyone asks you to, it is a scam.
   • Ask every customer for a Google review with a free QR poster, not only the happy ones. Never give a discount or gift for a review, because Google does not allow it.
   • Get a free audit to see what to fix first, and set up your social pages so people can find you.

   Cost: nothing for the free tools. Time: a little every day.

   Do it yourself (free)Free Google review QR poster We do itSocial media setup₹4,999 + 18% GST

   Also free: the instant business audit, the first 10 customers guide and how to accept payments.

What we do not do: we do not do Udyam registration, trademark search or filing, or register companies, and we do not give legal, tax or accounting advice. For those, use the official portals or a qualified professional.